Staff Robotics Motion Control Engineer

Qualcomm • Santa Clara, CA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Qualcomm’s Robotics Team is driving innovation in autonomous systems by delivering cutting-edge hardware and software solutions for next-generation robots. We are seeking a Robotics Motion Control Engineer to design, implement, and optimize motion control algorithms for robotic platforms powered by Qualcomm’s advanced SoCs and AI engines. This role will focus on enabling precise, safe, and efficient motion for robotic arms, mobile manipulators, and humanoid systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
• OR Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
• OR PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.

Nice To Haves

• 3+ years of experience in motion control for robotic systems.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and Python; experience with ROS/ROS2.
• Solid understanding of kinematics, dynamics, and control theory (PID, model predictive control, impedance/admittance control).
• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded systems.
• Familiarity with simulation tools (Gazebo, Webots, Isaac Sim) and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Experience with humanoid or collaborative robot motion control.
• Knowledge of functional safety standards and safe motion planning.
• Familiarity with Qualcomm robotics platforms (e.g., RB5, RB6, IQ series) and AI acceleration frameworks.
• Exposure to machine learning for motion planning or reinforcement learning-based control.
• Strong debugging and performance optimization skills for embedded platforms.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize motion control algorithms for robotic manipulators and mobile platforms, including trajectory planning, inverse kinematics, and real-time control loops.
• Integrate motion control software with Qualcomm’s robotics SDK, ROS2-based frameworks, and hardware abstraction layers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (AI, perception, hardware, and simulation) to ensure seamless integration of motion control with perception and planning modules.
• Implement safety and compliance features aligned with functional safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262, IEC 61508).
• Conduct performance benchmarking and tuning for real-time execution on heterogeneous compute platforms (CPU, GPU, NPU, DSP).
• Validate algorithms in simulation environments (e.g., Gazebo, Isaac Sim) and on physical robotic platforms.
• Contribute to system-level architecture discussions for robotics solutions, including sensor fusion and actuator control strategies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees