Principal Engineer, Team Lead- Motion Planning

Motional; United States; On-site; USD 212,000 - 283,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401k with company match

Life and pet insurance

Health savings accounts

Job summary

A leading autonomous vehicle technology company in the United States seeks a Principal Engineer, Team Lead - Motion Planning. This role requires expertise in robotics and team management, focusing on the design and implementation of motion planning software. The ideal candidate should have a master's or PhD, experience in leading teams, and advanced proficiency in C++ and motion planning algorithms. This position offers a competitive salary and an inclusive work environment.

Qualifications

• Over two years of experience in managing a development team.
• Established history of delivering production-quality motion planners.
• Strong theoretical understanding of motion planning under uncertainty.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team within the motion planning organization.
• Collaborate on architectural strategies and resource allocation.
• Deliver a robust and scalable motion planner focused on safety.

Skills

Team management

Robotics expertise

C++ software development

Motion planning algorithms

Linux

Python

Education

Masters or PhD in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SQL

Job description

Principal Engineer, Team Lead - Motion Planning

Join to apply for the Principal Engineer, Team Lead - Motion Planning role at Motional.

On our Planning team, you’ll apply your passion in robotics and software development for production‑ready autonomous vehicles. As the Technical Lead Manager, you will direct a team tasked with the design and implementation of motion planning software for autonomous vehicles. This position requires leadership in defining the motion planning and control systems that enable our fleet to operate securely, effectively, and with passenger comfort in intricate settings. As a leader, you will drive the development of cutting‑edge motion planning algorithms, collaborate with cross‑functional teams (Localization, Perception, Prediction, Controls, ML Products, and Systems Engineering), and mentor a talented group of engineers to deliver state‑of‑the‑art solutions. If you are passionate about autonomous driving, thrive on solving challenging real‑world problems, and are eager to make a significant impact in a rapidly evolving field, we want to hear from you.

Role responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team within the motion planning organization, assuming responsibility for planning algorithm and constraint generation.
• Collaborate with other leaders to provide technical direction, making critical decisions on architectural strategies, strategic resource allocation, operational execution, and technical debt management.
• Deliver a robust and scalable planner, prioritizing safety throughout the design, prototyping, testing, deployment, and production phases.
• Adopt a metrics‑driven approach to the development and enhancement of technical components.
• Advance existing planning methodologies to facilitate data‑driven strategies.
• Promote diversity and inclusion in both products and personnel.
• Mentor and offer constructive feedback (technical and professional) to team members, cultivating an inclusive and collaborative work environment.
• Demonstrate initiative in generating innovative ideas, formulating a team vision, and considering the holistic robotaxi system.
• Implement and review algorithms and code, applying rigorous engineering methodologies.
• Partner with project managers to develop roadmaps and execute plans according to schedule.

What we’re looking for

• Over two years of experience in the management of a development team, with a demonstrated ability to foster career growth, mentor team members effectively, and enhance productivity.
• Masters or PhD in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Established history of successfully delivering production‑quality motion planners in a leadership capacity.
• Advanced proficiency in search algorithms.
• Experience in developing motion planning solutions with ML.
• Expertise in C++ software development, Linux, and Python, with supplementary knowledge of SQL.
• Strong theoretical understanding and practical experience in motion planning under conditions of uncertainty, as well as in interactions with dynamic agents and environments.
• Knowledge of robotics algorithms in localization, perception, prediction, motion planning, and control systems for autonomous vehicles.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and management skills.

Skills appreciated

• Experience in Autonomous Vehicles or other robotics industries
• Experience using simulation tools
• Experience with Verification & Validation for safety‑critical systems

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, licenses, 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. Candidates for certain positions are eligible to participate in Motional’s benefits program. Motional’s benefits include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, 401k with a company match, health savings accounts, life insurance, pet insurance, and more.

Salary Range: $212,000 USD - $283,000 USD

Motional is a driverless technology company making autonomous vehicles a safe, reliable, and accessible reality. We’re driven by something more. Our journey is always people first.

We’re creating first‑of‑its‑kind technology that will transform transportation. To do so successfully, we must design for everyone in our cities and on our roads. We believe in building a great place to work through a progressive, global culture that is diverse, inclusive, and ensures people feel valued at every level of the organization. Diversity helps us to see the world differently; it’s not only good for our business, it’s the right thing to do.

Scale up, not starting up.

Our team is behind some of the industry's largest leaps forward, including the first fully‑autonomous cross‑country drive in the U.S, the launch of the world's first robotaxi pilot, and operation of the world's longest‑standing public robotaxi fleet. We’re driven to scale; we’re moving toward commercialization of our technology, and we need team members who are ready to embrace change and challenges.

Formed as a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, Motional is fundamentally changing how people move through their lives. Headquartered in Boston, Motional has operations in the U.S and Asia. For more information, visit www.Motional.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

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.