Senior Software Engineer, Manipulation

General Motors

. Build and own manipulation planning capability, including collision-free planning, trajectory optimization, and time parameterization .

Posted 11/11/2026full-timeMountain View • California • United StatesSenior💰 $129,400 - $234,100 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in motion planning and manipulation, including trajectory optimization, collision-free planning, and kinematics. Proficient in deploying manipulation planning on physical robotic arms and collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Motion Planning ExpertiseTrajectory OptimizationC++ ProgrammingPython ProgrammingROS or ROS 2 Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Motion PlanningTrajectory OptimizationKinematicsDynamicsCollision CheckingSampling-Based MethodsOptimization-Based MethodsRedundancy ResolutionJacobian MethodsTime-Optimal Path Parameterization

Soft Skills

Effective CommunicationRemote Team Collaboration

Tools & Technologies

MoveItOMPLTrajOptDrakeFANUC Arms

Certifications & Qualifications

M.S. Degree in RoboticsM.S. Degree in Computer ScienceM.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Industry Keywords

Mobile ManipulationWhole-Body ControlContact-Rich ManipulationSimulation DepthOpen-Source Contributions

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PythonC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Build and own manipulation planning capability, including collision-free planning, trajectory optimization, and time parameterization
Implement and tune planners for target applications with cycle time as a first-class requirement
Build collision environment representations from perception output and static scene models
Implement Cartesian and constrained motion planning for approach, grasp, and place phases
Handle mobile manipulation cases, including base placement, redundancy resolution, and whole-body motion
Build an execution layer that monitors trajectory tracking and reacts to deviation and contact
Define and maintain interfaces between perception, planning, and control
Diagnose planning failures from field data and convert them into regression cases
Work in the core robotics team alongside controls and perception engineers

Requirements

What you’ll need

6+ years of professional engineering experience
2+ years of experience in motion planning or manipulation
Experience deploying manipulation planning on physical arms in a production or field setting
Experience meeting cycle time requirements, not only feasibility requirements
M.S. degree or higher in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical field; equivalent industry experience with demonstrated simulation depth can be considered
Strong grounding in motion planning, including sampling-based methods, optimization-based methods, and failure modes
Solid kinematics and dynamics knowledge, including forward and inverse kinematics, redundancy resolution, singularity handling, and Jacobian methods
Experience with trajectory optimization and time-optimal path parameterization
Experience with collision checking and distance queries, including performance characteristics
Hands-on experience with MoveIt, OMPL, TrajOpt, Drake, or comparable frameworks
Strong C++ and Python skills
Hands-on experience with ROS or ROS 2
Ability to judge the fidelity required for validation questions
Comfortable trading simulation speed against accuracy
Ability to work effectively with remote teams across multiple time zones
Experience with FANUC arms or FANUC controller interfaces is nice to have
Experience with force control, impedance control, or contact-rich manipulation is nice to have
Experience with mobile manipulation and whole-body control is nice to have
Experience with learned or hybrid planning approaches is nice to have
Prior open-source contributions to MoveIt or the ROS manipulation ecosystem are nice to have

Benefits

Comp & perks

Bonus potential through an incentive pay program based on company, job-level, and individual performance
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Health Savings Account
Flexible Spending Accounts
Retirement savings plan
Sickness and accident benefits
Life insurance
Paid vacation and holidays
Tuition assistance programs
Employee assistance program
GM vehicle discounts
Relocation benefits for qualifying candidates
Remote work arrangement, with hybrid reporting three times a week for eligible candidates living within a specific radius of a GM hub