Principal Engineer, Team Lead - Behaviors

Position Overview

On our Behaviors team (Prediction and ML Planner), you will work with world-class ML engineers whose mission is to make self-driving vehicles a reality and create a positive social impact. Our team develops ML models that learn how different agents navigate complex, real-world traffic scenarios to set the behavior of our autonomous vehicles and predict the behavior of other agents including vehicles and vulnerable road users. We seek proven leaders and technical experts passionate about Level 4 autonomous driving technology, excited by intellectual challenges, and eager to grow their careers in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute motion planning and prediction projects to enhance our self-driving vehicles' ability to safely, comfortably, and legally navigate complex traffic scenarios.
• Lead, manage, and grow a team of engineers.
• Design and implement behavior models using the latest advancements in machine learning, generative AI, and reinforcement learning.
• Productionize and deploy solutions onto autonomous vehicle fleets.
• Collaborate with perception, simulation, data platform, and integration teams to validate and improve on-road performance.
• Communicate strategies, progress, and challenges to executive leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science or a related technical field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Proven leadership skills in executing large, complex technical initiatives.
• Extensive experience managing and leading engineers.
• Experience with deep learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.
• Fluency in Python and standard scientific computing libraries.
• Proven track record in designing, developing, and deploying ML solutions for autonomous vehicles or robotics.
• Advanced knowledge of software engineering principles including design, source control management, build processes, code reviews, and testing methods.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with embedded systems and real-time optimization in the autonomous driving industry.
• Expertise in state-of-the-art generative AI and/or reinforcement learning paradigms.
• Proven record of publications in leading conferences (e.g., CVPR, ICML, NeurIPS, ICCV).
• Strong programming skills in C++ and/or CUDA programming.

Benefits & Perks

• Access to Motional's comprehensive benefits program, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401k with a company match and health saving accounts.
• Life insurance, pet insurance, and additional perks.

Compensation

Salary Range: $212,000—$283,000 USD (base salary only; additional compensation such as bonuses or equity may apply based on factors such as skills, experience, and role location).