Senior Software Engineer, Motion Planning, Parking

Role Overview

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

• Motion Planning & Trajectory Optimization
• 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
• System Architecture & Performance Optimization
• 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
• Research, Prototyping, and Innovation
• 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
• Cross-Team Collaboration & Knowledge Transfer
• 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

Pay Range

$179,400 - $263,120 USD

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.

Equal Opportunity

At Lucid, we believe diversity strengthens everything we build. Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing an inclusive workplace for all. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal laws and regulations.

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.

Candidate Data Privacy

By submitting your application, you understand and agree that your personal data will be processed in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Notice.

To all recruitment agencies

Lucid Motors does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to Lucid Motors. Lucid Motors is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Apply for this job

* indicates a required field