Key skills
Robotics decision makingMotion planning algorithmsControls algorithmsSafety critical systemsC++ programmingPython programmingSimulation systemsLinux operating systemsMentorshipTechnical documentationPythonC++CRustMLAnalyticsMentoringDecision Making
About this role
Motional is a driverless technology company making autonomous vehicles a safe, reliable, and accessible reality. The principal engineer will develop and deliver new algorithms and models for motion planning, trajectory generation, and controls to advance the capabilities of autonomous vehicles.
Responsibilities:
- Lead the research, design, and development of algorithms and ML models that enhance vehicle decision-making, expand ODDs, and ensure robustness against long-tail events and subsystem failures
- Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams (Perception, Prediction, Hardware, Infrastructure, etc) to architect a holistic system that maximizes safety and performance at scale
- Architect dynamic simulation scenarios to validate expanded ODDs, ensuring rigorous testing of the system’s "edge case" limits
- Maintain a high bar for technical excellence by clearly documenting research findings, system architectures, and validation results to ensure organizational alignment and safety traceability
- Act as a technical catalyst by mentoring junior engineers in software craftsmanship, algorithmic rigor, and systems thinking
Requirements:
- Expert in robotics decision making, motion planning, and controls algorithms and ML models
- Experience designing, developing, and delivering complex robotic or automation systems
- Experience with robotics systems and the ability to root cause problems
- Experience writing software for safety critical embedded systems utilizing C++, Rust, or similar
- Experience developing analytics using Python, or similar
- Experience with testing, verification, and validation of systems with functional safety requirements
- Experience with simulation systems for robotics and/or autonomous vehicles
- Experience using Linux operating systems, and ability to work in terminals/shells to perform troubleshooting, system performance monitoring, and kernel/journal log debugging
- Experience profiling CPU, GPU, Disk, and Network usage
- Experience with perception or prediction algorithms and models
- Experience with open-source robotics middleware (ROS, DDS)