Senior/Staff System Safety Engineer, Autonomy

About this role

<p class="ql-direction-ltr ql-long-10000202573"><strong class="ql-author-10000202573">About The Company</strong></p> <p class="ql-direction-ltr ql-long-10000202573"><span class="ql-author-10000202573">DiDi's autonomous driving unit was established in 2016 with the mission of developing Level 4 autonomous driving (AD) technology to make transportation safer and more efficient. In August 2019, the unit became an independent company, DiDi Autonomous Driving, dedicated to advanced AD R&D, product application, and business expansion. We believe integrating AD technology into a shared-mobility fleet will generate immense social value. By leveraging DiDi's specialized technology, operational expertise, and integrated ecosystem, we are positioned to build and operate a highly efficient, user-oriented autonomous fleet.</span></p> <p class="ql-direction-ltr ql-long-10000202573"> </p> <p class="ql-direction-ltr ql-long-10000202573"><strong class="ql-author-10000202573">About The Role</strong></p> <p class="ql-direction-ltr ql-long-10000202573"><span class="ql-author-10000202573">We are seeking an experienced and mission-driven <strong>Senior/Staff System Safety Engineer, Autonomy t</strong>o lead the safety strategy and deployment readiness of our fully autonomous driving systems. In this role, you will define and implement the safety frameworks, release policies, and system-level engineering processes that enable safe and scalable unmanned operations. You will act as a technical leader in system safety, ensuring that our vehicles meet rigorous safety standards while advancing toward large-scale commercial deployment.</span></p> <p> </p> <p class="ql-direction-ltr ql-long-10000202573"><strong class="ql-author-10000202573">Responsibilities</strong></p> <ul> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Own the safety evaluation and release strategy for unmanned autonomous driving operations, defining clear criteria for system release, degradation, and fallback under varying operating conditions.</span></li> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Design, implement, and champion the safety-related systems engineering framework, including safety requirements, system architecture, and Verification & Validation (V&V) plans.</span></li> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Conduct systematic assessments of unmanned operational workflows, emergency protocols, and supporting tools/platforms to ensure safety and operational completeness.</span></li> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Develop and institutionalize safety evaluation methodologies and metrics frameworks, translating safety goals into quantifiable, verifiable, and continuously tracked indicators.</span></li> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Serve as the technical lead for safety-related incident review and analysis during unmanned operations, driving continuous improvements in system design, test coverage, and operational procedures.</span></li> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Collaborate cross-functionally with Software, Product, Operations, and Safety teams to support leadership decisions regarding unmanned deployment, city expansion, and operational scaling.</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p class="ql-direction-ltr ql-long-10000202573"><strong class="ql-author-10000202573">Qualifications</strong></p> <ul> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Bachelor’s or higher degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related technical field.</span></li> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">3-5 years of industry experience in systems engineering, safety engineering, autonomous systems, or a directly related field.</span></li> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Strong systems thinking with the ability to decompose complex safety challenges and drive practical, scalable solutions.</span></li> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Demonstrated ability to collaborate across teams, influence stakeholders, and take ownership of safety outcomes.</span></li> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Experience working in a fast-paced environment with multiple parallel projects and ambiguous requirements.</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p class="ql-direction-ltr ql-long-10000202573"><strong class="ql-author-10000202573">Preferred Qualifications</strong></p> <ul> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Professional experience in safety-critical autonomous vehicle deployment or large-scale robotic systems operations.</span></li> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Background in functional safety (ISO 26262, SOTIF) or safety assurance of unmanned systems.</span></li> <li class=""><span class="ql-author-10000202573">Hands-on experience with safety validation tools, simulation-based V&V, or operational safety…