Senior/Staff Software Engineer, Motion Planning

Location: Santa Clara, CA, United States; hybrid workplace

Salary: $130,000–$220,000 per year

Company

hirify.global develops AI-based virtual driver software for factory-built autonomous trucks, with operations in the United States and Europe.

What you will do

• Design and implement decision-making and trajectory-generation algorithms for safe, comfortable, and reliable autonomous driving.
• Bring robotics and machine learning techniques from research into production-grade, safety-critical systems running on real trucks.
• Handle complex driving scenarios, including merges, junctions, and interactions with other road users under uncertainty.
• Use modern C++ numerical optimization frameworks such as CasADi and Acados, along with Git and ROS, to integrate planning algorithms.
• Collaborate with machine learning, prediction, perception, controls, and safety teams to use probabilistic and multi-future scenario representations.
• Perform system diagnostics and tuning with visualization tools and create system designs for cross-functional review.

Requirements

• MS with 1–2 years of relevant experience or a PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field.
• Strong production software development skills in C++.
• Expertise in path planning, motion planning, trajectory generation, behavior planning, or optimal control.
• Strong foundations in geometry, analysis, probability, kinematics, and dynamics.
• Experience developing and refining planning algorithms on real-world robotic or vehicle platforms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.

Nice to have

• PhD with 1–2 years or MS with 3–4 years of relevant experience.
• Python experience and exposure to deep learning, imitation learning, transformer-based models, or diffusion-based models.
• Familiarity with autonomy safety frameworks such as RSS and collision-avoidance or MRM logic.
• Prior experience with safety-critical systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Work in an innovative, future-oriented field focused on autonomous trucking.
• Opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Catered free lunch, unlimited snacks, and beverages.
• Competitive salary and benefits package, including a 401(k) plan.