Motion Planning & Controls Engineer

Maven Robotics • Santa Clara, CA

22h

About The Position

As a Motion Planning & Controls Engineer at Maven Robotics, you will develop the software that brings the company’s robots to life by designing and implementing advanced planning and control algorithms for precise, efficient, safe, and reliable coordinated motion. The role covers the robot-motion software stack, from optimization-based planning and control for an overactuated autonomous system to individual motor torque control.

You will apply expertise in complex, high-degree-of-freedom electromechanical systems and work across mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering. You will collaborate with perception, intelligence, simulation, and platform software systems to design functional architectures that support overall robot performance. The role emphasizes continually testing, measuring, analyzing, and improving motion quality.

Requirements

• MS or PhD in engineering, mathematics, computer science, or a related discipline.
• Experience with optimization-based motion planning and control algorithms, such as Model Predictive Control.
• Experience in control, estimation, modeling, and analysis of complex multi-degree-of-freedom electromechanical systems, including forward and inverse kinematics, forward and inverse dynamics, and task- and joint-space control.
• Practical experience with motor servo control architectures and tuning, including position, velocity, or torque control.
• Proficiency in Python and C++, using current software development practices and tooling.
• Self-starter attitude and ability to identify and prioritize problems, then plan and execute solutions.
• Enthusiasm for working in a fast-paced startup environment and willingness to support the team across a variety of topics.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with ground vehicle localization, mapping, and state estimation techniques, such as SLAM and Kalman filtering.
• Familiarity with robotic simulation software frameworks or environments.
• Familiarity with modern robotic manipulation approaches, including state-of-the-art reinforcement learning and imitation learning and their application to real-world robots.
• Knowledge of brushless motor current control, such as field-oriented control.
• Familiarity with functional safety concepts.

Responsibilities

• Develop software for robot motion using advanced planning and control algorithms.
• Cover the motion software stack, from optimization-based motion planning and control for an overactuated autonomous system to individual motor torque control.
• Apply a multidisciplinary approach across mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering to solve real-world problems.
• Interface with perception, intelligence, simulation, and platform software systems to design functional architectures that support overall robot performance.
• Continuously test, measure, analyze, and improve robot motion quality.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time