We are searching for a Staff Safety Data Scientist on the Safety Analysis team who is a technical leader and go-to expert for risk and safety guidance, leveraging deep expertise in data science to lead critical safety research. Your insights will drive the safety strategy and external safety communications, including the development of industry-leading, benchmark safety studies and frameworks. The role requires a strong background in risk and hazard assessment and exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. You will be responsible for applying advanced statistical analysis and probabilistic modeling to support the safety case, inform hardware and software decisions, and identify critical risk factors. You will collaborate with diverse stakeholders across engineering, operations, and product.
In This Role, You Will:- Lead the development of novel quantitative data analytics using both proprietary (Aurora-logged, sensor, system, integration testing data) and publicly available data (CRSS, FARS, state-level information).
- Author and present technical analyses and findings to diverse internal and external audiences, including stakeholders, authoritative bodies, and industry forums.
- Design and automate data collection and analysis to support ongoing safety programs.
- Extract insights from historical system safety performance to develop leading indicators for future performance forecasting. Analyze safety data from operational vehicles, crash metrics, and near-miss incidents to inform safety strategies and decision-making.
- Develop statistical models and algorithms to predict potential risks and prevent incidents, improving the safety performance of autonomous systems.
- Model self-driving vehicle behaviors at the system and subsystem levels.
- Develop and maintain reports and expressions of baseline risk coverage and application in operations.
- Design and develop expressions of risk benchmarking from similar industries.
- Create dashboards and reports for communicating risk, ranking, and anomalies.
- Present safety research findings to senior leadership and recommend actionable improvements to safety protocols and operational systems.
- Mentor and lead junior team members, fostering their professional growth.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent applicable technical experience.
- 7+ years of progressive experience solving large-scale complex problems.
- Demonstrated experience in a safety related domain (e.g., transportation, aerospace, robotics, medical devices).
- Strong understanding of safety principles and risk assessment methodologies; with a proven track record of using data science techniques to solve safety challenges and mitigate risks in a dynamic environment.
- Deep command of statistical methods, probabilistic modeling, and performing rapid exploratory data analysis.
- Expertise in data science tools (e.g., Python, SQL, R), statistical modeling, machine learning, predictive analytics, and visualization software (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
- Adept at querying, analyzing, and visualizing large datasets.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex information to various audiences.
- Strong leadership skills, with the ability to provide guidance and mentorship.
- Ability to work independently, as part of a cross-functional team, or as a project lead.
Desirable Qualifications- Advanced degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent applicable technical experience.
- Experience working in safety and risk, ideally complemented by a portfolio of publications, reports, or conference presentations.
- Familiarity with rapidly scaling operational environments.
- Proficient in working with advanced data transformation tools such as DBT.
- Skilled in building and deploying using Amazon Web Services (AWS) tools.
- Background in the Autonomous Vehicles, Aerospace, or Robotics domains.
The base salary range for this position is
$171,000 - $247,000 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.
We believe in-person work increases collaboration, empathy and our ability to lead effectively. As a result, we operate in a hybrid work environment where Aurorans are in office at least 3 days per week.
