Senior Software Development Engineer, Motion Planning - Autonomous Vehicles

at NVIDIA · Industrial · Santa Clara, CA

Senior Software Development Engineer to develop key features for NVIDIA's autonomous driving platform, focusing on Trajectory planning and Motion Planning problems. The role involves leading the entire feature lifecycle from design to production, modeling vehicle behaviors, integrating perception and prediction data, and optimizing solver performance.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead the entire feature lifecycle, driving motion planning solutions from initial design through to full productization and deployment.
  2. Model L2, L3, and L4 vehicle behaviors and driving modes by formulating them as optimal-control problems. Integrate perception, prediction data, and user-comfort preferences through deep collaboration with prediction and behavior planning teams.
  3. Enhance driving behavior and support overall product quality by engaging in continuous issue triage alongside product and user-experience engineers.
  4. Improve optimization solver performance using instruction parallelization and memory optimization techniques.

Skills

Required

  • PhD with 1+ year, MS with 3+ years, or BS (or equivalent experience) with 5+ years of relevant experience in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field
  • high-quality C++ software development
  • large, collaborative codebases (Git, Gerrit, JIRA, Jenkins colab environments)
  • applied mathematics
  • linear algebra
  • differential equations
  • numerical methods
  • convex optimization

Nice to have

  • Prior experience contributing to product development within the Autonomous Driving industry
  • Expertise in constrained optimization-based trajectory generation for vehicle dynamics
  • performance optimization for in-car deployment
  • Familiarity with advanced motion planning algorithms, including lattice-based planners, hybrid A*, D*, and RRTs

What the JD emphasized

  • high-quality C++ software
  • large, collaborative codebases
  • applied mathematics
  • proficiency in linear algebra, differential equations, numerical methods, and convex optimization
  • constrained optimization-based trajectory generation
  • vehicle dynamics
  • performance optimization for in-car deployment
  • advanced motion planning algorithms

Other signals

  • autonomous driving platform
  • motion planning
  • trajectory planning
  • productization
  • deployment
Read full job description

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It’s a unique legacy of innovation that’s fueled by great technology—and amazing people. Today, we’re tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what’s never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world’s best talent. As an NVIDIAN, you’ll be immersed in a diverse, supportive environment where everyone is inspired to do their best work. Come join the team and see how you can make a lasting impact on the world.

We are seeking an experienced Motion planning senior software development engineer to develop key features for our autonomous driving platform. In this role, you will work on a mix of Trajectory planning, Motion Planning problems to build focused software solutions. Through effective collaboration with established teams, you will help design and mature new products all the way through to production.

What you'll be doing:

Software development to deliver new motion-planning features entails a diversity of activities, including:

  • Lead the entire feature lifecycle, driving motion planning solutions from initial design through to full productization and deployment..
  • Model L2, L3, and L4 vehicle behaviors and driving modes by formulating them as optimal-control problems. Integrate perception, prediction data, and user-comfort preferences through deep collaboration with prediction and behavior planning teams.
  • Enhance driving behavior and support overall product quality by engaging in continuous issue triage alongside product and user-experience engineers.
  • Improve optimization solver performance using instruction parallelization and memory optimization techniques.

What we need to see:

  • PhD with 1+ year, MS with 3+ years, or BS (or equivalent experience) with 5+ years of relevant experience in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • Proven ability to develop high-quality C++ software within large, collaborative codebases.(Git, Gerrit, JIRA, Jenkins colab environments).
  • Strong skills in applied mathematics, with proficiency in linear algebra, differential equations, numerical methods, and convex optimization.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

  • Prior experience contributing to product development within the Autonomous Driving industry.
  • Expertise in constrained optimization-based trajectory generation for vehicle dynamics and performance optimization for in-car deployment.
  • Familiarity with advanced motion planning algorithms, including lattice-based planners, hybrid A*, D*, and RRTs.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 152,000 USD - 241,500 USD for Level 3, and 184,000 USD - 287,500 USD for Level 4.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until April 27, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.