Explore high-impact Principal Engineer and Director, Motion Planning jobs, where technical leadership and strategic vision converge to define the future of autonomous systems. Professionals in this senior role operate at the apex of robotics and self-driving technology, bearing ultimate responsibility for the algorithms that decide how a machine moves intelligently and safely through complex environments. This is not merely a management position; it is a deeply technical leadership role that shapes the core competency of an organization, blending hands-on architectural design with team building and cross-functional strategy. Typically, individuals in these jobs own the entire motion planning stack, from high-level route decision-making to low-level trajectory generation and control. They lead teams of engineers and researchers in developing, testing, and deploying robust, safety-critical software. A core responsibility is setting the technical direction and roadmap for the planning system, ensuring it meets stringent performance, reliability, and safety standards, often within a regulated Quality Management System (QMS) framework. They foster a culture of innovation and technical excellence, encouraging prototyping and research into novel algorithms while maintaining rigorous validation pipelines. Crucially, they act as the key interface, translating business goals into technical requirements and presenting progress to executive leadership and stakeholders. The typical skill set for these leadership jobs is extensive. A strong advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field is common, coupled with 7-10+ years of progressive experience in robotics, autonomous vehicles, or a similar domain. Expertise in modern motion planning paradigms (e.g., search-based, optimization-based, learning-based) is essential. Candidates must demonstrate a proven track record of architecting and delivering complex, data-driven systems from research to production. Profound programming skills in C++ and Python for safety-critical, efficient code are fundamental. Beyond technical prowess, success demands exceptional leadership abilities—the capacity to mentor, scale high-performing teams, and drive projects to successful completion. A passion for solving foundational challenges in machine intelligence and a commitment to safety and quality are the hallmarks of top candidates. For those seeking to lead at the frontier of autonomy, Principal Engineer and Director, Motion Planning jobs represent the pinnacle of influence, where one's work directly translates algorithms into real-world, intelligent motion. Discover your role in steering this transformative technology.
