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Junior Planning Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Motion Planning Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA ยท On-site +1

$168K - $225K/yr

Senior Motion Planning Engineer (Evergreen) On our Motion Planning team, you'll apply your passion ... Guide and mentor junior team members, cultivating a culture of product-focused engineering ...

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How much do junior planning engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior planning engineer in the United States is $71,799.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,500.00 and $80,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Junior Planning Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Junior Planning Engineer, you need a background in engineering or construction management, strong analytical skills, and familiarity with project scheduling principles. Proficiency in project management software such as Primavera P6 or MS Project and knowledge of relevant industry standards or certifications are typically expected. Attention to detail, effective communication, and problem-solving abilities are essential soft skills for collaborating with teams and stakeholders. These skills and qualities are crucial for delivering accurate project plans and supporting successful project execution within deadlines and budgets.

What are Junior Planning Engineers?

Junior Planning Engineers are entry-level professionals who assist in the planning, scheduling, and coordination of engineering projects. They typically support senior engineers by preparing project schedules, tracking progress, and helping to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. Their duties often include data analysis, report generation, and communicating with various stakeholders. This role is ideal for recent graduates or those with limited experience who are looking to build a career in project planning and management within engineering fields.

What is the difference between Junior Planning Engineer vs Planning Engineer?

AspectJunior Planning EngineerPlanning Engineer
QualificationsBachelor's degree in engineering or related field; some certifications preferredBachelor's or higher in engineering; professional certifications like PMP advantageous
ExperienceEntry-level, typically less than 2 years2+ years of experience in project planning and scheduling
Work EnvironmentAssists senior planners, works on project schedules, data entryDevelops and manages project schedules, analyzes progress, coordinates with teams
ResponsibilitiesSupporting planning activities, updating schedules, basic data analysisCreating detailed schedules, risk management, resource allocation

The main difference between a Junior Planning Engineer and a Planning Engineer lies in experience and responsibility. Junior Planning Engineers typically support planning tasks under supervision, while Planning Engineers independently develop and manage project schedules. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and certifications, but the Planning Engineer has more advanced responsibilities and experience.

What are some common challenges a Junior Planning Engineer faces when transitioning from academic studies to a professional project environment?

One of the main challenges for a Junior Planning Engineer is adapting to the fast-paced and dynamic nature of real-world projects, where priorities can shift and deadlines are tight. Unlike academic projects, professional environments require managing multiple tasks simultaneously and collaborating closely with senior engineers, project managers, and other stakeholders. Additionally, learning to use project management software and accurately interpreting technical drawings or schedules are key skills that often require on-the-job guidance. Building strong communication and organizational abilities is crucial to succeed and grow in this role.
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What cities are hiring for Junior Planning Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Junior Planning Engineer job openings:
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What states have the most Junior Planning Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Junior Planning Engineer jobs include:
Senior Motion Planning Engineer

Senior Motion Planning Engineer

Motional

Pittsburgh, PA โ€ข On-site, Remote

$168K - $225K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 22 days ago


Job description

Senior Motion Planning Engineer (Evergreen)
On our Motion Planning team, you'll apply your passion in robotics and software development for production-ready autonomous vehicles. In this role you'll perform cutting-edge research, develop advanced algorithms, and build robust software to generate safe, comfortable, and intuitive routes and motions.
Role responsibilities:
  • Lead the research and development of novel algorithms for motion planning in autonomous driving, including but not limited to advanced search-based methods, sophisticated geometry-based methods, and decision making under uncertainty with a strong emphasis on probabilistic approaches.
  • Architect and integrate complex combinations of motion planning and prediction algorithms, driving their evaluation and refinement for real-world deployment.
  • Design and build a robust, scalable, and high-performance codebase that facilitates rapid exploration, prototyping, and rigorous evaluation of innovative motion planning approaches and algorithms.
  • Drive technical collaboration and interface seamlessly with perception and prediction components upstream and trajectory optimization, tracking and control components downstream, ensuring end-to-end system performance.
  • Leverage your deep software development and research expertise to teach others better software practices and principles, fostering a culture of technical excellence.
  • Guide and mentor junior team members, cultivating a culture of product-focused engineering, rigorous research, and advanced development.
What we're looking for:
  • PhD preferred in Robotics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; or a Master's degree with 2+ years of experience in the robotics (preferably AV industry)
  • 2+ years of research experience in robotics / motion planning, with a proven track record of contributing to state-of-the-art solutions
  • 2+ years of C++ software development, with an emphasis on developing high-performance and reliable systems
  • Past experience owning and leading technical development on complex features from problem formulation through research, implementation, and deployment in a production environment.
  • Thirst for knowledge, continuous innovation, and a drive to push the boundaries of autonomous driving technology.
Skills appreciated
  • Experience with probabilistic models, including but not limited to Gaussian mixture models, Hidden Markov Models, and Particle Filters.
  • Experience with Bayesian modeling and inference techniques for decision making under uncertainty.
  • Experience with the Bazel build framework

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors including but not limited to specific skills, experience and expertise, role location, certifications, licenses, and business needs. The estimated compensation range listed in this job posting reflects base salary only. This role may include additional forms of compensation such as a bonus or company equity. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.
Candidates for certain positions are eligible to participate in Motional's benefits program. Motional's benefits include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, 401k with a company match, health saving accounts, life insurance, pet insurance, and more.
Salary Range
$168,000-$225,000 USD
Motional is a driverless technology company making autonomous vehicles a safe, reliable, and accessible reality. We're driven by something more.
Our journey is always people first.
We aren't just developing driverless cars; we're creating safer roadways, more equitable transportation options, and making our communities better places to live, work, and connect. Our team is made up of engineers, researchers, innovators, dreamers and doers, who are creating a technology with the potential to transform the way we move.
Higher purpose, greater impact.
We're creating first-of-its-kind technology that will transform transportation. To do so successfully, we must design for everyone in our cities and on our roads. We believe in building a great place to work through a progressive, global culture that is diverse, inclusive, and ensures people feel valued at every level of the organization. Diversity helps us to see the world differently; it's not only good for our business, it's the right thing to do.
Scale up, not starting up.
Our team is behind some of the industry's largest leaps forward, including the first fully-autonomous cross-country drive in the U.S, the launch of the world's first robotaxi pilot, and operation of the world's longest-standing public robotaxi fleet. We're driven to scale; we're moving towards commercialization of our technology, and we need team members who are ready to embrace change and challenges.
Formed as a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, Motional is fundamentally changing how people move through their lives. Headquartered in Boston, Motional has operations in the U.S and Asia. For more information, visit www.Motional.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
Motional AD Inc. is an EOE. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. To comply with Federal Law, we participate in E-Verify. All newly-hired employees are queried through this electronic system established by the DHS and the SSA to verify their identity and employment eligibility.