AV & Drone

Autonomous Vehicle Operator, San Francisco (12-Month Duration)

Nuro$27/hrCalifornia - SFMore robot jobs in San Francisco, CAPosted 2mo ago

Driver's license
Lifts 25 lb
Background check

About the role

This is a temporary, full-time position with full benefits, with an expected end date of 12 months from hire.

Who We Are

Nuro believes self-driving vehicles are the most immediate and profound opportunity for AI to drive positive change in the physical world. Safer streets, more time for what matters, and easier access to the world around us, that’s why we’re building a universal autonomy platform: self-driving for all roads and all rides.

Founded in 2016, Nuro is a physical AI company developing Level 4 autonomous driving technology for a wide range of vehicles, use cases, and markets. Powered by the Nuro Driver™, our universal autonomy platform enables the global mobility ecosystem to deploy autonomy at scale, from robotaxis and logistics fleets to personal vehicles.

With years of real-world deployment experience and a flexible, partner-led business model, Nuro is working toward a future where millions of autonomous vehicles powered by our technology help make everyday life safer, easier, and more connected.

Nuro has raised over $2B in capital from Uber, NVIDIA, Google, Softbank, Fidelity, T. Rowe Price, and other leading investors.

About the Role

Our operations team is growing and we are looking for Autonomous Vehicle Operators (AVOs) to join us. In this role you will be responsible for operating our autonomous test vehicles that run proprietary software and hardware, while helping train our self-driving technology.

Professionalism, care, and personal accountability are significant attributes as you will be expected to adhere to the culture of safety and standards of conduct exemplified by the team. You will have to pass a number of training checkpoints both in and out of the vehicle.

About the Work

Operate a vehicle in manual and autonomous mode up to 8 hours per day in diverse traffic conditions while adhering to proper safety and operational driving procedures
Utilize proprietary ground-breaking software to collect data in a variety of real-world situations, while simultaneously providing detailed and accurate feedback to our engineers
Troubleshoot operational issues in real time and collaborate with Mission Operations (dispatch) team as needed to resolve as quickly as possible and hit mileage collection targets
Conduct daily vehicle inspection checks before and after missions
Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, including but not limited to washing vehicles, putting air in tires, etc.
Occasionally interact with members of the public to educate them on autonomous vehicle technologies and behaviors
Occasionally serve as a company ambassador by safely and confidently conducting high-profile ridealongs for senior leadership (CEO, President, VPs), major stakeholders, investors, and engineers. You will expertly balance safe operations with professional communication, fielding general questions, and strategically deferring technical inquiries to the correct Points of Contact (POCs) or subject matter experts
Monitor onboard safety and navigational systems while maintaining constant situational awareness and adherence to safety protocols while driving

About You

You are able to reliably work 5 days a week on one of the following shifts:
Afternoon/Evening: 2:00pm-10:30pm PT (Tue-Sat)
Afternoon/Evening: 2:00pm-10:30pm PT (Wed-Sun)
Afternoon/Evening: 2:00pm-10:30pm PT (Thu-Mon)
Afternoon/Evening: 2:00pm-10:30pm PT (Fri-Tue)
Overnight: 10pm-6:30am PT (Wed-Sun)
Overnight: 10pm-6:30am PT (Fri- Tue)
You have a current valid California driver's license and have been in possession of a US license for 3+ years
You have a clean driving record and can pass a criminal background check and drug test
You have a passion to learn about processes and autonomous vehicles
You have strong communication skills (written and verbal) and are able to comfortably communicate through modern online collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Google Meet, or similar)
You are comfortable operating standard field equipment, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones, which are critical for documentation, training, and real-time workflow procedures
You exhibit strong problem-solving skills by remaining calm and resourceful under pressure to troubleshoot operational issues
You have strong collaboration and time management skills and are able to work independently or in small groups for periods without direct supervision
You are self-driven and able to stay focused and goal oriented while adapting to frequent changes and evolving conditions
You have a proven record of reliability, punctuality, and consistent attendance

Working Conditions and Essential Functions

Due to the nature of the position, this job requires

Sitting for 3 to 4 hours at a time for up to 8 hours per day in an enclosed vehicle alone or occasionally with a co-driver
Bending, squatting, stretching and lifting up to 25 pounds on a regular basis
Side and up/down movement of the head, neck, back and shoulders necessary to operate a vehicle safely
Ability to work in a vehicle that may brake, swerve, slow, or stop abruptly
Holding and grasping with hands and frequent use of foot/feet to operate foot pedals when driving the vehicle

The total compensation package for this position includes base pay and a competitive benefits package including medical/dental/vision insurance, daily meal reimbursement, and paid time off in addition to limited company holidays. For this position the reasonably expected base hourly rate is $27/hour morning/afternoon and $28.25 overnight, paid on a bi-weekly basis . Employees will receive a weekend differential for hours worked on Saturdays and Sundays, in addition to their base hourly rate. You may also be eligible for a discretionary biannual contract completion bonus based on company and individual performance.

At Nuro, we celebrate differences and are committed to a diverse workplace that fosters inclusion and psychological safety for all employees. Nuro is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and expressly prohibits any form of workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics.

From Nuro's job posting, checked Oct 14, 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

See if you qualify

The application

Your details and CV, then 15 questions (1 written).

Have readyCVCover letter (optional)

1.
If applying in California, do you have a current California driver's license?Yes or no
2.
To meet this role’s minimum requirements, you must have held a valid U.S. driver’s license for at least three (3) consecutive years immediately prior to your start date. Have you held a valid U.S. driver’s license continuously (without suspYes or no
3.
If you answered "Yes" to the above question, what month and year were you first issued a U.S. driver’s license? (MM/YYYY) Note: Enter the date you were first licensed, which may be earlier than the issue date on your current driver’s licensShort answer
4.
Why are you excited to work at Nuro as an Autonomous Vehicle Operator?Written answer · optional
5.
This role starts at $27/hour morning/afternoon and $28.25 overnight, plus full benefits (medical, dental, vision, daily meal reimbursement, PTO + company holidays). Does this align with your pay expectations?Yes or no
6.
This is a temporary full-time position with expected end date 12 months after hire. Do you understand and can you confirm that you expect to be able to work at Nuro for that period?Yes or no
7.
This position requires daily on-site presence in San Francisco, CA. Are you able to meet this requirement?Yes or no
8.
Which of the following shift(s) are you available for?Pick any
9.
This position requires sitting for long periods of time, both overseeing autonomous operations and/or manually driving a vehicle for up to 8 hours per day. Are you able to meet these job requirements?Yes or no
10.
Do you currently own a personal smartphone with a data plan, or are you willing to obtain one for required work-related communication and applications (e.g., Slack, Workday timecard), understanding that the company provides a monthly stipenYes or no
11.
This role requires a pre-employment background check and drug screening. Are you willing to complete this as a condition of employment?Yes or no
12.
This is a safety-sensitive role. If hired, you will also be subject to ongoing drug testing during employment, including random testing, post-incident testing, and reasonable-suspicion testing. Do you understand and accept this as a conditiYes or no
13.
Are you a previous Nuro employee or contractor?Yes or no
14.
Are you authorized to work in the country in which you are applying?Yes or no
15.
Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment in the country in which you are applying?Yes or no

From Nuro's apply page, checked Oct 10, 2026.

About Nuro

Autonomous Vehicle Operators generating edge-case data on real roads.

How it pays: Hourly, regular payroll.

Every Nuro opening Nuro: pay, legitimacy and reviews

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