Tech Specialist, Planning & Control, Dream Drive

About Lucid At Lucid, we are creating exceptional mobility experiences through innovation to drive the world forward. Built on Lucid’s proprietary technology and software-defined vehicle architecture, our award-winning vehicles bring our “Compromise Nothing™” approach to the global automotive market. That means refusing to choose between performance and sustainability, design and engineering, ambition and integrity. In Lucid Air and Lucid Gravity, we have designed and built vehicles that have redefined their segments, combining exceptional range, performance, design, and expansive space in a single experience.   We achieve this through deep vertical integration, with design, engineering, and production happening in-house across our global offices and manufacturing facilities. Our teams come from industries around the world, united by a shared commitment to excellence. By refusing to settle, you can help redefine what’s possible and shape the future of mobility. Role Overview We are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to support the auto-parking and low-speed autonomy stack. This role focuses on trajectory optimization, path smoothing, and local planning, with direct impact on parking features such as Auto Park, Summon, and Park-to-Park. The ideal candidate will combine strong algorithmic foundations with production-grade software execution, driving both system performance and scalability. This role is based in Newark, CA. and requires employees to be onsite five days a week. Key Responsibilities: Motion Planning & Trajectory Optimization Develop and enhance trajectory optimization algorithms (e.g., iLQR / MPC-based approaches) for low-speed scenarios Design and implement constraint-aware optimization, including Improve local planners to generate control-friendly trajectories System Architecture & Performance Optimization Refactor and scale planning stack architecture for maintainability and extensibility Optimize CPU usage and explore parallel/GPU acceleration opportunities Improve system-level behaviors such as: Stability under dynamic constraints Scalability across scenarios and vehicle platforms Debugging, Validation, and Production Integration Investigate and resolve real-world issues such as: Curvature discontinuities, velocity/trajectory mismatches, and edge-case steering behavior Validate solutions using: Simulation and vehicle logs Multi-scenario testing and benchmarking Research, Prototyping, and Innovation Evaluate and prototype new approaches (e.g., learned models, barrier functions, ML-based planning) Benchmark and compare planning algorithms for production viability Contribute to next-gen planning initiatives, including ML-driven planning Cross-Team Collaboration & Knowledge Transfer Drive technical discussions and share algorithm insights across teams Maintain high-quality documentation and support knowledge transfer Track work via Jira with clear metrics and reproducible results Required Qualifications: M.S. or Ph.D. in Robotics, Control, Electrical Engineering, or related field 5-8+ years of software development experience in autonomous driving, ADAS, or robotics, with a focus on large-scale data and real-time systems Strong programming skills in C/C++ with solid understanding of software engineering design principles and best practices Proven track record of delivering ADAS/AD features through the full production lifecycle: requirements analysis, architecture/design, implementation, unit testing, feature tuning, SIL/HIL validation, and in-vehicle deployment Hands-on experience with software integration on embedded platforms (e.g., NVIDIA Xavier/Orin, Infineon Aurix) Demonstrated ability to build reliable production-grade systems, including large-scale architectures, evaluation pipelines, and performance-optimized models Leadership experience Preferred Qualifications: ML-based planning approaches GPU or parallel computing for planning Track record of production deployment in real vehicles At Lucid, we don’t just welcome diversity - we celebrate it! Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable State or Federal laws and regulations. Salary Range : The compensation range for this position is specific to the locations listed below and is the range Lucid reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including job-related knowledge; skillset; experience, education and training; certifications; and other relevant business and organizational factors.   Base Pay Range (Annual) $179,400 — $263,120 USD Compensation & Benefits:   Lucid offers a comprehensive and competitive  benefits package  including medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and disability coverage; paid time off; paid holidays, paid sick leave; and a 401(k) retirement plan. Hourly/non-exempt employees accrue up to 120 hours paid time off, and salaried/exempt employee accrue up to 160 hours paid time off.  Eligible employees may also participate in Lucid’s equity program and/or a discretionary annual cash incentive program. Incentive and equity awards, if applicable, are determined based on individual performance, role scope, market considerations, and overall company results, in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.   Equal Opportunity: At Lucid, we believe diversity strengthens everything we build. Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing an inclusive workplace for all. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, rel