Staff Software Engineer - Behaviors

Torc Robotics is a leader in autonomous driving technology, focusing on developing software for automated trucks. They are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to lead the development of planning and prediction systems for autonomous trucks, driving technical solutions and mentoring engineers within the team.

Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and maintain core planning and prediction systems, including trajectory generation, behavior prediction, decision-making, and motion planning algorithms for autonomous trucks
• Advance and evaluate multiple planning approaches, including optimization-based, learning-based, and hybrid architectures, making data-driven decisions on where each methodology delivers the greatest value
• Own technical solutions across the full software lifecycle, including architecture design, implementation, testing, simulation validation, vehicle integration, deployment, and long-term maintenance
• Develop production-quality software using modern C++ within a Linux environment while adhering to quality, safety, testing, and deployment best practices
• Drive simulation-based validation efforts across Software-in-the-Loop (SiL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL), and Vehicle-in-the-Loop (ViL) environments to ensure robust performance and prevent regressions
• Partner closely with Safety, Controls, Perception, Validation, and Simulation teams to develop safe and reliable autonomous driving behaviors, including fallback strategies and minimum-risk maneuvers
• Lead root-cause investigations by reproducing field issues in simulation, debugging vehicle behavior, and translating findings into actionable software improvements
• Influence technical strategy, roadmap planning, and long-term architectural direction across the Behaviors organization
• Act as a technical lead on complex, cross-functional initiatives, driving alignment and execution across teams and stakeholders
• Mentor engineers, raise technical standards, and help develop the next generation of autonomy leaders within the organization

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field with 10+ years of industry experience; OR Master's degree with 7+ years of experience; OR PhD with 5+ years of experience
• Expert-level proficiency in modern C++ development within Linux-based environments
• Demonstrated experience delivering robotics, autonomous vehicle, or advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) software into production
• Strong experience designing and developing motion planning, behavior planning, prediction, or decision-making systems for autonomous systems or robotics applications
• Deep understanding of software architecture, system design, and scalable engineering practices
• Experience working across the full software development lifecycle, from concept and design through deployment and operational support
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to influence technical direction across organizations
• Ability to operate independently in highly ambiguous environments while driving complex technical initiatives to completion
• Expertise in motion planning, trajectory optimization, behavior prediction, or decision-making systems for autonomous vehicles
• Experience with optimization and controls-based approaches such as Model Predictive Control (MPC), trajectory optimization, or numerical optimization techniques
• Experience applying machine learning techniques, including imitation learning, reinforcement learning, or hybrid planning architectures within autonomy systems
• Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics, state estimation, controls, and trajectory tracking
• Experience developing software in both C++ and Python environments
• Experience integrating machine learning models into real-time production systems
• Experience working with simulation platforms and large-scale autonomy validation environments
• Proven track record of technical leadership, cross-functional influence, and mentoring senior engineers
• Passion for autonomous vehicles, robotics, and building systems that operate safely in the real world