Cobot · 2 months ago
Tech Lead Manager, Planning & Behavior
Santa Clara
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$215K/yr - $245K/yr
5+ years expCobot is building the autonomy foundation for the next generation of collaborative robots, and they are seeking a Tech Lead Manager, Planning & Behavior to lead the design and development of their navigation and behavior stack. In this role, you will guide a team of engineers in architecting systems that enable robots to navigate complex environments safely and efficiently.
Information TechnologyMachinery ManufacturingRobotics
No H1B
Responsibilities
Lead the design and development of the robot’s navigation, planning, and behavior stack — from motion planning to high-level decision-making
Architect robust autonomy systems that integrate perception, localization, mapping, and control into cohesive, real-world-capable behavior
Drive the roadmap for navigation, trajectory planning, and behavioral decision layers, balancing near-term delivery with long-term technical vision
Collaborate across disciplines — perception, controls, simulation, hardware, and UX — to ensure seamless integration and safe, predictable robot behavior
Guide algorithmic development for path planning, behavior selection, and motion optimization under real-world constraints (uncertainty, dynamic obstacles, multi-agent interactions)
Provide technical mentorship and guidance to autonomy engineers, fostering best practices in software design, testing, and reliability
Review and refine technical requirements, translating them into clear design plans and execution strategies
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related technical field
5+ years of experience working within engineering teams
Professional managerial experience
Proficiency in C++ and Python, with a readiness to learn new languages or technologies
Deep understanding of motion planning algorithms and trajectory generation under dynamic constraints
Expertise in decision-making frameworks such as finite state machines, behavior trees, hierarchical task networks, or learning-based policies
Experience with ROS2 or equivalent robotics middleware for distributed autonomy systems
Familiarity with real-time systems, multi-threaded programming, and performance optimization for onboard computation
Experience with simulation tools (Gazebo, CARLA, Isaac Sim, or Unity) and scenario-based testing of navigation and behavior
Strong systems-level thinking — ability to design interfaces between perception, planning, control, and behavior layers
Experience implementing production-grade, high-reliability software on a robot or similar autonomous system
Willing to occasionally travel
Must have and maintain US work authorization
Highly motivated teammate with excellent oral and written communication skills
Enjoy working in a fast paced, collaborative and dynamic start-up environment as part of a small team
Preferred
Ph.D. with 3+ years or Master's with 5+ years of experience in robotics, motion planning, or autonomous systems
8+ years of experience working within engineering teams
Strong proficiency in C++, with experience in production-quality code for real-time or safety-critical systems
Experience with human robot interaction or socially aware navigation
Solid understanding of dynamics, control interfaces, and motion feasibility constraints
Experience with simulation tools and in realistic environments
Benefits
Equity
Comprehensive benefits
Company
Cobot
We're building a new kind of robotics company. One without egos. Driven by empathy. With collaboration at its core.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$140MKey Investors
General CatalystSequoia CapitalNeo
2024-04-10Series B· $100M
2023-07-26Series A· $30M
2022-06-14Seed· $10M
Leadership Team
Brad Porter
Founder and CEO
Recent News
2025-06-22
Company data provided by crunchbase