Software Engineer, Motion Planning
DiDi Labs
About the role
About The Company
DiDi's autonomous driving unit was established in 2016 with the mission of developing Level 4 autonomous driving (AD) technology to make transportation safer and more efficient. In August 2019, the unit became an independent company, DiDi Autonomous Driving, dedicated to advanced AD R&D, product application, and business expansion. We believe integrating AD technology into a shared-mobility fleet will generate immense social value. By leveraging DiDi's specialized technology, operational expertise, and integrated ecosystem, we are positioned to build and operate a highly efficient, user-oriented autonomous fleet.
About The Role
We are seeking a Software Engineer /Sr. Software Engineer to join our team and develop the core decision-making and motion planning systems for our autonomous vehicles. In this role, you will be responsible for creating the algorithms that enable smooth, safe, and intelligent navigation in complex environments. You will tackle challenges across the full motion planning stack, from high-level behavioral reasoning to low-level trajectory optimization.
Responsibilities
Design and implement the core motion planning logic that determines the vehicle's high-level actions (e.g., lane changes, merges, yields, and interactions with other agents).
Develop and optimize the motion planning algorithms that execute behavioral decisions, integrating Geometry Reasoning (path) and Speed Reasoning (velocity) into a cohesive trajectory.
Architect and enhance the geometry system for generating geometrically feasible and compliant paths.
Architect and refine the velocity system for generating context-aware, comfortable, and safe velocity profiles.
Model complex driving scenarios and agent interactions to create a robust world model for the behavioral planner.
Design different costs for trajectory ranking to trade off ETAs, comfort and safety of the vehicle behaviors.
Conduct in-depth analysis, testing, and debugging of the system's performance in various scenarios, leading root cause investigations.
Collaborate with Prediction, Perception, and Control teams to ensure a seamless flow from environmental understanding to physical vehicle motion.
Qualifications
B.S./M.S. in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field.
Experience in autonomous systems, robotics, or automotive software development.
Strong proficiency in C++ for implementing complex, real-time algorithms.
Solid understanding of robotics fundamentals, including decision-making, motion planning, control theory, trajectory ranking, search and optimization algorithms etc.
Related experience in one or more of the following: motion planning, trajectory optimization and world environment reasoning, trajectory ranking and cost design.
Preferred Qualifications
PhD or internship experience related to robotics planning system designs.
Knowledge of vehicle dynamics and longitudinal/lateral control systems.
Solid understanding of machine learning principles, reinforcement learning and related algorithms.
The base salary range for the Software Engineer position is $141,463–$235,182 annually, and for the Senior Software Engineer position is $169,783–$282,264 annually, in addition to bonus, equity, and benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by the role, level, and location. Within the applicable range, individual compensation is based on the work location as well as other factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and training.
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Responsibilities
- Design and implement behavioral decision-making and motion-planning algorithms for autonomous vehicles.
- Develop geometry and velocity systems to generate feasible, comfortable, and safe trajectories.
- Model driving scenarios and agent interactions for behavioral planning.
- Design trajectory-ranking costs that balance travel time, comfort, and safety.
- Analyze, test, and debug system performance, and lead root-cause investigations.
- Collaborate with Prediction, Perception, and Control teams.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, robotics, or a related field.
- Experience in autonomous systems, robotics, or automotive software development.
- Strong C++ skills for implementing complex real-time algorithms.
- Understanding of robotics fundamentals, decision-making, motion planning, control theory, trajectory ranking, search, and optimization.
- Relevant experience in motion planning, trajectory optimization, world-environment reasoning, trajectory ranking, or cost design.
- Preferred: PhD or internship experience in robotics planning systems.
- Preferred: Knowledge of vehicle dynamics, longitudinal and lateral control, and machine learning or reinforcement learning.
Benefits
- Bonus
- Equity
- Benefits
Skills mentioned
About DiDi Labs
DiDi's autonomous driving unit was set up in 2016 and was committed to delivering world's leading Level 4 autonomous driving ("AD") technologies, aiming to make transportation safer and more efficient. In August 2019, this unit was upgraded to an independent company, DiDi Autonomous Driving, focusing on advanced AD technology research and development, product application and other expanded businesses. Up to now, DiDi Autonomous Driving have acquired public road testing licences in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and California, along with one of the first Intelligent Connected Vehicle Demostration Application License in China that issued by Shanghai. We believe that the deployment of AD technology into shared-mobility fleet will create great social value. DiDi's advanced technologies, massive data, rich experience along with complete ecosystem in the mobility field will equip DiDi Autonomous Driving to build and operate world's leading autonomous fleets.
H-1B sponsorship history
Historical employer filing data was found for DiDi Labs. The employer record includes 64 historical certified applications. This is employer-level history, not a guarantee that this role currently offers sponsorship.