Staff Software Engineer - AMR Planning & Controls

Description
At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We're turning today's impossible into tomorrow's standard-from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features.
Every day, our products move millions of people as we work to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.
The Robotics Software team is building the next generation of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and intelligent robotic platforms. We develop full-stack capabilities-from perception and planning to control and system integration-to deliver innovative solutions that shape the future of work.
We're seeking a highly skilled Senior or Staff Robotics Planning and Control Engineer to provide technical leadership in developing advanced robotics systems. You'll design, implement, and integrate algorithms for behavioral planning, path planning, and motion control.
This role spans the full software development lifecycle and involves close collaboration with hardware, localization, and perception teams. Beyond algorithm development, you'll help shape a robust autonomy stack and build tools for evaluation, validation, and continuous improvement.
What You'll Do

• Lead the design, implementation, and deployment of motion planning, behavioral planning, and control algorithms for autonomous robotic systems.
• Develop path-planning and trajectory-generation algorithms subject to kinematic and dynamic constraints, enabling safe and efficient operation in dynamic environments.
• Optimize planning and control software for real-time performance and hardware limitations.
• Collaborate with localization, perception, and hardware teams to ensure seamless integration across the robotics software stack.
• Use offline and simulation-based tools to evaluate, benchmark, and validate planning and control algorithms.
• Contribute to testing and validation workflows, including software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and field testing.
• Provide technical leadership, mentor team members, and help define software architecture and engineering best practices for planning and control.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in robotics, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.
• At least five years of experience in motion planning, controls, or autonomy for real-world robotics systems or autonomous vehicles.
• Experience with numerical optimization techniques, such as nonlinear constrained optimization and model predictive control, or advanced robotics algorithms.
• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python.
• Proven ability to develop computationally efficient software that meets real-time performance requirements.
• Solid understanding of robotics systems, including localization, mapping, planning, and control.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience designing and implementing robotic or vehicle systems.
• Knowledge of ROS/ROS 2 and navigation frameworks such as Navigation2.
• Experience with simulation frameworks, HIL testing, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Understanding of safety-critical software development practices.
• Background in autonomous vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), or industrial automation.

This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}.
This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.
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