---
title: 'Autonomy Engineer - Motion Planning & Controls at Tycho.AI'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/autonomy-engineer-motion-planning-controls-tycho-ai-cambridge-tyc6sxp8r97j'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-09'
---

# Autonomy Engineer - Motion Planning & Controls at Tycho.AI

- **Company:** Tycho.AI
- **Location:** Cambridge, MA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-03-09
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/tycho-ai/54c1b32b-0f7c-4891-b64b-c550640df065

## Job description

## ABOUT TYCHO.AI

Tycho.AI is redefining the future of autonomous intelligence. Spun out of MIT and backed by DoD contracts, we are building breakthrough AI and autonomy solutions for unmanned systems operating in GPS-denied and contested environments. We are a fast-growing, dual-use technology company at the forefront of national security and commercial innovation, with a mission to push the boundaries of what autonomous systems can achieve.

Joining Tycho.AI means being part of a team shaping the next decade of autonomy from defense applications to commercial opportunities in areas like logistics, disaster response, and beyond. If you want to work at the cutting edge of AI/ML and robotics with a company that’s poised for major impact and growth, we want to hear from you.

## ABOUT THE ROLE

As an Autonomy Engineer - Motion Planning & Controls at Tycho.AI, you will design, build, and validate motion planning and control systems for intelligent autonomous vehicles. You will collaborate with a cross-functional team of electrical, mechanical, and software experts to explore new concepts through rapid, iterative prototyping. We are seeking adaptable engineers who collaborate effectively across disciplines, brainstorm innovative ideas, and navigate through emerging embedded technologies. Most importantly, you should have a proven ability to drive a concept through the prototype phase and excel in hardware/software co-development.

## RESPONSIBILITIES

- Design, implement, and maintain autonomy software for motion planning, trajectory optimization, and flight control.
- Integrate systems into real-world platforms, bridging research and production.
- Stay current on research and apply state-of-the-art techniques.

## REQUIREMENTS

- Master’s or PhD degree in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field; or equivalent working experience.
- Proficiency in C/C++ with experience shipping production-grade software.
- Strong foundation in modern control system design, including MPC.
- Experience developing and implementing motion planning and trajectory optimization systems.
- Working understanding rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft flight dynamics.
- Hands-on experience implementing motion planning and control software on real robotics vehicles.
- Comfortable developing and reasoning about multi-threaded real-time systems.

## NICE TO HAVE

- Familiarity with learned motion planning and/or data-driven trajectory improvement techniques.
- Familiarity with high-speed vehicle planning or multi-agent trajectory optimization.
- Experience working with embedded robotics platforms, such as NVIDIA Jetson.
- Experience writing microcontroller code, e.g., on STM32.
- Experience building vehicle dynamics simulations based on flight test data.
- Familiarity with open-source flight control systems, such as Ardupilot and PX4.
- Background in convex and nonlinear optimization.

## WHY TYCHO.AI

- Be part of a rapidly scaling startup defining the future of autonomous intelligence.
- Collaborative, high-trust culture that values innovation, execution, and continuous learning.
- Competitive salary, meaningful equity, and generous benefits package.

## EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) STATEMENT:

Tycho.AI is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or protected veteran status.

## E-VERIFY AND RIGHT TO WORK

Tycho.AI participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization in the United States. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. and may be subject to a government security clearance process.

## About Tycho.AI

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Tycho.AI builds mission-critical autonomy software and compute hardware for unmanned systems operating in GPS-denied and contested environments, enabling real-time edge decision-making without remote control or persistent connectivity.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A; total funding ~$12M)
- **Headquarters**: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- **Founded**: 2022
- **Founders**: Sertac Karaman (Founder & Executive Chair)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Defense and Space Manufacturing
- **Target customers**: U.S. Department of Defense (Air Force, SOCOM), defense primes, and unmanned system integrators (B2G/B2B)
- **Mission statement**: Deliver mission-ready autonomous intelligence for unmanned systems that fly, drive, and decide in the world’s toughest environments — ensuring operations succeed even when GPS and communications fail.

## Products & Services
- **Voyager**: Low-size, weight, and power (SWaP) hardware and software autonomy stack that fuses AI-driven perception, navigation, and control. Enables precision navigation and autonomous decision-making in GPS-denied, comms-degraded environments. Designed with a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) for integration on any uncrewed platform.
- **Halley VTOL UAS**: Vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed aerial system validated for C-UAS and one-way attack demonstrations (TRL 6). Supports low-altitude, high-speed flight with swarming capability.
- **Autonomy Software Modules**: Battlefield assessment, threat identification, 3D mapping, multi-agent coordination, and mission planning tools that run entirely on the edge.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of $12M (latest: $10M Series A led by FirstMark Capital, closed November 2025; plus earlier option/warrant rounds and $1M AFWERX SBIR Phase II grant)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**:
  - Investors: FirstMark Capital, Pillar
  - Partners: Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), AFWERX, SOFWERX
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Headcount grew 766.7% year-over-year (now ~18 employees)
  - 18 active job postings (up 157% month-over-month)
  - Secured $2M AFRL TACFI contract (TRIDENT project) to advance maritime autonomy
  - Achieved CMMC Level 2 cybersecurity certification
  - Successful Halley VTOL demonstration at T-REX 26-2 (May 2026)
  - LinkedIn followers grew 1,075% year-over-year to 1,375

## Competitive Advantages
- **MIT Origins**: Founders and key technical staff from MIT research labs bring deep academic rigor and cutting-edge autonomy algorithms.
- **Proven Defense Track Record**: Multiple government contracts (AFRL, AFWERX, SOFWERX) and successful field demonstrations validate technology readiness.
- **True GPS-Denied Capability**: Voyager operates without GPS, comms, or external ranging beacons — a critical differentiator as electronic warfare proliferates.
- **Low-SWaP Design**: Compact module designed for small UAS, enabling swarming and high-tempo operations.
- **CMMC Level 2 Certified**: Demonstrates cybersecurity maturity required for handling controlled unclassified information (CUI) in defense programs.

## Strategic Focus
- **Maritime Autonomy**: The TRIDENT contract aims to deliver overland and over-the-water navigation in GPS-denied environments, extending Voyager to naval platforms.
- **Scalable Swarming**: Developing multi-agent coordination and swarm tactics to enable “low, fast, and in overwhelming numbers” battlefield advantage.
- **Industrial Base Expansion**: Transitioning from prototyping to production, integrating Voyager with existing operational frameworks (e.g., FANTOM middleware).
- **Commercial Adjacencies**: While currently defense-focused, the company’s edge autonomy stack has potential applications in logistics, infrastructure inspection, and disaster response.

## Why Work Here
- **Impact**: Your work directly supports national security; see your code and hardware fly in real-world missions.
- **Team**: Small (18 people), rapidly growing, composed of engineers from MIT, Harvard, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Cruise, and defense primes. Highly collaborative and mission-driven culture.
- **Flexibility**: Hybrid model based in Cambridge, MA (Kendall Square). Flexible hours and work schedules.
- **Compensation & Benefits**: Competitive salaries, excellent medical/dental/vision, 401(k), HSA/FSA, disability insurance.
- **Perks**: Unlimited PTO, growth opportunities in a fast-scaling startup.
- **Office Location**: “The most innovative square mile on the planet” — Cambridge/Kendall Square ecosystem with deep tech and defense talent.

## Sources
1. [tycho.ai](https://tycho.ai/)
2. [tycho.ai/careers](https://tycho.ai/careers)
3. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/tycho-ai](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/tycho-ai)
4. [linkedin.com/company/tycho-ai](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tycho-ai)
5. [cbinsights.com/company/tycho-ai](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/tycho-ai)

## Other roles at Tycho.AI

- [UAV Flight Test Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/uav-flight-test-lead-tycho-ai-cambridge-fdjjb7zsrctx) — Cambridge, MA
- [Operations Associate](https://feeny.ai/job/operations-associate-tycho-ai-cambridge-erns332nn0bm) — Cambridge, MA
- [Software Integration & Test Engineer – Autonomy & Flight Test](https://feeny.ai/job/software-integration-test-engineer-autonomy-flight-test-tycho-ai-cambridge-casz8pkynkrp) — Cambridge, MA
- [Embedded Linux Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/embedded-linux-software-engineer-tycho-ai-cambridge-q1jtacc3ashy) — Cambridge, MA
- [Electrical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-engineer-tycho-ai-cambridge-d1t7v6qng8t0) — Cambridge, MA
- [Machine Learning Engineer - Computer Vision & Robotics](https://feeny.ai/job/machine-learning-engineer-computer-vision-robotics-tycho-ai-cambridge-t7s32hppg0ps) — Cambridge, MA
- [Autonomy Engineer - State Estimation](https://feeny.ai/job/autonomy-engineer-state-estimation-tycho-ai-cambridge-z95fzpt3bgyj) — Cambridge, MA
- [Autonomy Engineer - Perception](https://feeny.ai/job/autonomy-engineer-perception-tycho-ai-cambridge-dv5n7f7t0s9s) — Cambridge, MA
- [Senior Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-tycho-ai-cambridge-vk8jbffjrd28) — Cambridge, MA
- [Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-tycho-ai-cambridge-f7xy46zpyess) — Cambridge, MA