Staff Robotics Engineer - Planning and Controls

General Motors; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 185,000 - 335,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellbeing benefits

Relocation assistance

Company vehicle program

Job summary

General Motors seeks a highly skilled engineer to shape the autonomous vehicle software stack, owning roadmaps for dynamics and controls. You will design interfaces with perception, prediction, and planning, drive safety and performance, and lead best practices across teams.

You will guide a distributed engineering staff, implement CI/CD, automated tests, and robust verification for roadway-ready features, including Active Safety and Driver Assistance.

Qualifications

• Ph.D., M.S. in controls, optimization, path planning, or related. B.S. with strong work experience in the field may be considered
• Deep expertise in Planning and Controls system design
• Experience with C++/Python in a large, distributed development environment

Responsibilities

• Shape the technical vision by owning multi-quarter roadmap designs for vehicle dynamics and controls software.
• 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 development.
• Guide other developers through system design and implementation focusing on safety, comfort, and compute efficiency.
• 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
• Mentor engineers across teams, raising the bar on technical judgment, design quality, and execution discipline without direct people management responsibilities.
• Improve and deliver reliable software through continuous integration, automated testing, and code reviews.
• Develop and oversight top-tier software engineers within a dynamic, fast-paced, and inclusive setting.
• Help define, build, and embody GM engineering culture and principles.

Skills

Motion planning

Optimal controls

Trajectory optimization

C++

Python

System design

Safety requirements

Data-driven testing

Education

Ph.D. in controls/optimization/path planning

M.S. in a related field

B.S. with strong work experience

Tools

ROS

Job description

About GM

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.

Job Description

About GM

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.

About The Role

What you’ll be doing (Responsibilities)

• Shape the technical vision by owning multi-quarter roadmap designs for vehicle dynamics and controls software.
• 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 development.
• Guide other developers through system design and implementation focusing on safety, comfort, and compute efficiency.
• 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
• Mentor engineers across teams, raising the bar on technical judgment, design quality, and execution discipline without direct people management responsibilities.
• Improve and deliver reliable software through continuous integration, automated testing, and code reviews.
• Develop and oversee top-tier software engineers within a dynamic, fast-paced, and inclusive setting.
• Help define, build, and embody GM engineering culture and principles.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D., M.S. in controls, optimization, path planning, or related. B.S. with strong work experience in the field may be considered
• 5+ 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
• 5+ years of experience in motion planning or related field

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 $185,100.00 to $335,300.00. 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.

Company Vehicle: Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate. Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.

#GM-AV-1

This role is based remotely, but if the selected candidate lives within a specific mile radius of a GM hub, they will be expected to report to the location three times a week {or other frequency dictated by your manager}. The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role. This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

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.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

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.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

Accommodations

General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.