Robotics Autonomy Engineer, Planning & Control

FieldAI’s Irvine team is where embodied AI meets real robots, real sensors, and real field deployments. Based in the heart of Southern California’s robotics ecosystem, we build risk-aware, reliable, field-ready AI systems that solve the hardest problems in robotics and unlock the full potential of embodied intelligence. If you want your work to ship, get tested on hardware, and improve through real deployments, Irvine is the place. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-only architectures, combining rigorous engineering with learning systems proven in globally deployed solutions that deliver results today and get better every time our robots run in the field.

Field AI is transforming how robots interact with the real world. We are building risk-aware, reliable, and field-ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-based architectures, and are charting a new course, with already-globally-deployed solutions delivering real-world results and rapidly improving models through real-field applications.

Field AI is building the future of autonomy—from rugged terrain to real-world deployment. We’re on a mission to develop intelligent, adaptable robotic systems that operate beyond simulation and thrive in unpredictable environments. As our Robotics Autonomy Engineer – Planning and Control, you’ll design, implement, and deploy path planning, trajectory planning, obstacle avoidance, and motion control algorithms that enable our robots to move with precision, robustness, and efficiency across wheeled, legged, and humanoid platforms. You’ll be part of a deeply technical team advancing real-world robotic capabilities through cutting-edge research, simulation tools, and field validation. If enabling robots to navigate challenging, dynamic environments excites you, and you want to work where your code hits the ground (literally)—this is your role. This is Field AI.

• Design, develop, and refine path planning and navigation algorithms for challenging real-world scenarios such as narrow passages, dynamic obstacles, and off-road or unstructured environments.
• Develop optimization based trajectory planning that ensures smooth, reliable, and efficient navigation across wheeled, legged, and humanoid platforms.
• Build real time obstacle avoidance and reactive planning layers that keep robots safe among people, machines, and changing terrain.
• Develop and tune control algorithms for precise trajectory tracking and stable operation across different robotic systems.
• Plan and track within the constraints set by our independent safety layer, and work with the safety team to keep nominal behavior well inside the safe envelope.
• Develop learning based planning and navigation, from learned navigation policies to foundation model driven mobility.
• Collaborate across autonomy layers for seamless coordination between perception, planning, and control.
• Build and maintain testing pipelines from unit-level validation to full robot deployment, using simulation for evaluation, benchmarking, and regression validation.
• Analyze real-world telemetry to diagnose field issues and deliver targeted improvements while maintaining general-case reliability.

• Master’s degree or higher in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or a related field (PhD a plus)
• Strong understanding of motion planning, trajectory generation, and control systems.
• Experience in classical planning and control, such as path planning, trajectory optimization, and model predictive control (MPC)
• Experience implementing learning based navigation, such as learned navigation policies or vision language action models (VLA) for mobility
• Experience developing algorithms for one or more robotic systems (wheeled, legged, wheeled-legged, humanoid)
• Solid programming skills in C++ and Python on Linux-based systems
• Familiarity with robotics middleware such as ROS/ROS 2
• Experience with robot sensors including LiDARs, stereo/depth cameras, IMUs, GPS, and wheel encoders

• Exposure to real-world deployment of autonomous systems
• Background in optimization, control, or numerical methods for trajectory planning
• Experience with hybrid architectures that combine classical planners with learned components
• Experience deploying vision language models (VLM) or vision language action models for navigation on real robots
• Experience deploying planning or navigation stacks with real time onboard inference (ONNX Runtime, NVIDIA TensorRT)
• Contributions to open-source planning or control frameworks
• Familiarity with safety-critical autonomy and industrial robotics use cases

The salary range for this role is $70,000-$200,000. The actual offer for this position will be based on factors such as relevant experience, competencies, certifications, and how well the candidate meets the qualifications outlined above. Part of our compensation package also includes full benefits, equity, and generous time.

At Field AI, we believe the most effective way to collaborate and solve complex challenges is by working together in person. This is a fully onsite role, and candidates will be expected to work from our Mission Viejo, CA office. In-person engagement is essential to our success, and we offer flexible working hours to support focus and work-life balance.

We are solving one of the world’s most complex challenges: deploying robots in unstructured, previously unknown environments. Our Field Foundational Models™ set a new standard in perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, ensuring our approach is explainable and safe for deployment.

You will have the opportunity to work with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. With a decade-long track record of deploying solutions in the field, winning DARPA challenge segments, and bringing expertise from organizations like DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise Self-Driving, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, we are set to achieve our ambitious goals.

To tackle such ambitious challenges, we need a team as unique as our vision — innovators who go beyond conventional methods and are eager to tackle tough, uncharted questions. We’re seeking individuals who challenge the status quo, dive into uncharted territory, and bring interdisciplinary expertise. Our team requires not only top AI talent but also exceptional software developers, engineers, product designers, field deployment experts, and communicators.

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

Our salary range is generous and we consider each individual’s background and experience when determining final compensation. Base pay may vary based on role scope, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and the Irvine, California market.

In Irvine, you will work where the robots are. Our local team builds and tests systems on real hardware with real sensors, then ships them to operate in unstructured, previously unknown environments around the world. We are solving one of robotics’ hardest challenges: reliable deployment outside the lab. Our Field Foundational Models™ raise the bar for perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, with an emphasis on explainability and safety for real-world use.

You will collaborate with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. We bring deep experience from organizations such as DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, along with a track record of field deployments and strong performance in DARPA challenge segments.

We are looking for builders who want their work to leave the whiteboard and show up on robots. If you enjoy tackling tough, uncharted questions and working across disciplines, you will find your people here. Our teams span AI, software, robotics engineering, product, field deployment, and technical communication, all focused on shipping systems that perform in the real world.

Our headquarters is in Irvine, and we partner closely with teams there as well as colleagues across the US and around the world. Join us in Southern California and help define what dependable, field-ready autonomy looks like.

We value diverse perspectives and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We evaluate candidates and employees based on merit, qualifications, and performance, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.