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Motion Planning Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Building core CAD to robotic motion and grasp planning workflow software * Developing and expanding advance simulation and motion planning capabilities * Collaborating with mechanical, electrical ...

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Motion Planning information

See Washington salary details

$22.1K

$75.9K

$111.6K

How much do motion planning jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for motion planning in Washington is $75,947.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,500.00 and $91,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common daily responsibilities for a motion planning engineer?

As a Motion Planning engineer, your daily responsibilities typically include designing and implementing algorithms for path planning and obstacle avoidance, running simulations to test and validate new strategies, and collaborating closely with perception, controls, and hardware teams. You may also spend time troubleshooting issues from field trials, optimizing existing motion strategies for speed and safety, and keeping documentation up to date. The work environment is often collaborative, combining both independent coding tasks and frequent team meetings to align on project goals and integration points. This blend of research, development, and real-world testing makes the role dynamic and impactful for autonomous systems projects.

What is a motion planning?

A Motion Planning job involves developing algorithms that enable autonomous systems, such as robots or self-driving vehicles, to navigate safely and efficiently in their environments. Engineers in this role work on path planning, obstacle avoidance, and real-time decision-making to optimize movement. They use techniques from robotics, optimization, and artificial intelligence to ensure smooth and collision-free operation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the motion planning position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Motion Planning professional, a solid background in robotics, algorithms, computer science, and applied mathematics is essential, often supported by an advanced degree in a related field. Proficiency with simulation tools like ROS, Python or C++ programming, and familiarity with motion planning libraries such as OMPL or MoveIt are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and effective communication help you excel in cross-functional engineering teams. These skills enable you to develop and optimize safe, reliable motion strategies for autonomous systems in dynamic real-world environments.

Infographic showing various Motion Planning job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $75,947 per year, or $36.5 per hour.

Rust Software Engineer, Air Vehicle Autonomy

Anduril Industries

Washington, DC • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago


Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 75,237 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Job Summary:
Anduril Industries is a defense technology company focused on transforming military capabilities with advanced technology. They are seeking a Rust Software Engineer to develop aerial and multi-domain robotic systems, working on autonomy software that includes computer vision, motion planning, and secure communications.
Responsibilities:
• Develop aerial and multi-domain robotic systems.
• Create a powerful autonomy software stack that includes computer vision, motion planning, SLAM, controls, estimation, and secure communications.
• Work in close coordination with specialist teams like Perception, Motion Planning, Hardware, and Test Engineering.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance
• BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related field.
• 3+ years of production-grade Rust experience in a Linux development environment
• Experience building software solutions involving significant amounts of data processing and analysis
• Ability to quickly understand and navigate complex systems and established code bases
• A desire to work on critical software that has a real-world impact
• Travel up to 30% of time to build, test, and deploy capabilities in the real world
Preferred:
• Strong background with focus in Physics, Mathematics, and/or Motion Planning to inform modeling & simulation (M&S) and physical systems
• Developing and testing multi-agent autonomous systems and deploying in real-world environments.
• Feature and algorithm development with an understanding of behavior trees.
• Developing software/hardware for flight systems and safety critical functionality.
• Distributed communication networks and message standards
• Knowledge of military systems and operational tactics
Company:
Anduril Industries is a defense technology company that specializes in developing advanced autonomous systems to enhance national security. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.


What Anduril employees say

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Benefits

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Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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