Real-Time On-Vehicle Path Planning Engineer

Rippling, Inc.; Clarksburg (MD); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

PTO 20 days

Parental leave

Tuition assistance

401(k)

Job summary

Forterra is seeking an experienced robotics software engineer to design and validate real-time path and motion planning for diverse vehicle platforms. You will integrate with perception, localization and controls, test on-vehicle systems, and ensure reliable performance in field environments.

The role requires robust C++ development, Linux experience, and hands-on deployment from simulation to hardware, with opportunities for travel to support on-site integration.

Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in Robotics, Applied Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Strong background in path planning, motion planning, or related autonomy domains.
• Strong programming skills in C++.
• Solid software engineering fundamentals: system design, unit/integration testing, debugging.
• Experience deploying or integrating software on physical robotic or automotive platforms.
• Ability to deliver production-quality software in a continuously integrated environment.
• Demonstrates clean, maintainable code and documentation practices.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive, hands-on approach.

Responsibilities

• Develop real-time (deterministic, randomized, and optimization-based) path and motion planning algorithms for various vehicle types (Ackermann, skid-steered, wheeled, tracked) using C++ in a Linux environment.
• Integrate planning algorithms with on-vehicle systems, including perception, localization, controls, and platform interfaces.
• Deploy, test, and debug autonomy software directly on vehicles, addressing real-time constraints, system latency, and hardware limitations.
• Design and implement messaging for synchronization, logging and debugging across distributed systems.
• Own end-to-end validation: simulation -> HIL -> on-vehicle testing, ensuring consistency and performance across environments.
• Diagnose and resolve issues observed in field testing, including edge cases arising from sensing, actuation, and environment variability.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams (Perception, Controls, Platform, Systems Engineering) to ensure robust and reliable vehicle behavior.
• Travel up to 20% to support on-site vehicle integration and testing

Skills

Path planning

C++ programming

Robotics expertise

Software engineering fundamentals

Autonomy / unmanned platforms

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Robotics or related field

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Linux

Real-time systems

Job description

Forterra is seeking an experienced robotics software engineer to design and validate real-time path and motion planning for diverse vehicle platforms. You will integrate with perception, localization and controls, test on-vehicle systems, and ensure reliable performance in field environments.

The role requires robust C++ development, Linux experience, and hands-on deployment from simulation to hardware, with opportunities for travel to support on-site integration.