Motional

Director of Actions

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Autonomous Vehicles, Robotics, Software EngineeringIndustries

Position Overview

  • Location Type: [Not specified]
  • Job Type: [Not specified]
  • Salary: [Not specified]

Motional is seeking a visionary and technically deep Director of Software Engineering to lead our global Planning & Controls team. This team is responsible for designing and delivering critical software that powers decision-making and low-level actuation for our Level 4 autonomous vehicles. In this role, you’ll drive both the technical strategy and execution for real-time path planning, trajectory generation, and control systems — ensuring safe, reliable, and intelligent driving behaviors under real-world constraints.

Team Size: 30–40 Engineers (Global)

You will report directly to senior Autonomy leadership and collaborate closely with the Behaviors organization as well as Perception, Simulation, Localization, Systems Engineering, and Safety to build a world-class robotaxi platform.

Responsibilities

  • Lead a global software organization (30–40 engineers and managers) across Planning and Controls teams responsible for AV motion planning, trajectory generation, and actuation logic.
  • Define and execute the technical roadmap aligned with Motional’s product and operational milestones.
  • Balance cutting-edge research with robust productization to ensure your team’s software performs safely and reliably in dynamic, complex environments.
  • Work tightly with the Behaviors organization to ensure Planning and Controls tightly integrate with upstream prediction and ML-based trajectory generation.
  • Develop and track KPIs, performance metrics, and OKRs to continuously evaluate software robustness, operational efficiency, and team output.
  • Cultivate a culture of engineering excellence, strong code quality, and deep technical ownership.
  • Mentor, develop, and grow a high-performing engineering team across multiple geographies and disciplines.
  • Provide strategic input on long-term architectural decisions, technical debt remediation, and investment areas.
  • Be a key partner to the senior leadership within the company to help solve challenging problems in a collaborative manner.

Requirements

  • 10+ years of software engineering experience with at least 5+ years leading teams in robotics, autonomous vehicles, or a related field.
  • A track record of shipping production-quality planning and controls software for autonomous systems or highly constrained robotics applications.
  • Strong expertise in trajectory planning, behavioral decision making, and motion control algorithms.
  • Deep understanding of real-time systems, vehicle dynamics, and robotic control theory.
  • Experience managing global, distributed engineering teams in a high-growth, mission-critical environment.
  • Proficiency in C++, and a strong background in Linux-based development, software architecture, and scalable infrastructure.
  • Experience collaborating with research teams and translating innovation into deployable, testable, and maintainable codebases.
  • Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and align diverse technical contributors.
  • Master’s or Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

Bonus Points

  • Experience with machine learning applied to planning or behavior modeling.
  • Prior contributions to open-source autonomy projects or publications in top robotics conferences (e.g., ICRA, RSS, CVPR).
  • Familiarity with simulation-driven development, large-scale testing infrastructure, and AV safety frameworks.

Why Join Us?

  • Lead one of the most critical teams powering Motional’s next-generation AV platform.
  • Join a mission-driven organization focused on transforming mobility through autonomy.
  • Collaborate with world-class researchers, engineers, and product leaders in a fast-paced, supportive environment.
  • Enjoy competitive compensation, equity, and benefits as part of a rapidly scaling organization with global reach.
  • Make real-world impact by helping to launch commercial AV services in cities around the world.

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a [Not specified].

Skills

Real-time path planning
Trajectory generation
Control systems
Autonomous vehicle software
Software architecture
KPI development
Performance metrics
Team leadership
Technical strategy
Robotics
ML integration
Safety-critical systems

Motional

Develops fully driverless robotaxis for urban transport

About Motional

Motional develops fully driverless vehicles, specifically robotaxis, aimed at transforming urban transportation. Their all-electric robotaxis are designed to navigate complex city environments safely and efficiently. Motional partners with ride-hailing and delivery services, providing them with advanced autonomous vehicle technology to enhance their operations and reduce costs. A unique aspect of Motional's service is its Command Center, which allows for real-time tracking of each robotaxi, enabling human agents to monitor performance and ensure passenger safety. Unlike many competitors, Motional focuses on integrating its vehicles into existing mobility networks, making driverless technology accessible and reliable. The company's goal is to make autonomous vehicles a safe and integral part of urban transportation.

Boston, MassachusettsHeadquarters
2020Year Founded
$5,000MTotal Funding
GROWTH_EQUITY_NON_VCCompany Stage
Robotics & Automation, Automotive & TransportationIndustries
1,001-5,000Employees

Benefits

401K: 401K with up to 7.5% match
time Off: Unlimited sick and vacation days
Transportation: Commuter and fitness benefits
Healthcare: 3 plan options to support diverse needs
IVF: Fertility assistance

Risks

Motional laid off 550 employees, indicating financial and operational challenges.
Aptiv reduced its stake in Motional, impacting operational capabilities.
Delays in autonomous vehicle deployment to 2026 could hinder market entry plans.

Differentiation

Motional offers a state-of-the-art Command Center for real-time robotaxi tracking.
The company focuses on all-electric, driverless robotaxis for urban environments.
Motional partners with ride-hailing services to integrate autonomous vehicles into their operations.

Upsides

Motional raised $475 million from Hyundai, indicating strong financial backing.
Partnerships with Uber and Shake Shack expand Motional's market reach in delivery services.
Increased investment in robotics highlights potential funding opportunities for Motional.

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