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Motion Planning Jobs (NOW HIRING)

DiDi Labs

Software Engineer, Motion Planning

San Jose, CA · On-site

$141K - $235K/yr

You will tackle challenges across the full motion planning stack, from high-level behavioral reasoning to low-level trajectory optimization. Responsibilities * Design and implement the core motion ...

Contoro Inc.

Robotics Engineer, Motion Planning

Austin, TX · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Robotics Engineer, Motion Planning Intro Contoro Robotics is an Austin-based startup revolutionizing warehouse automation with a cutting‑edge autonomous truck unloading solution capable of handling ...

Zoox

Software Engineer - Motion Planning

Foster City, CA

$168K - $270K/yr

On the Motion Planning team at Zoox, you'll be dedicated to improving the driving behaviors of the robot on public roads. The Planner's job is to figure out where the robot is going and how to get ...

jobr.pro

Software Engineer - Motion Planning

San Jose, CA · On-site

$141.46 - $282.26/hr

You will tackle challenges across the full motion planning stack, from high-level behavioral reasoning to low-level trajectory optimization. Responsibilities * Design and implement the core motion ...

Zoox

Software Engineer - Motion Planning

Foster City, CA · On-site

$168K - $270K/yr

On the Motion Planning team at Zoox, you'll be dedicated to improving the driving behaviors of the robot on public roads. The Planner's job is to figure out where the robot is going and how to get ...

DiDi Labs

Software Engineer, Motion Planning

San Jose, CA · On-site

$141K - $235K/yr

You will tackle challenges across the full motion planning stack, from high-level behavioral reasoning to low-level trajectory optimization. Responsibilities * Design and implement the core motion ...

Motional

Principal Engineer Motion Planning

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$240K - $330K/yr

Motional is seeking a technical expert for its Planning team to define motion planning and control systems for secure, effective, and comfortable fleet operation in complex environments. This role ...

Motional

Principal Engineer Motion Planning

Boston, MA

$240K - $330K/yr

Motional is seeking a technical expert for its Planning team to define motion planning and control systems for secure, effective, and comfortable fleet operation in complex environments. This role ...

Motional

Principal Engineer Motion Planning

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$240K - $330K/yr

Motional is seeking a technical expert for its Planning team to define motion planning and control systems for secure, effective, and comfortable fleet operation in complex environments. This role ...

Socket.dev

Principal Motion Planning Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$180 - $280/hr

As the most senior individual contributor on the motion planning team, you will own the technical vision and architecture for the planning, manipulation, navigation, and control software that powers ...

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Motion Planning information

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$19.5K

$67.1K

$98.5K

How much do motion planning jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for motion planning in the United States is $67,056.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52,500.00 and $80,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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.

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Motion Planning jobs near you
Infographic showing various Motion Planning job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $67,056 per year, or $32.2 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer, Motion Planning

Standard Bots

New York, NY • On-site

$180K - $240K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

Senior Software Engineer, Motion Planning
About Standard Bots
Standard Bot's mission is to significantly lower the barrier to entry to real-world automation, bringing the power of bits to the world of atoms and unlocking productivity for entire new industries and users. We specialize in developing intuitive solutions for robotic arm manipulation and control, making advanced motion planning accessible to a broader range of industries.
Our user facing applications and APIs directly empower individuals and developers to jump directly into solving their challenges through sophisticated yet approachable robotic arm control systems. A relentless focus on simplicity and ease of use brings this revolutionary potential to new users and industries.
What you'll do
We're looking for seasoned and skilled technical leaders to help architect the future of robotics through best in class, modern software engineering practices. As a Senior Software Engineer on our motion planning team, you will work with other engineers, organizational leaders, and users to advance our robotic arm control systems and unlock entirely new potential for our users.
Responsibilities
  • Implement core functionality surrounding our motion planning service
  • Identify, scope, and drive high impact technical projects in robotic manipulation
  • Advise leadership on technical decisions and strategy in robotics
  • Mentor and advise other engineers on best practices and motion planning concepts
Tech Stack
  • Stack: Node.js, Python, C++
  • Motion Planning: ROS2, MoveIt2
  • Infrastructure: Docker, Github Actions

Who you are
We're looking for engineers who are self-driven, optimistic, creative, and resourceful who are interested in working deep in a robotics stack. Motion planning experience is required for this role.
Skills you'll bring
  • Motion planning experience: You have experience writing motion planning algorithms. Robotic arm experience is preferred, but motion planning for autonomous vehicles and related domains is also considered.
  • Backend experience: You have covered all parts of driving a project to completion, focusing mainly on backend services
  • Experience: You have a strong technical background, including 5+ total years of experience in software engineering, with ideally 3+ of those years working with robotic systems and complex software environments. In lieu of formal work experience, we will also consider a relevant PhD + research projects.
  • Growth + Optimism: You are excited by challenging robotics problems and eager to make sophisticated motion planning accessible to non-experts
  • Clarity of Communication: You excel in written and verbal communication and can effectively explain complex robotics concepts to diverse audiences
  • Impact Driven: You relentlessly seek user impact and value practical solutions over technical idealism
  • Proactive Simplicity: You prioritize simplicity, reliability, and velocity in robotics applications and proactively identify opportunities to improve motion planning systems
  • Excelling in Ambitious Environments: You excel in dynamic and ambitious environments, working with a diverse group of individuals and backgrounds

Nice to Haves
  • Algorithmic focused experience: Many of our projects require diving deeper into the motion planning algorithm stack, so an algorithmic focused background is preferred
  • ROS/Moveit2 Experience: We prefer someone with ROS experience to quickly get up to speed with our motion planning stack
  • Full-stack Experience: While this role is primarily backend, familiarity with frontend development is valuable in our full-stack environment.

Compensation and Benefits:
The base salary range for this role is $180,000 to $240,000, depending on experience. We are open to a variety of seniority levels for this role and will build compensation packages that are commensurate with seniority and skill level. Base salary is just one part of the overall compensation at Standard Bots. All Full-Time Employees are eligible for Employee Stock Options. We also offer a package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees.

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