Staff Software Engineer, Motion Planning

As a Staff Software Engineer in Motion Planning at AeroVect, you'll lead the planning team, set clear goals, and create a collaborative environment to deliver high-quality planning systems. You'll be responsible for defining both short and long-term technical direction for the planning stack, managing production schedules, and ensuring timely milestone delivery. Collaborating with other teams to create an integrated autonomous driving system will be a significant part of your role, in addition to establishing best practices in software development and systems engineering.

To qualify for the Staff Software Engineer, Motion Planning role at AeroVect, candidates must hold at least a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field. Extensive experience in developing planning modules for autonomous systems is essential, alongside leadership experience. Strong programming skills in C++ or Python and familiarity with Linux-based operating systems are also crucial for candidates aspiring to excel in this role.

AeroVect seeks a Staff Software Engineer in Motion Planning with a strong technical foundation in programming, particularly in C++ (with experience in Modern C++ preferred) and Python. Familiarity with Linux operating systems and in-depth understanding of DDS frameworks like ROS/ROS2 is also important. Mastery of safety-critical coding practices (like MISRA, ISO 26262) is highly desirable, alongside hands-on experience in planning for robotic ground vehicles.

At AeroVect, the development process for motion planning is highly collaborative and systematic. As a Staff Software Engineer in Motion Planning, you'll lead a team dedicated to both hands-on and strategic tasks. You'll establish a thorough planning module roadmap while directing the scheduling of tasks and addressing any obstacles that arise. This ensures milestones are achieved in a timely manner, ultimately contributing to the creation of a robust autonomous driving system.

At AeroVect, a Staff Software Engineer in Motion Planning has excellent opportunities for career growth. By leading a talented team and contributing to innovative projects, you'll not only enhance your leadership skills but also gain exposure to cutting-edge technologies in autonomous systems. The company's dynamic environment encourages professional development, and as you drive successful projects, there’s potential for advancement into higher leadership roles or specialized areas within the autonomy sector.

When answering this question, focus on specific projects where you have played a pivotal role in developing planning modules. Highlight the technologies and methodologies you used, detailing your contributions towards the planning stack that ensured the systems were robust and efficient.

Discuss your leadership philosophy. Emphasize the importance of clear communication, setting measurable goals, and fostering an inclusive environment where team members feel valued and motivated. Provide examples of how you’ve successfully led projects and managed teams in the past.

Clearly identify the programming languages you're fluent in, especially C++ and Python. Discuss specific projects you’ve worked on where you utilized these languages, detailing how they contributed to the success of those projects and any challenges you overcame while coding.

Prepare a clear narrative about a specific project, mentioning your role and the challenges faced, such as technical hurdles, time constraints, or resource limitations. Describe how you navigated those challenges and what the outcomes were.

Highlight your knowledge of safety-critical coding standards like MISRA and ISO 26262. Illustrate your experience applying these practices in past projects, emphasizing your commitment to developing safe and reliable autonomous systems.

Discuss how you collaborate with other engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of various system components. Highlight your problem-solving skills and how you leverage communication to align technical objectives with broader project goals.

Share your preferences for specific tools and frameworks, like ROS/ROS2, emphasizing their advantages in developing robust motion planning systems. Discuss any unique experiences you've had while utilizing these frameworks successfully.

Describe your commitment to continuous learning through attending conferences, pursuing certifications, or engaging with online communities and publications. Share any recent topics or trends you’ve researched that could apply to your role at AeroVect.

Provide an example of a project where priorities shifted unexpectedly. Explain how you adapted and ensured team alignment, showcasing your flexibility and acumen in navigating changing dynamics without compromising project quality.

Speak from the heart about your passion for autonomy and innovation. Highlight what excites you about AeroVect's mission and how your skills and background align perfectly with the company’s goals, and how you envision contributing to its ground-breaking projects.