Staff Industrial Designer at Aurora Innovation in San Francisco, CA

Who we are Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly. The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, one that will bring a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone. At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge. For the latest news from Aurora, visit aurora.tech or follow us on LinkedIn. Aurora hires talented people with diverse backgrounds who are ready to help build a transportation ecosystem that will make our roads safer, get crucial goods where they need to go, and make mobility more efficient and accessible for all. We are searching for a Mid-Level Industrial to Senior Designer who enjoys the craft of design and the process of building real products. This role is best suited for someone who is highly collaborative, detail-oriented, and comfortable working through constraints alongside engineers and external partners. You will be part of a tight feedback loop—iterating, prototyping, refining user-focused designs and developing integrated solutions that are not just innovative, but reliable and manufacturable at scale. Working closely with experienced engineering teams and OEM partners, we value practical problem-solving, clear communication, and hands-on engagement. Our environment prioritizes substance grounded in offering the opportunity to deliver meaningful work on products that go beyond concept and into transformative self-driving real-world use. In this role, you will Develop thoughtful user-centric, well-resolved design solutions for self-driving kit vehicle integration and user interactions - Engaged with user researchers and product team experts. Communicate ideas through sketching, CAD, and high-quality visual assets to support storytelling and curation of concepts, in collaboration with design and marketing teams. Partner closely with engineering and aero partners to balance design intent with performance and feasibility. Collaborate with vehicle teams for seamless platform integration including mounting, protection, serviceability, and applying DFM principles in support of scalability. Prototype and test designs to validate decisions and identify potential issues early in the process. Collaborate with OEM partners and suppliers to align on requirements and maintain practical documentation to support the manufacturing process. Required Qualifications 3–6+ years of experience in industrial, automotive or product design. A portfolio demonstrating strong execution and a grasp of the end to end process from discovery through DFM refinement. Proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks, CATIA, Alias, Keyshot or similar) for A-Surface design iteration development and visualization. Strong sketching skills used as a thinking tool and high fidelity presentation tool internally and externally. Working knowledge of manufacturing processes (injection molding, CNC, sheet metal, etc.) and experience collaborating with engineers on complex products. Desirable Qualifications Familiarity with OEM or product design studio development environments and supplier collaboration. Exposure to sensor integration, including LiDAR, radar, and cameras. A strong curiosity regarding product assembly and a willingness to refine designs based on real-world constraints. High ownership, a focus on quality outcomes, and meticulous attention to detail. The base salary range for this position is $154K-$223K per year.  Aurora’s pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate’s starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits. #LI-SP1 Working at Aurora At Aurora, we bring together extraordinarily talented and experienced people united by the strength of our values. We operate with integrity, set outrageous goals, and build a culture where we win together — all without any jerks. We believe in-person work increases collaboration, empathy and our ability to lead effectively. As a result, we operate in a hybrid work environment where Aurorans are in office at least 3 days per week. Our Careers page provides insight into what it is like to work at Aurora, and you can find all the latest updates in our Newsroom. Our commitment to safety At the core of everything we do is our commitment to safety. Building best-in-class self-driving technology will take time, and we believe that each employee at Aurora has a role in contributing to safety, every step of the way. Aurora expects commitment to our safety policies from every employee, and seeks candidates who take an active responsibility, can contribute to building an atmosphere of trust, and invest in the organization’s long-term success by prioritizing working safely, no matter what. Our commitment to inclusion Aurora considers candidates without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, parent or caregiver status, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran and/or military status, physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by federal or state law. Aurora considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at careersiteaccommodations@aurora.tech. For California applicants, information collected and processed as part of your application and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Aurora’s California Employment Privacy Policy.