Staff Software Engineer, Motion Planning

Summary

Join AeroVect, a Series A company transforming ground handling with autonomy, as an experienced Technical Lead. Lead the planning team, own the planning module roadmap, and ensure delivery of high-quality planning systems for autonomous driving. You will drive the development of mission, behavior, and motion planners, achieving category-defining vehicle autonomy. This role offers the chance to develop a market-defining enterprise product combining autonomous vehicle technology with a RaaS business model. You will report to the Head of Autonomy and work closely with the autonomy engineering team. This is a leadership role requiring extensive experience in autonomous systems planning and proven project management skills.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Math, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Physics, or a related field
• Extensive experience in developing planning modules for autonomous systems, with prior leadership or team management experience
• Proven ability to manage and deliver complex engineering projects
• Strong programming skills in C++ (preferred) or Python, and experience with Linux-based operating systems
• Excellent communication skills, proactiveness, and a strong sense of ownership

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning team, set clear goals, and foster a collaborative environment to deliver high-quality planning systems
• Set the short and long-term technical direction for the planning stack and balance leadership responsibilities with hands-on technical work
• Develop and maintain the planning module roadmap, ensuring timely delivery of milestones by directing schedules and removing obstacles for your team
• Collaborate cross-functionally with other teams to create an integrated autonomous driving system, contributing to strategic decision-making in the planning system architecture
• Establish and promote best practices in software development, functional safety, and systems engineering within the planning team

Preferred Qualifications

• MS or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field
• Mastery of Modern C++ (14 and beyond) and safety-critical coding practices (e.g., MISRA, ISO 26262)
• 5+ years of industry experience in planning for robotic ground vehicles
• In-depth understanding of DDS frameworks like ROS/ROS2 or other networking middleware
• Experience in startup environments, demonstrating adaptability to rapidly changing priorities