Senior Robotics Motion Planning Software Engineer

Bonsai Robotics - San Jose, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

San Jose, CA

About the position

The Senior Robotics Motion Planning Software Engineer at Bonsai Robotics will focus on developing motion planning software for off-road autonomous systems, specifically tailored for agricultural applications. This role aims to enhance the efficiency of agricultural machinery by integrating advanced navigation technologies, including GPS and RTK systems, to ensure precise and reliable operation in challenging environments. The engineer will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative solutions that address the labor and operational challenges faced by orchard managers.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement GPS waypoint following algorithms for autonomous agricultural vehicles, ensuring precise and reliable navigation in the field.
• Integrate and optimize Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS data with other sensor inputs to achieve centimeter-level accuracy in vehicle positioning.
• Collaborate with the hardware team to select and integrate the appropriate GPS and RTK systems suitable for agricultural environments and vehicle platforms.
• Design, test, and maintain navigation software that enables the vehicle to follow predefined routes accurately while avoiding obstacles and adhering to safety protocols.
• Analyze and troubleshoot navigation-related issues in the field, providing timely solutions and improvements to enhance system performance.
• Conduct simulation and real-world testing to validate the performance and robustness of the navigation software.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in robotics, GPS, and agricultural technology, incorporating relevant innovations into the navigation system.
• Work closely with the broader robotics team to ensure seamless integration of navigation software with other vehicle functionalities and control systems.
• Document code, algorithms, and technical specifications for internal use and assist in creating user manuals for customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in computer science, electrical engineering, physics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience, ideally in a robotics or autonomous systems field.
• Proficient in C++, Python, ROS2, and/or other robotics programming languages.
• Experience in GPS and GPS-denied planner design.
• Experience with GPS, RTK, cameras, encoders, and other sensors.
• Ability to work independently as an individual contributor and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary and diverse team.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a hands-on approach to debugging and testing.
• Excellent communication skills to effectively convey technical concepts to team members and stakeholders.
• Experience in designing and developing global planning algorithms.
• In-depth knowledge of GPS and RTK technologies, including practical experience with RTK GPS receivers and their integration into navigation systems.
• Experience with sensor fusion techniques to enhance positioning accuracy using data from various sensors like IMUs, LiDAR, and cameras.
• Experience operating agricultural machinery and farm equipment.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in designing algorithms for agriculture.