Senior NPI Engineer

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.

We’re searching for a Senior Engineer to join Aurora’s Hardware NPI Engineering team. The NPI Engineer is responsible for shepherding hardware from concept review to low‑volume manufacturing. They guide design engineers in selecting appropriate manufacturing processes and are on the floor through each build to deliver finished vehicle integrations, electronic sensors and modules, and computers.

• Support transition of critical automated micro‑optical alignment from engineering to high‑volume manufacturing at CM.
• Ensure end‑to‑end assembly process readiness for complex lidar systems at manufacturing partners.
• Monitor yield analysis and drive continuous improvement initiatives for NPI production lines to achieve optimal yield, capacity, and cost targets.
• Maintain product quality by improving design, manufacturing process, and equipment stability.
• Provide onsite engineering support, including technical ownership and support for process or equipment issues.
• Provide feedback on manufacturing and service requirements, process control plans, and quality assurance; develop hardware standards and design guidelines.
• Own control plans, manufacturing BOM, and necessary documentation to transfer hardware from design to the production floor, whether internal or external.
• Review data packages before they are released for manufacturing.
• Create and maintain work instructions, standard operating procedures, forms, records, checklists, process sequence/routing, Process Flow Diagrams, PFMEAs, and other required manufacturing documentation.
• Support and guide the manufacturing team through all phases of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), particularly the later phases associated with designing and developing the manufacturing process and validating the process/product (e.g., MSAs, production trial runs, Run @ Rate, PPAPs, control plans).
• Research manufacturing fabrication and processes new to the company and guide design engineers on their use; create requests for quotation/proposal when necessary.
• Act as a liaison between the module, integration, and electrical teams and cross‑functional teams for planning, logistics, and ad‑hoc requests; organize cross‑functional design reviews.
• Lead or participate in Kaizen activities to ensure continuous improvement in processes, products, components, raw materials, and equipment.
• Quickly come up to speed on new technologies and engineering challenges.
• Conduct multidisciplinary rapid problem‑solving activities and propose solutions to both prototype and production manufacturing challenges, such as Design for Excellence (DfX) input (e.g., DfM, DfA, DfC/DfP, DfI/T, DfS/R/M).
• Work with internal production and external CM.
• Communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.
• International travel 20‑35%, concentrated around line bring‑up.
• Evening conference calls with CM in Asia 2‑3 times a week.

• Minimum of 8 years experience in an engineering role with experience in low to high volume production environments.
• Bonus points for experience in AV, robotics, or the automotive industry.
• Experience with launching hardware products and the product life cycle, and selecting the right‑sized process based on the needs of the program.
• Experience in optical alignment process development, optical interconnect, chip‑to‑chip coupling, and FAU alignment.
• Participated in the process of bringing up a new technology from R&D to high‑volume manufacturing.
• Proficient in SPC, 6‑sigma, quality control process; good understanding of machine and process interactions.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, deliver results promptly, communicate effectively, operate with a sense of urgency, and thrive in a fast‑paced development and production environment.
• Experience…