Senior Applications Software Engineer, Planning and Control

NVIDIA; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 152,000 - 287,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

NVIDIA’s Solutions Engineering team is seeking a software-focused engineer to advance autonomous driving platforms. You will shape application architecture, integrate NVIDIA solutions across target vehicles, and collaborate with global teams to optimize drivability and performance.

Bring 5+ years in software for deep learning or autonomy, strong control theory and motion planning, and hands-on C/C++ with Python.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of work experience in software development related to deep learning and/or autonomous driving technologies.
• Strong foundation in control theory, motion planning, and optimization, including real-time algorithms for safety-critical systems.
• Solid grasp of vehicle dynamics, state estimation and trajectory generation for real-time hardware.
• BS/MS in computer science, robotics, electrical engineering, or related technical field (or equivalent).
• Excellent C/C++ development skills with good knowledge of Python.
• Ability to adapt to fast-paced development lifecycles and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Shape the application architecture internally, focusing on planning and control in collaboration with architecture and software teams.
• Integrate NVIDIA solutions in target vehicles, tuning planner and controller for desired dynamics.
• Lead bring-up activities and provide technical support for functional issues.
• Perform in-vehicle and simulation test drives for functional and performance analysis.

Skills

C/C++ development

Python

Deep learning

Autonomous driving

Control theory

Real-time algorithms

Education

BS/MS in computer science, robotics, electrical engineering, or related technical field

Tools

QNX RTOS

CUDA programming

Job description

Join NVIDIA’s Solutions Engineering team that is reshaping the future of driving! Our goal is to build and deploy scalable solutions for autonomous vehicles and as a result, create safer and more efficient roads. Our team is hands‑on, passionate about practical results, and values diversity. You will help craft the application software architecture by working closely with external partners developing on our platform and on collaborations across multiple teams within NVIDIA working on autonomous vehicles. You will also advance and refine the overall drivability of our solution, focusing on integration challenges and using your deep analytical skills to tease through the complexity of the system to find effective solutions.

NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the technology world’s most desirable employers. If you are passionate in bringing autonomous vehicles into the world and see the solution come together, we would like to hear from you!

What you’ll be doing:

• Shape the application architecture internally, with a focus on planning and control, by collaborating closely with architecture and software development teams.
• Integrate and adapt NVIDIA solutions in target vehicles, ensuring that both the planner and controller are adapted and tuned to meet the desired vehicle dynamics performance metrics and functionality.
• Lead bring‑up activities and provide technical support to resolve functional and planning & control related issues.
• Perform and leverage in‑vehicle and simulation test drives for functional and performance analysis on the recorded data.
• Work with our partners to efficiently integrate hardware and software components, understand the system architecture, profile performance, identify bottlenecks, and drive optimization.
• Collaborate with our global engineering teams in our US, APAC, and Europe locations to deploy solutions to our customers.

What we need to see:

• 5+ years of work related experience in software development related to deep learning and/or autonomous driving technologies.
• Strong foundation in control theory, motion planning, and optimization, including real‑time algorithms suitable for safety‑critical systems.
• Solid grasp of vehicle dynamics, state estimation and trajectory generation, with experience taking algorithms from simulation to real‑time hardware.
• BS/MS in computer science, robotics, electrical engineering, or related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• Excellent C/C++ development skills with good knowledge of Python.
• Ability to adapt to fast paced development lifecycles and multi‑functional organizations, new technologies and platforms.
• Strong analytical skills, strive for innovative solutions, with outstanding attention to details.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

• Familiarity of NVIDIA DRIVE platform and NVIDIA GPU hardware and CUDA programming.
• Software development experience on QNX or equivalent RTOS.
• Experience with automotive design processes and standards (e.g. ISO 26262 FuSa, ISO 21448 SOTIF, ASPICE), including in‑vehicle testing, simulation and development guided by measurable outcomes.
• Proven expertise in developing planning & control solutions and experience on diverse vehicle platforms.
• Contributions to or ownership of open‑source project and mentorship experience.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 152,000 USD – 241,500 USD for Level 3, and 184,000 USD – 287,500 USD for Level 4.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until February 6, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.