Senior Software Engineer - Planning
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Before you apply
Salary$160k – $230k
LocationSeattle, WA
Work modeon-site
Typefull-time
SenioritySenior
Experience7+ yrs
DepartmentSoftware Engineering
EquityIncluded
Company size51–200 people
First seenOct 16, 2026 · 3w ago
Verified live1d ago
At a glanceSummarised by Seekless from the posting.
BS or MS in CS, Robotics, Engineering, or a related field
7+ years of relevant experience
Experience developing planning algorithms for mobile robots in changing or uncertain environments
Production-quality software in C++ and/or Python
Willingness to support periodic field testing
PhD in a relevant field
Experience with both learned and classical planning
Experience integrating prior or opportunistic map data with onboard perception
Off-road UGV and/or on-road AV planning experience
Experience in DDIL environments
Ability to comply with U.S. export control laws
Skills
C++
Python
Benefits
Equity compensation
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Flexible PTO
401(k)
Paid parental leave
Wellness stipend
Productivity reimbursement
Role Summary:
We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design and implement navigation planning algorithms for unmanned ground vehicles operating in complex off-road and on-road terrain using local sensing. These systems must perform at speed in punishing conditions. You will need to balance fidelity and optimality against computational cost and robustness, and decide when to trust prior information and when to trust what the vehicle sees.
The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with both classical and learned approaches to planning under uncertainty and knows how to combine them. They also understand both the value and the failure modes of prior maps and far-field data.
What You’ll Do
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Design and implement planning algorithms for autonomous ground vehicles in unstructured off-road and structured on-road environments.
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Bridge learned and classical methods: decide where learned components (costing, prediction, policy) add value, and where classical guarantees and interpretability must win.
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Develop principled approaches to seeding planners with far-field and prior data (maps, overhead imagery, prior traversals), and reconciling that data with local sensing when they disagree.
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Design for GPS-denied, degraded, intermittent, and limited (DDIL) operation.
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Use our large corpus of off-road driving data for regression and progression testing, so improvements are measured and not anecdotal.
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Work closely with Perception, Controls, and Trajectory Optimization in a shared codebase. Integrate and adapt planners across vehicle platforms and sensor suites.
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Take part in field tests, demonstrations, and evaluation events, and own your work through deployment.
Minimum Qualifications
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BS or MS in CS, Robotics, Engineering, or a related field.
•
7+ years of relevant experience.
•
Experience developing planning algorithms for mobile robots in changing or uncertain environments.
•
Production-quality software in C++ and/or Python.
•
Willingness to support periodic field testing.
Desired Experience & Qualifications
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PhD in a relevant field.
•
Experience with both learned (e.g., learned costmaps, imitation/RL) and classical (search, sampling, optimization) planning.
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Experience integrating prior or opportunistic map data with onboard perception.
•
Off-road UGV and/or on-road AV planning experience. UGV experience is a plus, not a requirement.
•
Experience in DDIL environments.
Location:
The location for this position will be onsite in either Seattle, WA or Bay Area, CA.
Compensation And Benefits
Pay range:
Software Engineer: $160,000 - $190,000 annually
Senior Software Engineer: $200,000 - $230,000 annually
Actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Overland AI believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day.
Benefits include:
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Equity Compensation
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Best-in-class healthcare, dental, and vision plans
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Flexible PTO
•
401(k) with company match
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Paid parental leave
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Monthly wellness stipend
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One-time workplace & productivity reimbursement
Overland AI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, protected veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
This position may involve access to export-controlled technology. Employment is contingent on the ability to comply with U.S. export control laws.
Overland AI provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans during the application process. Please contact [email protected] to request an accommodation.
About the company
About Overland AI
Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Overland AI is transforming land operations for modern defense. The company leverages over a decade of advanced research in robotics and machine learning, as well as a field-test forward ethos, to deliver combined capabilities for unit commanders. Our OverDrive autonomy stack enables ground vehicles to navigate and operate off-road in any terrain without GPS or direct operator control. Our intuitive OverWatch C2 interface provides commanders with precise coordination capabilities essential for mission success.
Overland AI has secured funding from prominent defense tech investors including 8VC and Point 72, and built trusted partnerships with DARPA, the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command. Backed by eight-figure contracts across the Department of Defense, we are strengthening national security by iterating closely with end users engaged in tactical operations.