Staff Product Designer, Human-Robot Interaction

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’re searching for a Staff Product Designer to join Aurora’s Product Design Team. The Product Design team is responsible for creating a remarkably better, safer, and more efficient experience for every person who builds, operates, and interacts with our technology. This means we are constantly challenging the status quo to deliver experiences that are simple, clear, and intuitive by design. 

As we scale our fleet of self-driving trucks and expand our network of lanes, endpoints, and waypoints, this role offers a rare opportunity to establish the interaction patterns that will set industry standards for how autonomous systems communicate with people in complex environments. As a foundational designer for this initiative, you will report directly to the Head of Design and act as a key partner in shaping the vision for human-robot interaction (HRI) at Aurora. 

In this role, you will

• Lead end-to-end design for key HRI projects, from initial discovery and research through implementation support. 
• Conduct hands-on research to ground your designs in reality, leveraging direct access to end-users, engineering labs, and our vehicle test track facilities.
• Create prototypes to model and evaluate how our system communicates state and intentions across digital, physical, and human touchpoints.
• Flex between broad, ambiguous design explorations and narrowly scoped, tactical feature work, adapting to the needs of each project.
• Deliver prototypes, interaction models, journey maps, and service blueprints that bring clarity to complex interactions.
• Partner closely with a core team of cross-functional collaborators to define, explore, and ship solutions that have a real-world impact.
• Present your work and design rationale to collaborators and senior leadership, influencing the strategic direction of HRI at Aurora.
• Contribute to our design system and vibrant studio culture, helping to maintain cohesion and raise the bar for quality across the team.

Required Qualifications

• An online portfolio with examples showing how you work and the of your work in complex technical domains.
• Proven experience (5+ years or equivalent) designing digital or service experiences.
• Ability to model and communicate interaction concepts through sketches, wireframes, and dynamic prototypes.
• Experience working closely with engineering, product, and design peers to define, design, ship, and iterate on highly usable products.
• Strong prototyping skills in Figma.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain design decisions to technical and non-technical collaborators.
• Comfort working in technically complex environments with ambiguous problems.

Desirable Qualifications 

• High proficiency with methods of human-centered design.
• Experience designing for robotics, autonomous vehicles, logistics, or integrated hardware and software products.
• Background in adjacent industries such as aviation, healthcare, or industrial systems where safety, clarity, and reliability are critical.
• Experience with generative AI tools, 3D modeling, or industrial design concepts.

The base salary range for this position is $154-$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.

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#Mid-Senior