Motion Planning and Controls Engineer

Maven Robotics; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Maven Robotics is seeking a Motion Planning & Controls Engineer to develop software that brings our autonomous robot hardware to life. You will work on optimization-based planning, advanced control, and multi-DOF dynamics to achieve safe, reliable, and precise motion across the system.

You will collaborate across mechanical, electrical, software, and perception teams, apply rigorous testing and analysis, and contribute to world-class robot performance in a fast-paced startup environment.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in engineering, mathematics, computer science or a related discipline.
• Experience in optimization-based motion planning and control algorithms such as Model Predictive Control.
• Experience in control, estimation, modeling, and analysis of complex multi-degree-of-freedom electromechanical systems, including forward/inverse kinematics, forward/inverse dynamics, and task/joint space control.
• Practical experience with motor servo control (position/velocity/torque control) architectures and tuning.
• Proficiency in Python and C++ programming, using up-to-date software development practices and tooling.
• Self-starter attitude with strong ability to identify problems, prioritize them, then plan and execute working solutions.
• Enthusiasm for working in a fast paced startup environment and eagerness to support the team on a variety of topics.

Responsibilities

• Cover the entire software stack that governs robot motion, from optimization-based motion planning and control for an overactuated autonomous system to motor torque control.
• Utilize deep expertise in and intuition for complex, high degree-of-freedom electromechanical systems.
• Bridge mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering domains to solve real-world problems.
• Interface with perception, intelligence, simulation, and platform software systems in designing architectures that ensure world-class robot performance.
• Aim for exceptional motion quality via continual test, measurement, analysis, and improvement.

Skills

Motion planning & controls

Model Predictive Control

Python

C++

Kinematics & dynamics

Motor servo control

Problem solving

Startup mindset

Education

MS or PhD in engineering, mathematics, computer science or related

Job description

Maven Robotics is building the world’s leading general-purpose AI robots.

We are currently operating in stealth and are growing the world’s best team in AI robotics. We are looking for self-starters that are the world’s best in their field, who can innovate from a deep understanding of the fundamentals, and who share our values of unwavering truth seeking and integrity, humility, curiosity, and relentless determination.

Role Description

We are looking to recruit an exceptional Motion Planning & Controls Engineer to develop the software that brings our robot hardware to life, implementing planning and control algorithms that provide purposeful, performant, safe, reliable, and beautiful coordinated motion.

In this role you will:

• Cover the entire software stack that governs robot motion, from optimization-based motion planning and control for an overactuated autonomous system, down to individual motor torque control (and everywhere in between).
• Utilize deep expertise in and intuition for complex, high degree-of-freedom electromechanical systems.
• Employ a true multi-disciplinary mindset, bridging mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering domains to solve real-world problems.
• Interface with perception, intelligence, simulation, and platform software systems in designing thoughtful functional architectures that ensure world-class overall robot system performance.
• Have an unrelenting drive to achieve exceptional motion quality via continual test, measurement, analysis, and improvement.

Qualifications

Must-have:

• MS or PhD in engineering, mathematics, computer science or a related discipline.
• Experience in optimization-based motion planning and control algorithms such as Model Predictive Control.
• Experience in control, estimation, modeling, and analysis of complex. multi-degree-of-freedom electromechanical systems, including forward/inverse kinematics, forward/inverse dynamics, and task/joint space control.
• Practical experience with motor servo control (position/velocity/torque control) architectures and tuning.
• Proficiency in Python and C++ programming, using up-to-date software development practices and tooling.
• Self-starter attitude with strong ability to identify problems, prioritize them, then plan and execute working solutions.
• Enthusiasm for working in a fast paced startup environment and eagerness to support the team on a variety of topics.

Nice-to-have:

• Familiarity with ground vehicle localization, mapping, and state estimation techniques (e.g. SLAM, Kalman filtering).
• Familiarity with robotic simulation software frameworks/environments.
• Familiarity with modern approaches to robotic manipulation, including state-of-the-art reinforcement learning (RL) and imitation learning (IL) approaches and their application to real-world robots.
• Knowledge of brushless motor current control (e.g. field-oriented control).
• Familiarity with functional safety (FuSa) concepts.

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As set forth in Maven Robotics’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

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