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$19.5K

$67.1K

$98.5K

How much do motion planning jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 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 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.

More about Motion Planning jobs
What cities are hiring for Motion Planning jobs? Cities with the most Motion Planning job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Motion Planning jobs? The most popular types of Motion Planning jobs are:
What states have the most Motion Planning jobs? States with the most job openings for Motion Planning jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Motion Planning jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Motion Planning jobs are:
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, 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $67,056 per year, or $32.2 per hour.

Principal Engineer, Team Lead- Motion Planning

Motional

Pittsburgh, PA • On-site, Remote

$240K - $330K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

Tech Lead Manager, Planning
On our Planning team, you'll apply your passion in robotics and software development for production-ready autonomous vehicles. As the Technical Lead Manager, you will direct a team tasked with the design and implementation of motion planning software for autonomous vehicles. This position requires leadership in defining the motion planning and control systems that enable our fleet to operate securely, effectively, and with passenger comfort in intricate settings. As a leader, you will drive the development of cutting-edge motion planning algorithms, collaborate with cross-functional teams (Localization, Perception, Prediction, Controls, ML Products, and Systems Engineering), and mentor a talented group of engineers to deliver state-of-the-art solutions. If you are passionate about autonomous driving, thrive on solving challenging real-world problems, and are eager to make a significant impact in a rapidly evolving field, we want to hear from you.
Role responsibilities:
  • Lead and develop a team within the motion planning organization, assuming responsibility for planning algorithm and constraint generation.
  • Collaborate with other leaders to provide technical direction, making critical decisions on architectural strategies, strategic resource allocation, operational execution, and technical debt management.
  • Deliver a robust and scalable planner, prioritizing safety throughout the design, prototyping, testing, deployment, and production phases.
  • Adopt a metrics-driven approach to the development and enhancement of technical components.
  • Advance existing planning methodologies to facilitate data-driven strategies.
  • Promote diversity and inclusion in both products and personnel.
  • Mentor and offer constructive feedback (technical and professional) to team members, cultivating an inclusive and collaborative work environment.
  • Demonstrate initiative in generating innovative ideas, formulating a team vision, and considering the holistic robotaxi system.
  • Implement and review algorithms and code, applying rigorous engineering methodologies.
  • Partner with project managers to develop roadmaps and execute plans according to schedule.
What we're looking for:
  • Over two years of experience in the management of a development team, with a demonstrated ability to foster career growth, mentor team members effectively, and enhance productivity.
  • Masters or PhD in Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
  • Established history of successfully delivering production-quality motion planner in a leadership capacity.
  • Advanced proficiency in search algorithms.
  • Experience in developing motion planning solutions with ML
  • Expertise in C++ software development, Linux, and Python, with supplementary knowledge of SQL.
  • Strong theoretical understanding and practical experience in motion planning under conditions of uncertainty, as well as in interactions with dynamic agents and environments.
  • Knowledge of robotics algorithms in localization, perception, prediction, motion planning, and control systems for autonomous vehicles.
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, and management skills.
Skills appreciated
  • Experience in Autonomous Vehicles or other robotics industries
  • Experience using simulation tools
  • Experience with Verification & Validation for safety critical systems

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
$240,000-$330,000 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.

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