Role Summary
This position focuses on advancing navigation and control capabilities for autonomous robotic systems. The role involves designing and delivering high-performance motion planning and control solutions that enable reliable operation in complex, real-world environments. It requires end-to-end ownership of key functionalities, from concept development through implementation and real-world validation, along with supporting knowledge growth within the engineering function.
Primary Responsibilities
- Develop and enhance navigation algorithms to enable efficient path planning, accurate trajectory generation, and stable motion control in dynamic environments
- Lead the design and delivery of critical navigation components, ensuring they perform reliably under real-time constraints
- Build optimized, production-ready software in C++ with strong emphasis on maintainability, performance, and system safety
- Drive integration of navigation capabilities with other system layers to ensure smooth data flow and consistent behavior
- Create and execute validation strategies, including simulation-based testing and real-world trials, to verify robustness and performance
- Design, implement, and fine-tune control strategies (e.g., PID, MPC, pursuit-based methods, and advanced nonlinear controllers) for precise vehicle operation
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship, supporting best practices in system design, coding standards, and debugging approaches
- Contribute to architectural evolution, ensuring scalability and alignment of navigation solutions within the broader system
Core Requirements
- Degree in Robotics, Control Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline
- Extensive experience (7+ years) in navigation, motion planning, or control systems for robotics or autonomous platforms
- Advanced programming expertise in C++, particularly in high-performance, real-time applications
- Hands-on experience with robotics middleware such as ROS (ROS1 or ROS2)
- Strong understanding of planning techniques, including graph-based and sampling-based approaches, as well as trajectory optimization methods
- Solid foundation in control systems, with practical application of both classical and modern techniques (e.g., PID, MPC, LQR, nonlinear methods)
- Experience solving complex navigation challenges such as obstacle avoidance, constrained motion (non-holonomic systems), and uncertain or partially known environments
- Familiarity with integrating navigation outputs with upstream perception and localization data, including handling delays and uncertainty
- Proficiency with modern development practices, including version control systems and container-based workflows
Preferred Experience
- Prior ownership of large-scale navigation or control features, from design through deployment
- Experience in challenging environments such as off-road or unstructured terrain, including adaptive planning strategies
- Exposure to deploying robotics software on embedded or edge computing platforms (e.g., ARM-based systems)
- Familiarity with simulation and visualization tools for robotics system validation
Professional Attributes
- Strong problem-solving mindset with attention to system-level performance and reliability
- Ability to work independently while driving complex technical initiatives to completion
- Clear and effective communication skills for conveying complex technical concepts
- Commitment to continuous learning and staying current with advancements in robotics and autonomy
- Willingness to support and mentor others, contributing to overall technical excellence
