Planning Engineer

Foundation Robotics Lab; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision plan

Dental plan

401(k)

Equity

Job summary

Foundation Robotics Lab in San Francisco seeks an experienced robotics engineer to design and implement motion planning and autonomous navigation for off-road ATVs. You will integrate waypoints, obstacle avoidance, and terrain constraints into safe, drivable paths.

Candidates hold an MSc or equivalent, with strong hands-on practice in motion planning, ROS2, C++, Python, and real-world testing on robotic platforms.

Qualifications

• MSc or equivalent experience in robotics or related field.
• Hands-on motion planning experience with real robots.
• Excellent problem-solving with practical, field-ready solutions.

Responsibilities

• Set direction for planning architecture and priorities.
• Design and implement motion planning algorithms for off-road navigation.
• Integrate waypoints, obstacle avoidance, and terrain constraints into safe paths.
• Tune control parameters for robust performance on rough terrain.
• Collaborate with vehicle engineering on a tightly integrated system.

Skills

Robotics

Motion planning

Control systems

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science / Electrical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science / Math / Electrical

Tools

ROS2

C++

Python

Point cloud / occupancy representations

Job description

About Foundation:
Foundation is developing the future of general purpose robotics and electric mobility with the goal to save lives and augment human labor.

Our mission is to create an autonomous, crewless ATV built to be truly all-terrain. Designed for commercial and defense use, it can save lives and take on heavy transport across mining, agriculture, construction, and more.

We are on the lookout for extraordinary engineers and scientists to join our team. Your previous experience in robotics isn't a prerequisite — it's your talent and determination that truly count.

We expect that many of our team members will bring diverse perspectives from various industries and fields. We are looking for individuals with a proven record of exceptional ability and a history of creating things that work.

Our Culture:

We like to be frank and honest about who we are, so that people can decide for themselves if this is a culture they resonate with. Please read more about our culture here https://foundation.bot/culture.

Who should join:

• You deeply believe that this is the most important mission for humanity and needs to happen yesterday.
• You are highly technical - regardless of the role you are in. We are building technology; you need to understand technology well.
• You care about aesthetics and design inside out. If it's not the best product ever, it bothers you, and you need to “fix” it.
• You don't need someone to motivate you; you get things done .

Why We Are Hiring for This Role:

• Set short and long term direction for planning architecture and priorities.
• Design and implement motion planning algorithms for off-road ATV navigation.
• Integrate waypoints, obstacle avoidance, and terrain constraints into safe, drivable paths.
• Tune and validate control parameters for robust performance on rough, off-road terrain.
• Design test scenarios and evaluate planning algorithms in both simulation and field environments.
• Set real-time replanning policies and continuity rules so behavior remains stable as conditions change.
• Generate speed profiles from curvature, visibility, slope, and surface quality; respect slow/no-go zones and grade limits.
• Collaborate with vehicle engineering to create an integrated system, including sensor/compute selection and integration.
• Implement state-of-the-art approaches to trajectory planning, route planning, and real-time control.

What Kind of Person We Are Looking For:

• Strong background in robotics, controls, or related fields (MSc or equivalent experience).
• Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree candidate in Computer Science, Math, Electrical.
• Hands-on experience with motion planning algorithms.
• Proficiency in ROS2, C++, Python, internal middleware, and point cloud / occupancy representations, map / cost representations.
• Solid grasp of vehicle dynamics and path-following control.
• Comfort with real-world testing and debugging on robotic platforms.
• Experience integrating autonomy stacks on real robotic vehicles (not just simulation).
• Strong problem-solving skills with a bias toward practical, field-ready solutions over theory.
• Understanding of ADAS/AD systems and vehicle dynamics is a plus
• We provide market standard benefits (health, vision, dental, 401k, and equity, etc.). Join us for the culture and the mission, not for the benefits.
• The annual compensation is expected to be between $150,000 - $195,000. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location