Principal Software Engineer - AMR Robot SW Architecture

General Motors • Full-time • 1d ago

We are seeking a Principal Architect for robotics software to define, lead, and execute the modern software architecture for autonomous mobile robot (AMR) systems deployed in manufacturing and industrial environments. This is a highly hands-on, cross-functional technical leadership role that bridges product vision, hardware capabilities, and multi-team software execution.

The Robotics Software team is developing the next generation of autonomous robotic systems, focusing on autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and intelligent robotic platforms. We develop full-stack robotics capabilities—from perception and planning to control and system integration—bringing innovative, real-world autonomous solutions to the future of the work. In this tech leadership role, you will be responsible for shaping the sense–plan–act architecture, ensuring architectural consistency across autonomy, simulation, validation, and offboard systems, while actively contributing to design reviews, technical problem solving, and system bring-up. This role requires close alignment with product management, hardware teams, and internal software development sub-teams, as well as the ability to guide architecture evolution as platforms scale.

What You’ll Do

Own and drive the end-to-end AMR software architecture, including autonomy, offboard systems, simulation, and validation.

Define system-level and block-level designs with clear interfaces, data flows, and subsystem boundaries.

Translate product strategy into scalable, production-ready software architectures aligned with business objectives.

Partner with hardware teams to ensure software design aligns with compute, sensor, and platform constraints.

Align and coordinate internal software teams, establishing ownership, integration contracts, and execution plans.

Ensure architecture is executed effectively through hands-on engagement, design reviews, and system integration support.

Evolve the architecture to support next-generation platforms, fleet-scale deployment, and emerging robotics/AI technologies.

Provide technical leadership and mentorship, promoting engineering standards, best practices, and cross-team knowledge sharing.

Required Qualifications

Master's degree or PhD in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.

10+ years of experience in robotics, autonomous systems, or complex real-time software systems (or equivalent depth of expertise).

Proficiency in C++ and/or Python for production robotic software

Deep expertise in one or more of the following:

Localization and sensor fusion (LiDAR, camera, IMU, wheel odometry)

Probabilistic estimation, factor graphs, pose graph optimization

Perception systems (object detection, BEV representations, multi-modal fusion)

Motion planning and navigation (e.g., Nav2 or equivalent frameworks)

Simulation and validation environments (e.g., IsaacSim, IsaacLab, Gazebo)

Familiarity with ROS2 or comparable robotics middleware.

Strong understanding of real-time constraints, performance optimization, and system robustness.

Experience working in cross-functional, multi-team environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

Practical experience with machine learning and AI-driven autonomy.

Proficiency with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.

Familiarity with relevant open-source or industry-standard tools and libraries, such as: ORB-SLAM, VINS-Mono, GTSAM, Ceres; DETR, BEVFormer, BEVFusion, SAMv2.

Experience with cloud-based data collection, dataset curation, and ML pipelines.

Background in industrial automation, AMR deployments, or AV/ADAS systems.

Proven experience influencing architecture across multiple product generations.

Location: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to the MTV office three times per week or any other frequency dictated by the business.

Compensation: The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position, as well as geography of the selected candidate.

The salary range for this role is $245,000 – $350,000. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.

Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.

What you’ll get from us (Benefits):

GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.

This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

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