Staff Software Engineer, Autonomy Actions

Motional; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 172,000 - 229,000; Full time

Job summary

Motional is seeking a staff engineer to elevate the quality, reliability, and robustness of subsystems for decision making, motion planning, and controls. You will collaborate with subsystem owners to implement high-value quality improvements, document ICDs, and enhance diagnostics and status reporting while addressing memory management and validation capabilities.

You will also explore agentic AI agents to aid in implementing design and validation principals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CS, robotics, or related field; master's/PhD preferred.
• Expert in C++ optimization and MISRA-compliant defensive programming for embedded systems.
• Experience with large, complex codebases and documentation.
• Experience in architecture/tools to verify autonomous vehicle subsystems.
• Experience in Interface Contract Documentation and contract enforcement.
• Experience in compiler integration and optimizing large codebases.
• Ability to collaborate across teams to drive quality and performance improvements.

Responsibilities

• Improve quality initiatives before commercial driverless launch.
• Collaborate with subsystem owners to implement identified initiatives.
• Deliver enhanced software quality assessments and root-cause analysis within the Planning and Controls stack.
• Apply agentic AI concepts to streamline development and validation processes.
• Present work to demonstrate highest level of software quality.

Skills

C++ optimization

MISRA/defensive coding

Functional safety

Large codebases

Interface contracts

Compiler integration

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or Robotics

Master's or Ph.D. preferred

Job description

Mission Summary

We are looking for a staff engineer to improve the quality, reliability, and robustness of our subsystems for decision making, motion planning, and controls. You will collaborate with the team to implement the highest value and priority quality improvements, including documenting and iterating ICDs, enhancing error checking, diagnostics and status reporting, improving compiler support and static analysis integration, eliminating memory allocation at runtime and building subsystem validation capabilities. Developing and deploying agentic AI agents to help with implementing and enforcing these new design and validation principals will be a key deliverable in this role.

What you’ll be doing

• Your expertise will help the team deliver the critical quality initiatives before commercial driverless launch.
• You’ll work closely with subsystem owners and experts to implement the identified initiatives.
• Direct results will include enhanced software quality assessments before software reaches the vehicle, improved unrecoverable MRM rates, and root cause analysis of complex issues within the Planning and Controls stack reported by the triage team.
• You’ll have the opportunity to learn and advance your skills through application of advanced AI agents, including agentic agents, to streamline and enhance the development process.
• Present your work to the team to demonstrate how to maintain the highest level of software quality.

What we’re looking for

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field. A Master’s or Ph.D. is preferred.
• You’re an expert in C++ software optimization and defensive programming for embedded systems (ie. MISRA), including functional safety rated systems.
• Comfortable navigating and contributing to large, complex codebases where modularity and documentation are key.
• You’ve designed and developed architecture and tools to verify complex subsystems of autonomous vehicles.
• Experience in Interface Contract Documentation and contract enforcement.
• Experience in compiler integration and optimization of complex code bases.
• Capable of working across teams to identify, prioritize, and execute software quality and performance improvements.

Bonus Points (not required)

• Experience with autonomous vehicles or vehicle automation systems.
• Functional safety processes and implementation.

We encourage a hybrid schedule with in‑office time at one of our locations in Boston, Pittsburgh, or Las Vegas to support collaboration, or this role can be fully remote.

Salary Range

Base salary: $172,000 — $229,000 USD. This role may include additional forms of compensation such as a bonus or company equity.

Benefits

Motional’s benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, health savings accounts, life insurance, pet insurance, and more.

Motional AD Inc. is an EOE. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. To comply with Federal Law, we participate in E‑Verify. All newly‑hired employees are queried through this electronic system established by the DHS and the SSA to verify their identity and employment eligibility.