Senior Software Engineer, Autonomy - Behavior, Planning & Controls

About Cyngn Based in Menlo Park, CA, Cyngn is a publicly traded autonomous vehicle company. We have a culture of collaboration, diversity, and continuous learning. Whether at a warehouse, factory, or industrial facility, our self-driving technology can be deployed in various commercial domains across various vehicle form factors. To build this emergent technology, we seek innovative, motivated, and experienced leaders to join our team and move this field forward. If you like to build and create with a team of trusted and passionate colleagues, then Cyngn is the place for you. Key reasons to join Cyngn:  
We are Small and Big. With under 100 employees, Cyngn is still a company that operates with the energy of a startup. On the other hand, we are publicly traded. Combined, our employees not only work in close-knit teams with close mentorship from company leaders, but they also get access to the liquidity of our publicly traded equity. This gives our small team the opportunity to make a big impact in industries that other people aren’t touching—without taking on the risks associated with untested organizations. 
We Build Today and Deploy Tomorrow. Our employees aren’t just researchers but are creating reality. In other words, the autonomous vehicles we’re building are designed to go to real clients right away. We are driven by our passion for innovation, our ability to see the entire product, and the real impact of our work in the real world. At Cyngn, the distance between the theoretical and the actual is razor-thin. 
We aren’t robots. We just build them. Read our Glassdoor reviews, and you’ll find that one of the best things about working here is the people. We are an inclusive, diverse team of top talent with exceptional synergy. We thrive on open collaboration and a trusting and creative work environment that is fueled by our passion for the industry. At Cyngn, everyone’s voice is valued, and each of our unique perspectives is celebrated. It’s the people that allow our company to continue to grow bigger and better every day
About this role: As a Senior Software Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in developing next-generation autonomous systems, driving innovation in AI-driven path planning and control for our autonomous vehicles. This position offers a unique opportunity to bridge theory and practice, tackling real-world challenges in the fast-evolving field of autonomy. You will be part of a highly focused team, designing and deploying production-grade software that enables our autonomous vehicles to navigate and operate seamlessly in complex indoor and outdoor environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize motion planning and control algorithms for autonomous vehicles.
• Develop and enhance software infrastructure for vehicle simulation, performance validation, and system diagnostics.
• Architect and refine path-planning and tracking control algorithms to improve autonomy performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deploy and validate solutions in both simulated and real-world environments.
• Balance hands-on development, code reviews, and research to achieve product-driven milestones in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Integrate cutting-edge robotics research into our autonomous driving stack to enhance system capabilities.

Qualifications

• MS/PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and Python with a deep understanding of software development best practices.
• Solid foundation in robotics principles, particularly motion planning and control systems.
• Strong background in vehicle dynamics and experience applying these principles to autonomous systems.
• Knowledge of nonlinear optimization and search-based planning techniques.
• Familiarity with ROS2 for designing, building, and operating robotic systems.
• Strong mathematical foundation, including geometry, linear algebra, and probability.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities with a proactive approach in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Strong communication and cross-team collaboration skills.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience implementing controllers and planners for real-time safety-critical mobile autonomous systems.
• Experience with simulation environments and developing kinematic/dynamic models for autonomous vehicles.
• Exposure to machine learning, deep learning, and physics-based foundation models.

Benefits & Perks

• Health benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA and FSA (Health & Dependent Daycare), Employee Assistance Program, 1:1 Health Concierge)
• Life, Short-term and long-term disability insurance (Cyngn funds 100% of premiums)
• Company 401(k)
• Commuter Benefits
• Flexible vacation policy
• Stock options for all full-time employees
• Sabbatical leave opportunity after 5 years with the company
• Paid Parental Leave
• Daily lunches for in-office employees and fully-stocked kitchen with snacks and beverages