Software Engineer - Motion Planning
Company: Zoox
Location: Seattle
Posted on: April 2, 2026
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Job Description:
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 there safely in situations as complex as those found in
Downtown San Francisco or on the Las Vegas Strip. This is a
cutting-edge problem, which requires teamwork and collaboration
across a broad set of experts spanning Planner, Perception,
Prediction, Operations, and more. Together, you will create the
next generation of algorithmic improvements to expand our robot’s
ability to drive in some of the most complex situations found on
public roads. Safety is foundational at Zoox, so you will take a
measured approach – develop a principled modification to the
Planner, test in simulation and on closed courses, and team up with
our safety drivers for on-road testing. In this role, you will:
Create principled algorithmic improvements to specific areas of
driving behavior and implement those changes in our code base. Use
our extensive backend tooling to test your changes across many
different driving situations at the press of a button. Lead
on-vehicle drive reviews to generate actionable feedback on driving
performance. Use this experience to help the team learn and make
improvements. Attend conferences and survey literature to stay
informed on the most recent developments in the fields of Robotics
and Motion Planning. Write and file patents for novel technologies
you develop. Qualifications Master's degree in Computer Science or
related field and relevant experience Fluency in C++ Understanding
of configuration spaces and a variety of planning techniques (A*,
RRTs, PRMs, etc.) Demonstrated ability to create real-time motion
planning algorithms Bonus Qualifications Significant contributions
to geometric- and/or sampling-based planning algorithms Experience
with autonomous robots and machine learning or data-driven
development processes Experience with ROS, pose estimation, SLAM,
probabilistic filtering, 3D data, or CUDA $189,000 - $270,000 a
year Base Salary Range There are three major components to
compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock
Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. A sign-on bonus
may be offered as part of the compensation package. The listed
range applies only to the base salary. Compensation will vary based
on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning
within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but
not limited to, a candidate's relevant years of experience, domain
knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in
this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is
considering for this position. Zoox also offers a comprehensive
package of benefits, including paid time off (e.g. sick leave,
vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation
Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long-term care insurance,
long-term and short-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
Compensation There are three major components to compensation for
this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and
Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. The salary will range from $154,000
to $246,000. A sign-on bonus may be part of a compensation package.
Compensation will vary based on geographic location, job-related
knowledge, skills, and experience. Zoox also offers a comprehensive
package of benefits including paid time off (e.g. sick leave,
vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation
Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long-term care insurance,
long-term and short-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
About Zoox Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous
vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this
technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics,
machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next
generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We’re
looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part
of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team. Follow us on
LinkedIn Accommodations If you need an accommodation to participate
in the application or interview process please reach out to [email
protected] or your assigned recruiter. A Final Note: We may use
artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring
process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or
assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do
not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately
made by humans. If you would like more information about how your
data is processed, please contact us.
Keywords: Zoox, Bellingham , Software Engineer - Motion Planning, Engineering , Seattle, Washington
