Software Engineer, Autonomous Vehicles (Motion Planning)

Helm.ai builds AI software for autonomous driving and robotics, focusing on making autonomous technologies more efficient and safer. They are looking for versatile engineers to design, implement, and test software/hardware systems for autonomous vehicles, collaborating with various teams to enhance driving capabilities.

Responsibilities:

• Architect core behavior planning: Own the logic and decision frameworks that guide the vehicle through complex maneuvers (like unprotected turns, dynamic merges, and yielding)
• Optimize trajectories: Develop robust trajectory generation systems that perfectly balance safety, passenger comfort, and vehicle progress
• Ensure verifiable safety: Translate complex traffic rules and operational design domain (ODD) constraints into interpretable, highly safe planning behaviors
• Solve the long-tail: Tackle exciting, real-world edge cases, from unpredictable pedestrians and occlusions to complex construction zones
• Drive cross-functional integration: Collaborate closely to seamlessly connect your planner with perception, prediction, localization, and control modules
• Test and validate: Prove out your solutions through rigorous scenario-based simulations, closed-course trials, and live on-road testing
• Optimize for real-time: Deliver robust, highly deterministic performance tailored for embedded automotive hardware

Requirements:

• MS/PhD in robotics, Computer science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent industry experience
• Solid C++ for robust, real-time systems, paired with Python for tooling and data analysis
• Deep familiarity with both planning algorithms (search, sampling and optimization-based) and complex decision architectures (like FSMs and behavior trees)
• A solid grasp of vehicle kinematics and dynamics to ensure safe, smooth, and realistic motion profiles
• Hands-on experience with ROS/ROS2 or comparable autonomous middleware
• Experience shipping a planner on public roads and analyzing real-world disengagement data
• Hands-on experience with tools like CARLA or custom in-house scenario frameworks