Platform Systems Engineer; Motion Planning and Control

Waabi; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 292,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Equity awards

Health and Wellness benefits

Unlimited Vacation

Flexible hours

Work from Home support

Catered meals

Team building activities

Job summary

Waabi is seeking a highly skilled engineer to define AV requirements across motion planning, motion control and vehicle dynamics for Level 4 autonomous systems. You will decompose high‑level safety goals into detailed, verifiable requirements and own related contracts, using both physical and simulated data to validate performance.

Strong background in AV motion planning, control, VD, and low‑level actuation is required, along with experience in VD simulation and V&V practices.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in AV systems in motion planning, motion control and VD and low level actuator control.
• Strong physics and control systems knowledge.
• Knowledge of Systems Engineering and Verification and Validation (V&V) best practices.
• Knowledge of functional safety standards (ISO 26262).
• Comprehensive coding skills in Python, or other common programming languages.
• Risk modeling, translating probabilistic safety goals into physical metrics, and quantifying system uncertainty.
• Requirements decomposition from high-level safety goals into detailed, verifiable functional and technical requirements for a Level 4 AV system.
• Experience in VD simulation (use) and VD tools development (build).

Responsibilities

• Create Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Requirements using analytical and numerical methods, with focus on motion planning, motion control and Vehicle Dynamics (VD).
• Own the definition and requirements development of the Motion Planning, Motion Control and low level vehicle control contract.
• Create methods and use physical and simulated data to inform and verify principled requirements
• Advance VD simulation in AVs.

Skills

Motion planning

Motion control

Vehicle dynamics

Python programming

Systems engineering

Verification and validation

Functional safety ISO 26262

Requirements decomposition

VD simulation

Rust

C++

Tools

Python

Rust

Job description

Waabi, founded by AI visionary Raquel Urtasun, is the leader in Physical AI. With a world-class team, we're unlocking the next era of autonomous transportation with technology that's powering commercial autonomous trucks and robotaxis. Waabi is backed by and partners with world leaders in AI, automotive, logistics, and deep tech.

With offices in Toronto, San Francisco, Dallas, and Pittsburgh, Waabi is growing quickly and looking for diverse, innovative and collaborative candidates who want to impact the world in a positive way. To learn more visit: www.waabi.ai

You will...

• - Create Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Requirements using analytical and numerical methods, with focus on motion planning, motion control and Vehicle Dynamics (VD).
• - Own the definition and requirements development of the Motion Planning, Motion Control and low level vehicle control contract.
• - Create methods and use physical and simulated data to inform and verify principled requirements
• - Advance VD simulation in AVs.

Qualifications:

• - Strong foundation in AV systems in motion planning, motion control and VD and low level actuator control.
• - Strong physics and control systems knowledge.
• - Knowledge of Systems Engineering and Verification and Validation (V&V) best practices.
• - Knowledge of functional safety standards (i.e. ISO 26262).
• - Comprehensive coding skills in Python, or other common programming languages.
• - Risk modeling, translating probabilistic safety goals into physical metrics, and quantifying system uncertainty (including correlated errors).
• - Requirements decomposition from high-level safety goals into detailed, verifiable functional and technical requirements for a Level 4 AV system.
• - Experience in VD simulation (use) and VD tools development (build).

Bonus:

• - Applied and proven experience in building end to end motion planning and control systems systems.
• - Commercial trucking actuator system and truck dynamics and control.
• - Applied and proven experience of optimal control systems.
• - A strong passion for robotics systems and an intuitive understanding of actual electro-mechanical problems in the context of self-driving or robotics.
• - Coding in Rust and using build and test automation tools.

The US yearly salary range for this role is: $147,932 - $291,612 USD in addition to competitive perks & benefits. Waabi US Inc. and Waabi Canada Inc.'s yearly salary ranges are determined based on several factors in accordance with the Company’s compensation practices. The salary base range is reflective of the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US and Canada locations. Note: The Company provides additional compensation for employees in this role, including discretionary equity incentive awards and discretionary annual performance bonus.

Perks/Benefits:

Waabi provides a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive compensation and equity awards.
• Health and Wellness benefits that include Medical, Vision and Dental coverage.
• Unlimited Vacation.
• Flexible hours and Work from Home support.
• Daily drinks, snacks and catered meals (when in office).
• Regularly scheduled team building activities and social events.
• As we grow, this list continues to evolve!

Waabi is a technology start-up building technologies to transform the way the world moves. Join our talented team to be a part of the future and to make an impact!

Waabi is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a supportive, inclusive, and accessible workplace for all our employees. We seek applicants of all backgrounds and identities, across race, color, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military or veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or parental status, caregiver status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. We make workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please let our recruiting team know.