Principal Motion Planning Engineer

The Principal Motion Planning Engineer will lead research and development of novel algorithms and sub-systems for motion planning in autonomous driving to expand the Operational Design Domain. This includes advanced search-based and geometry-based methods, and decision-making under uncertainty with probabilistic approaches. The role involves leading cross-functional projects to define new or upgrade existing interfaces, monitoring overall system performance to identify areas for improvement, and developing technical strategies to address deficiencies. The engineer will guide cross-functional project teams to provide comprehensive solutions and think beyond the planning system's confines. They will architect and integrate complex combinations of motion planning and prediction algorithms, driving their evaluation and refinement for real-world deployment. The position requires designing and building a robust, scalable, and high-performance codebase for rapid exploration, prototyping, and rigorous evaluation of innovative motion planning approaches. Key responsibilities include driving technical collaboration and interfacing seamlessly with upstream perception and prediction components and downstream trajectory optimization, tracking, and control components to ensure end-to-end system performance. The engineer will also leverage deep software development and research expertise to teach others better software practices and principles, fostering technical excellence, and guide and mentor junior and senior team members, cultivating a culture of product-focused engineering, rigorous research, and advanced development.