Robotics Planning Engineer

Pronto; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 119,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, a

Life Insurance

401(k)

Equity

Sick Time & Paid Holidays

Paid Parental Leave

Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit Plan

Team lunch in SoMa office

Job summary

Pronto is seeking a Robotics Planning Engineer to develop high-level autonomy for fleets of autonomous haul trucks in mining environments. You’ll design motion planning, multi-agent coordination, and fleet planning to assign tasks and optimize throughput.

The role requires Python/C++ expertise and a strong background in motion planning. Based in San Francisco, onsite five days a week with opportunities to travel to customers.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Robotics, CS, or related field
• 2+ years of professional software development experience
• Strong foundation in motion planning algorithms
• Experience with computational geometry and nonholonomic planning
• Proficiency in Python and NumPy

Responsibilities

• Develop motion planning algorithms for non-holonomic vehicles
• Create multi-agent coordination systems to prevent deadlocks and collisions
• Design and implement fleet planning translating site state to truck assignments
• Build simulation and visualization tools to validate planning algorithms
• Optimize planning algorithms for real-time production performance
• Collaborate with controls engineers to ensure executable paths
• Debug fleet-level issues using logged data and replay tools
• Travel to customer sites up to 5% as needed
• Support deployments with schedule flexibility

Skills

Motion planning algorithms

Collision detection

Python

NumPy

Vehicle kinematics

Algorithm optimization

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

NumPy

Shapely

SciPy

Numba

Job description

Who We Are

Pronto AI is a global leader in commercializing autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, deploying Autonomous Haulage Systems (AHS) that automate operations in mines, quarries, and construction sites worldwide. While much of the industry remains in R&D, we deliver real, production-ready autonomy that is already operating in the field. We are on a mission to make mining operations safer, smarter, and more efficient through cutting-edge technology, and we are building toward becoming the world’s first profitable AV technology company.

What You’ll Do

We're looking for a Robotics Planning Engineer to develop the high-level autonomy systems that coordinate fleets of autonomous haul trucks in mining environments. You'll work on path planning, multi-vehicle coordination, and dispatch systems that operate at the site level — deciding where trucks go, when they go, and how they interact with each other.

• Motion planning — A robust stack, from path planning to trajectory optimization, to generate smooth and safe trajectories for 200+ ton trucks to follow.
• Coordination planning — Systems to simultaneously coordinate the motion of multiple vehicles with intersecting trajectories to avoid collision and maximize throughput.
• Fleet planning — Algorithms that dynamically translate the site-wide state, like loading and dumping locations, to actively managed assignments for each truck.
• Design and implement motion planning algorithms for non-holonomic vehicles
• Develop multi-agent coordination systems that prevent deadlocks and collisions
• Build simulation and visualization tools for validating planning algorithms
• Optimize planning algorithms for real-time performance in production environments
• Collaborate with controls engineers to ensure planned paths are executable
• Debug fleet-level issues using logged data and replay tools
• Travel note: This role requires periodic travel to customer sites (up to 5%)
• Schedule note: Some schedule flexibility may be required during deployments

What We’re Looking For

• BS/MS/PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, or related field required
• 2+ years of professional (non-internship) software development experience
• Strong foundation in motion planning algorithms
• Experience with computational geometry (collision detection, polygon operations)
• Proficiency in Python and NumPy for numerical computing
• Understanding of vehicle kinematics and nonholonomic constraints
• Ability to analyze algorithm complexity and optimize for real-time performance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with multi-agent coordination or scheduling algorithms
• Familiarity with Dubins/Reeds-Shepp curves for non-holonomic planning
• Background in trajectory optimization (DCBF, MPC-based planners)
• Experience with graph algorithms (Dijkstra, heuristic search)
• Knowledge of GEOS, Shapely or other computational geometry libraries
• Experience with fleet management or dispatch systems
• Familiarity with Redis, ZeroMQ, or similar infrastructure
• Familiarity with modern ML techniques for planning problems

Technical Environment

• Languages: Python (primary), C++ (performance-critical modules)
• Libraries: NumPy, Shapely, Numba, SciPy
• Testing: Simulation replay, config-driven scenario testing

Why join us

• Work on real, production-deployed autonomy.
• Build technology that directly improves safety, efficiency, and productivity.
• Tackle complex challenges in demanding, real-world environments.
• Be part of a fast-moving team with high ownership and impact.
• See your work deployed and making a difference in the field.
• Collaborate closely with experienced engineers and industry operators.

What Else You Need To Know

This role is based in our San Francisco office location. As a company driven by innovation and continuous change, close collaboration is essential. We’re constantly reimagining our industry, creating new products, and refining our processes, and we do our best work together. That’s why all of our office-based teams work onsite, five days a week.

The base salary range for this role is $119,000 - $161,000 per year.

Actual compensation will be determined on an individual basis and may vary depending on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package. You may also be eligible for equity awards.

Benefits Summary (USA Full-Time Exempt Employees)

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account / Health Savings Account Options
• 401(k)
• Equity
• Sick Time, Unlimited Flexible Time Off, and Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit Plan
• Team lunch in our SoMa office every Tuesday and Thursday

Benefits Are Subject To Change At The Company's Discretion.