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Remote role · senior-s

Senior / Staff Software Engineer - Motion Planning

Zoox

Salary$254k - $350k
Before you apply

Role details

The practical picture
Employment
Full-time
Role signal brief

The role, at a glance

Extracted from the source posting · 95% confidence

This role focuses on developing algorithmic improvements for autonomous vehicle motion planning at Zoox. The candidate will implement changes in C++, test behaviors in simulation and on-road, and collaborate across expert teams. It requires a Master's degree and 8+ years of experience.

Compensation
USD 254,000–350,000 / year

What you need

  • Master's degree in Computer Science or related field
  • 8+ years of experience
  • Fluency in C++
  • Understanding of configuration spaces and planning techniques
  • Ability to create real-time motion planning algorithms

What you will own

  • Create algorithmic improvements to driving behavior and implement them in the codebase
  • Test changes using backend tooling across various driving situations
  • Lead on-vehicle drive reviews to generate feedback on driving performance
  • Attend conferences and survey literature on robotics and motion planning
  • Write and file patents for novel technologies
Core skills
C++Motion PlanningRoboticsAlgorithmsSimulationCollaboration
Internal freshness window ends Oct 22, 2026
View source evidence
  • must_have “Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field and 8+ years of experience”
  • must_have “Fluency in C++”
  • location “hybrid,Foster City, CA”
  • salary “'currency': 'USD', 'interval': 'per-year-salary', 'min': 254000, 'max': 350000”
c++motion planningroboticsalgorithms
Role brief
On the Motion Planning team at Zoox, you’ll be dedicated to improving the driving behaviors of the robot on public roads. The Planner's job is to figure out where the robot is going and how to get there safely in situations as complex as those found in Downtown San Francisco or on the Las Vegas Strip.   This is a cutting-edge problem, which requires teamwork and collaboration across a broad set of experts spanning Planner, Perception, Prediction, Operations, and more. Together, you will create the next generation of algorithmic improvements to expand our robot’s ability to drive in some of the most complex situations found on public roads.   Safety is foundational at Zoox, so you will take a measured approach – develop a principled modification to the Planner, test in simulation and on closed courses, and team up with our safety drivers for on-road testing. 

In this role, you will:

  • Create principled algorithmic improvements to specific areas of driving behavior and implement those changes in our code base.
  • Use our extensive backend tooling to test your changes across many different driving situations at the press of a button.
  • Lead on-vehicle drive reviews to generate actionable feedback on driving performance. Use this experience to help the team learn and make improvements. 
  • Attend conferences and survey literature to stay informed on the most recent developments in the fields of Robotics and Motion Planning.
  • Write and file patents for novel technologies you develop.
  • Qualifications

  • Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field and 8+ years of experience
  • Fluency in C++
  • Understanding of configuration spaces and a variety of planning techniques (A*, RRTs, PRMs, etc.)
  • Demonstrated ability to create real-time motion planning algorithms
  • Bonus Qualifications

  • Significant contributions to geometric- and/or sampling-based planning algorithms
  • Experience with autonomous robots and machine learning or data-driven development processes
  • Experience with ROS, pose estimation, SLAM, probabilistic filtering, 3D data, or CUDA
  • Additional

    About ZooxZoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We’re looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.
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    AccommodationsIf you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to accommodations@zoox.com or your assigned recruiter.
    A Final Note:You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.