Principal Engineer Motion Planning

Motional is seeking a technical expert for its Planning team to define motion planning and control systems for secure, effective, and comfortable fleet operation in complex environments. This role requires expertise in cutting‑edge research, advanced algorithm development, and robust software building to generate safe, comfortable, and intuitive routes and motions. The ideal candidate is a robotics and software development enthusiast eager to contribute to production‑ready autonomous vehicles and to solve real‑world challenges in a rapidly evolving field.

• Lead the research and development of novel algorithms and sub‑systems for motion planning in autonomous driving, thereby expanding the Operational Design Domain; this includes advanced search‑based and sophisticated geometry‑based methods and decision‑making under uncertainty with probabilistic approaches.
• Lead cross‑functional projects to define new or upgrade existing interfaces to solve problems.
• Monitor overall system performance to identify areas for improvement and develop technical strategies to address deficiencies.
• Guide cross‑functional project teams to provide comprehensive solutions and demonstrate the ability to think beyond the confines of the planning system.
• Architect and integrate complex combinations of motion planning and prediction algorithms, driving their evaluation and refinement for real‑world deployment.
• Design and build a robust, scalable, and high‑performance codebase that facilitates rapid exploration, prototyping, and rigorous evaluation of innovative motion planning approaches and algorithms.
• Drive technical collaboration and interface seamlessly with perception and prediction components upstream and trajectory optimisation, tracking, and control components downstream, ensuring end‑to‑end system performance.
• Leverage deep software development and research expertise to teach others better software practices and principles, fostering a culture of technical excellence.
• Guide and mentor junior and senior team members, cultivating a culture of product‑focused engineering, rigorous research, and advanced development.

• PhD preferred in Robotics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; or a Master’s degree with 7+ years of experience in the robotics (preferably AV) industry.
• 10+ years of research experience in robotics / motion planning, with a proven track record of contributing to state‑of‑the‑art solutions and leading significant projects.
• 5+ years of C++ software development, with an emphasis on developing high‑performance and reliable systems.
• Past experience owning and leading technical development on complex features from problem formulation through research, implementation, and deployment in a production environment, demonstrating significant impact.
• Thirst for knowledge, continuous innovation, and a drive to push the boundaries of autonomous driving technology, acting as a technical thought leader.

• Experience with probabilistic models, including Gaussian mixture models, Hidden Markov Models, and Particle Filters.
• Experience with machine learning techniques (such as Bayesian modelling and inference techniques) for decision making under uncertainty.
• Experience with the Bazel build framework.

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors including but not limited to specific skills, experience and expertise, role location, certifications, licences, and business needs. The estimated compensation range listed in this job posting reflects base salary only. This role may include additional forms of compensation such as a bonus or company equity.

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

Candidates for certain positions are eligible to participate in Motional’s benefits program. Motional’s benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with a company match, health savings accounts, life insurance, pet insurance, and more.

Motional AD Inc. is an EOE. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. To comply with Federal Law, we participate in E‑Verify. All newly‑hired employees are queried through this electronic system established by the DHS and the SSA to verify their identity and employment eligibility.