Join Zoox's Motion Planning team to improve robot driving behaviors through algorithmic advancements, testing, and collaboration with safety drivers.
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 8+ years of 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
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:
You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.
Top Skills
C++
Cuda
Ros
Zoox Foster City, California, USA Office
4000 E 3rd Ave, Foster City, CA, United States, 94404
Zoox Foster City, California, USA Office
1149 Chess Drive, Foster City, CA, United States, 94404
Zoox Fremont, California, USA Office
47540 Kato Road, Fremont, CA, United States, 94538
Zoox San Francisco, California, USA Office
60 Broadway St, San Francisco, CA, United States, 94111
Similar Jobs
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • Security • Software • Cybersecurity
Design and prototype intelligent systems for observability, lead reinforcement learning applications, collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams, and explore AI-driven paradigms.
Top Skills:
C++Causal ModelingGenerative AiGoPythonReinforcement LearningRust
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • Security • Software • Cybersecurity
Responsible for designing intelligent systems for observability, applying AI techniques, and collaborating with teams to enhance performance and observability depth.
Top Skills:
C++GoPythonRust
Fintech • Information Technology • Payments • Productivity • Software • Travel • Automation
The Treasury Manager oversees treasury operations, capital structure, liquidity, and risk management, collaborating with various teams to support financial objectives.
Top Skills:
Data AnalysisFinancial ModelingRisk Management
What you need to know about the San Francisco Tech Scene
San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area attracts more startup funding than any other region in the world. Home to Stanford University and UC Berkeley, leading VC firms and several of the world’s most valuable companies, the Bay Area is the place to go for anyone looking to make it big in the tech industry. That said, San Francisco has a lot to offer beyond technology thanks to a thriving art and music scene, excellent food and a short drive to several of the country’s most beautiful recreational areas.
Key Facts About San Francisco Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 365,500; 13.9% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Google, Apple, Salesforce, Meta
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, consumer technology, software
- Funding Landscape: $50.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins
- Research Centers and Universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of San Francisco; Santa Clara University; Ames Research Center; Center for AI Safety; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine


.png)