Senior Robotics Engineer (Dynamics and Controls)

General Motors; Mountain View, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 158,000 - 242,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation benefits

Health and wellbeing benefits

GM vehicle discounts

Job summary

General Motors in California seeks a Senior Software Engineer (Dynamics and Controls) for the Embodied AI Local Planner Controller team. You will advance vehicle dynamics, estimation and controls used in GM's Super Cruise and lead cross-functional design and validation efforts.

The role emphasizes architecture, interface contracts with perception/prediction/planning, and a data-driven approach to reliability and safety across a large, distributed engineering organization.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or MS with strong work in motion planning or related field.
• Deep understanding of optimal controls and trajectory optimization.
• Strong grasp of classical and modern feedback control theory.
• Solid understanding of vehicle dynamics and safety-critical software.
• Experience with C++/Python in large distributed environments.
• Experience designing and leading autonomous software projects.
• Background in robotics/AV/ADAS is a plus.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive feature development for vehicle dynamics and controls software in GM's Super Cruise.
• Architect and implement designs and interfaces with perception, prediction and planning.
• Lead technical reviews and promote engineering best practices.
• Contribute to Active Safety, Driver Assistance and Super Cruise.
• Define verification, validation, simulation and on-road testing strategies.
• Collaborate with Safety, Systems Engineering and Product for onboard requirements.
• Lead root-cause investigations and develop test plans with metrics.
• Improve software quality via CI, automated tests and code reviews.

Skills

C++

Python

Motion planning

Vehicle dynamics

ROS

Safety-critical software

Software engineering leadership

Numerical optimization

Distributed development

Communication skills

Education

Ph.D. in controls/optimization/path planning

M.S. in controls/optimization/path planning

B.S. in a related field

Tools

ROS

Job description

Job Description At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We’re turning today’s impossible into tomorrow’s standard —from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features. Every day, our products move millions of people as we aim to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.

Role Overview

As a Senior Software Engineer (Dynamics and Controls), you will be a senior individual contributor in the Local Planner Controller team within Embodied AI.

We formulate and solve optimization problems online, considering kinematic feasibility, collision avoidance, and ride comfort.

In this role, you will provide cross-functional technical leadership for vehicle dynamics, estimation and controls systems used in GMs Super Cruise system.

You will contribute to vehicle dynamics and controls software, drive design quality from architecture through validation, and align multiple teams to ship reliable, scalable autonomy capabilities that meet company goals.

You will:

• Drive feature development for vehicle dynamics and controls software deployed to GMs Super Cruise system.
• Architect and implement system designs and interface contracts with perception, prediction and planning systems, ensuring deliverables meet performance targets and safety constraints.
• Lead technical reviews and drive software engineering best practices across the team and the larger organization.
• Contribute to Active Safety, Driver Assistance, and Super Cruise.
• Establish verification and validation strategies for the vehicle dynamics and controls software, including simulation and on-road testing validation gates.
• Partner with Safety, Systems Engineering, and Product to generate requirements for onboard systems.
• Lead root-cause investigations for complex integration issues, using data-driven techniques and principled experimentation, proactively creating test plans for new features and defining useful metrics for analyzing performance.
• Improve and deliver reliable software through continuous integration, automated testing, and code reviews.
• Help define, build, and embody GM engineering culture and principles.

Qualifications

• Ph.D., M.S. in controls, optimization, path planning, or related.
• B.S. with strong work experience in the field may be considered 3+ years of experience in motion planning or related field.
• Deep understanding of optimal controls and trajectory optimization algorithms.
• Good grasp of classical and modern feedback control theory and techniques.
• Solid understanding of vehicle dynamics.
• A demonstrated track record of building high quality autonomous software systems.
• Deep expertise in Planning and Controls system design.
• Experience with C++/Python in a large, distributed development environment.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Passion for self-driving technology and its potential impact on the world.
• Bonus points: A background in robotics, ROS, or the AV/ADAS industry.
• Experience in numerical optimization algorithms.
• Experience designing software applications for safety critical systems.
• Experience building and managing engineering teams.

Compensation

The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The compensation may not be representative for positions located outside of the California Bay Area. The salary range for this role is $158,000.00 to $241,900.00. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.

Bonus Potential

An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.

Benefits

Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs.

• Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.
• This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

Benefits Overview From day one, we're looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

#GM-AV-1 About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

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Benefits Overview

Benefits Overview From day one, we're looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

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