- Salary
- $30+
- Type
- Full-time
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Education
- High School
- Source
- Fountain
Description
About Alto
Alto is a destination for innovative, intellectually curious, and forward-thinking people. We are disrupting the rideshare industry with a revolutionary, elevated experience and a sustainable business model. At Alto we hire W-2 employee drivers and maintain a company-operated fleet of luxury vehicles. In 2024, we entered into a strategic partnership as Uber's premier fleet operator in Los Angeles and Miami and are rapidly growing our operations in these markets and beyond. Our pillars of safety, consistency, and hospitality give Alto a differentiated experience and advantage from our competitors. Today, we operate in Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, and Houston with ambitions for nationwide expansion coming soon! Check out more about us here.
Position Overview
At Alto, we aren’t just building autonomous haulage and fleet systems; we’re creating a vision of mobility that is safe, reliable, and scalable. As an Engineer Support Specialist (ESS) for on-road testing, you are the guardian of our technology and the critical link between our cutting-edge AI and the unpredictability of the open road.
This isn't simply a driving job—it's a technical role that requires the focus of a pilot and the analytical mind of a tester. You will operate vehicles equipped with proprietary technology, providing real-time feedback to our engineering teams to ensure our fleet remains safe, efficient, and operationally ready every single day.
Department: Operations & Support
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Employment Type: Full-Time, Hourly
Reports To: Operations Management
Rate: $30/Hour
Where you Own, and where you support:
The Engineer Support Specialist (ESS) Owns-
- Vehicle software systems supervision and adherence to safe operational protocols.
- Execution of structured test cases (e.g., construction zones, roundabouts, pedestrian traffic).
- Data logging, concise verbal and written reporting, and edge-case documentation.
- Pre- and post-trip inspections, sensor surface cleanliness (LiDAR, Cameras, Radar), and fleet health reporting.
The Engineer Support Specialist is expected to work directly with Software and Hardware Engineers to troubleshoot issues identified during shifts, maintaining clear line-of-sight communications regarding vehicle capabilities and software build updates.
Why this role
- Frontline innovation: Serve as the vital human connection between autonomous software models and real-world road environments.
- Cutting-edge technology: Work directly with state-of-the-art autonomous vehicle hardware, sensor suites, and AI driving systems daily.
- Direct impact: Provide crucial diagnostic data and feedback that directly shapes vehicle software improvements and safety protocols.
- Culture of excellence: Collaborate closely with engineers and operations personnel dedicated to safety, innovation, and high operational standards.
You will:
- Supervise vehicle systems: Monitor autonomous software and hardware systems during testing while strictly upholding safety protocols and legal compliance.
- Execute structured testing: Conduct specific test routes and edge-case scenarios, systematically evaluating vehicle behavior and software performance.
- Log and report data: Deliver concise, high-quality verbal and written feedback detailing system performance, edge cases, and unexpected behaviors.
- Ensure fleet readiness: Perform routine pre-and-post trip inspections, maintain sensor cleanliness (LiDAR, cameras, radar), and communicate equipment issues.
What you bring to the table:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent required.
- Valid U.S. Driver's License held for at least 5 years with a pristine driving record (no major infractions, max 1 point).
- Strong tech literacy and ability to navigate complex software interfaces and troubleshoot connectivity/hardware basics.
- High situational awareness and ability to maintain focused attention during repetitive operations.
- Strong written and verbal English communication skills for reporting technical feedback in real time.
- Adaptability and comfort in a fast-paced environment with rapidly changing software builds and operational goals.
- Ability to clear a background check and drug screening.
- Ability to sit in a vehicle for 6–8 hours daily, lift up to 50 lbs, and maintain clear vision/hearing monitoring.
- Flexibility to work shift schedules including early mornings, evenings, nights, and weekends.
We prefer
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent experience in fleet operations and precision driving.
- Prior experience in the autonomous vehicle industry or testing complex software and hardware systems.
- Working knowledge of vehicle dynamics or basic automotive mechanical systems.
ADA Statement: The above statements describe what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of the job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some incumbents assigned to the job to perform a different combination of duties.
EEO Statement: Alto is committed to equal opportunity and is firmly committed to preventing discrimination and harassment, including sexual misconduct, based on legally protected diversity characteristics (such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family status, citizenship, genetic information, and veteran status) in its application and hiring processes and in its employment decisions.