Senior Engineer - Motion Planning and Controls, Autonomous Driving
About the role
We are seeking a Senior Motion Planning Engineer to support the auto-parking and low-speed autonomy stack. This role focuses on trajectory optimization, path smoothing, and local planning, with direct impact on parking features such as Auto Park, Summon, and Park-to-Park.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and enhance trajectory optimization algorithms (e.g., iLQR / MPC-based approaches) for low-speed scenarios
Design and implement constraint-aware optimization
Improve local planners to generate control-friendly trajectories
Refactor and scale planning stack architecture for maintainability and extensibility
Optimize CPU usage and explore parallel/GPU acceleration opportunities
Improve system-level behaviors such as: Stability under dynamic constraints, Scalability across scenarios and vehicle platforms
Debugging, Validation, and Production Integration
Investigate and resolve real-world issues such as: Curvature discontinuities, velocity/trajectory mismatches, and edge-case steering behavior
Validate solutions using: Simulation and vehicle logs, Multi-scenario testing and benchmarking
Evaluate and prototype new approaches (e.g., learned models, barrier functions, ML-based planning)
Benchmark and compare planning algorithms for production viability
Contribute to next-gen planning initiatives, including ML-driven planning
Drive technical discussions and share algorithm insights across teams
Maintain high-quality documentation and support knowledge transfer
Track work via Jira with clear metrics and reproducible results
Required Qualifications
M.S. or Ph.D. in Robotics, Control, Electrical Engineering, or related field
2+ years of software development experience in autonomous driving, ADAS, or robotics, with a focus on large-scale data and real-time systems
Strong programming skills in C/C++ with solid understanding of software engineering design principles and best practices
Proven track record of delivering ADAS/AD features through the full production lifecycle: requirements analysis, architecture/design, implementation, unit testing, feature tuning, SIL/HIL validation, and in-vehicle deployment
Hands-on experience with software integration on embedded platforms (e.g., NVIDIA Xavier/Orin, Infineon Aurix)
Demonstrated ability to build reliable production-grade systems, including large-scale architectures, evaluation pipelines, and performance-optimized models
Preferred Qualifications
ML-based planning approaches
GPU or parallel computing for planning
Track record of production deployment in real vehicles
Salary Range
The compensation range for this position is specific to the locations listed below and is the range Lucid reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including job-related knowledge; skillset; experience, education and training; certifications; and other relevant business and organizational factors.
Compensation & Benefits
Lucid offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and disability coverage; paid time off; paid holidays; and a 401(k) retirement plan. Eligible employees may also participate in Lucid’s equity program and/or a discretionary annual cash incentive program. Incentive and equity awards, if applicable, are determined based on individual performance, role scope, market considerations, and overall company results, in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.
Accessibility
Lucid Motors is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need any accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at TA-Operations lucidmotors.com.