Senior Incident Commander

Senior Incident Commander

We are searching for a Senior Incident Commander to lead incident response across our autonomous vehicle platform, on‑vehicle systems, enterprise IT, and the supporting Network and Security Operations Centers (NOC/SOC). This role applies the principles of emergency management to provide command and control for critical events spanning our integrated ecosystem.

• Lead Incident Command:
  Establish command and control over technical cross‑functional incidents, orchestrate response efforts, make decisive real‑time decisions, and create a common operating picture for all stakeholders.
• Manage Escalations & Stakeholders:
  Prioritize escalations and ensure representation from Software/Hardware, Cybersecurity, Network, IT, Legal, Ops, Safety, Policy, and Communications throughout the incident lifecycle.
• Drive Continuous Improvement:
  Lead thorough incident retrospectives, document events, identify root causes, define actionable follow‑ups, and track implementation to enhance safety, efficiency, and overall incident response capabilities.
• Develop Cross‑Functional Partnerships:
  Proactively understand stakeholder concerns and collaborate closely with technical teams to provide critical support and guidance during real‑time incident response, maintaining seamless 24/7 coverage.
• Deliver Executive Communications:
  Provide executive‑level updates on active incidents and present comprehensive analyses, including outcomes, trends, and strategic insights, to leadership and a global audience.

• Experience:
  
  5+ years of command‑oriented experience (incident management, crisis response, Site Reliability Engineering, NOC/SOC leadership, or military/first‑responder operations) as an Incident Commander or lead responder for high‑stakes technical events.
• Broad Technical Acumen: A holistic understanding of complex systems, including on‑vehicle compute, enterprise IT infrastructure, cloud services, Network Operations (NOC), and Security Operations (SOC). Ability to facilitate and drive technical conversations to successful outcomes.
• Familiarity with Monitoring & Observability:
  Understanding of monitoring and observability principles in complex, distributed systems.
• Composure Under Pressure:
  Proven ability to remain calm and decisive under pressure, coordinating response efforts and making sound judgments in rapidly evolving, high‑stakes situations.
• Executive Briefing
  
  Skills:
  
  Experience briefing senior executives in real‑time on complex, fast‑moving incidents, articulating technical details, impact, and proposed resolutions clearly and concisely. Strong command and control presence.
• Attention to Detail:
  Exceptional attention to detail with a track record of documenting incident timelines, contributing factors, and post‑incident analysis to drive accurate reporting and continuous improvement.
• Availability:
  Willingness and ability to participate in a 24/7 on‑call rotation, covering shifts as part of a global incident response capability.

• An advanced degree in a relevant field such as Emergency Management, Computer Science, Business, Operations, Law, or a related discipline.
• Experience leading crisis and incident response as an Incident Commander in a large tech environment.
• Proven ability to interact with and report to external stakeholders (e.g., regulatory agencies, legal counsel).
• Experience in highly regulated industries such as Autonomous Vehicles, Maritime, Aviation, or similar sectors.
• Certifications or experience in command frameworks such as FEMA’s National Incident Management System (NIMS/ICS).
• Experience with event mapping initiatives to enhance incident action planning and promote stakeholder coordination.

The base salary range for this position is $115,000 – $204,000 per year. Aurora’s pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location, and are subject to change. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.

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…