Senior Software Engineer, Motion Planning (Robotics)

TL;DR

Senior Software Engineer, Motion Planning (Robotics): Lead the development of core behavior and motion-planning capabilities for autonomous trucking with an accent on complex real-world driving scenarios, optimization, and real-time systems. Focus on designing algorithms, trajectory optimization, shaping system architecture, and validating on-road impact using real-world data.

Location: Mountain View, CA (onsite office). Roles may require U.S. person status or citizenship verification for sensitive positions; visa sponsorship available for eligible candidates.

Salary: $185,000 - $235,000 USD (SF/Silicon Valley location)

Company

Leader in AI-powered autonomous technology for commercial trucking and public sector, delivering driverless freight across the southern United States and developing capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense.

What you will do

• Lead design and deployment of behavior and motion-planning for complex driving scenarios
• Own ambiguous problems from concept to production, including iterative refinement
• Shape architecture, interfaces, and requirements across planning systems
• Translate driving goals into algorithms, cost functions, and performance-critical C++ code
• Drive improvements in planning quality, prediction integration, latency, and reliability
• Build evaluation frameworks and tooling using real-world logs for autonomy improvements
• Provide technical leadership, mentor engineers, and guide team direction

Requirements

• Deep background in robotics, motion planning, optimization, controls, or related fields
• MS, PhD, or equivalent in technically rigorous domain
• 6+ years building production software, including substantial C++ experience
• Proven track record owning complex projects with real-world impact
• Strong systems thinking, technical judgment, communication, and collaboration
• Ability to balance long-term design with pragmatic iteration

Nice to have

• Experience shipping autonomy or robotics software on real vehicles
• Strong knowledge of motion planning, trajectory optimization, prediction, optimal control
• Real-time, performance-critical systems experience
• Building evaluation, debugging, and data-analysis tools for autonomy stacks
• Track record mentoring engineers and leading technical direction

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive compensation with equity and annual bonuses
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision through Kaiser, Cigna, MetLife (including infertility benefits)
• Flexible PTO, 10 paid holidays, generous parental leave
• 401(k) through Fidelity, commuter benefits, FSA, HSA
• Wellbeing perks: Headspace, Calm, One Medical, Gympass, mental health support
• Office perks: dog-friendly, free catered lunch, stocked kitchen, EV charging