About the role#
We are looking for a PhD student to join our team as a Motion Planning Engineer. You will apply your research background in robotics and autonomous systems to build next-generation planning capabilities for our vehicles. This is a rolling internship position with the potential to convert to a full-time role based on performance.
What you'll do#
- Implement solutions for Behavioral Planning, including decision-making for lane changes, merges, yields, and multi-agent interactions.
- Design and optimize motion planning algorithms that combine geometry-based path reasoning and context-aware speed reasoning to create safe trajectories.
- Improve core geometry and velocity planning systems to ensure vehicle comfort and compliance across different driving scenarios.
- Model complex environments and agent behaviors to build a representation for planning under uncertainty.
- Create cost functions and optimization frameworks that balance safety, efficiency, and comfort.
- Test and debug system performance using simulation and real-world data, including root-cause investigations.
- Work with researchers and engineers in Perception, Prediction, and Control to maintain an integrated autonomy stack.
What you'll need#
- Recently completed or soon-to-complete PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
- Research or internship experience in motion planning algorithms, behavioral planning, trajectory optimization, or multi-agent interaction modeling.
- A record of research demonstrated by publications in top-tier conferences such as RSS, ICRA, IROS, CVPR, NeurIPS, or CoRL.
- Hands-on C++ experience for implementing complex, real-time algorithms.
- Strong analytical and communication skills with a collaborative mindset.
Location & details#
- Location: San Jose, California.
- Work Modality: On-site.
- Employment Type: Full-time internship.
- Compensation: $46 per hour.
- Sponsorship: Not available.
About DiDi Autonomous Driving
DiDi Autonomous Driving develops Level 4 autonomous driving technology. The company operates as an independent entity focused on research, development, and product application. It holds public road testing licenses in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and California. Founded in 2016, the firm currently employs between 501 and 1,000 people and maintains its headquarters in Beijing.
How to get in at DiDi Autonomous Driving
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