---
title: 'Principal Software Engineer, Team Lead - Perception Platforms at Motional'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-software-engineer-team-lead-perception-platforms-motional-boston-3wkq5fc6wxdm'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-25'
---

# Principal Software Engineer, Team Lead - Perception Platforms at Motional

- **Company:** Motional
- **Location:** Boston, MA / Las Vegas, NV / Pittsburgh, PA / United States
- **Compensation:** $240k–$330k
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-10-19
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-25
- **Apply:** https://motional.com/open-positions/?gh_jid=8037130003#/8037130003

## Job description

Mission Summary:

On our Perception team, you have the opportunity to work with world-class ML engineers and research scientists to make self-driving vehicles a reality. The Perception Platform team is central to this mission, operating at the intersection of ML Infrastructure and Perception. We build the foundational frameworks, evaluation pipelines, and tooling that enable our Perception team to scale their work on the tech stack responsible for perceiving the dynamic world around our robo-taxi.

These foundational systems include our large-scale data pipelines,  which are critical for efficient end-to-end ML development (e.g. data transformation, model training, and model evaluation) of our on-car and off-car Perception solutions. It also includes our evaluation and visualization tools, which provide intuitive insights into dataset distributions, model behavior, system performance, and edge-case scenarios. Finally, our active learning loop which continuously selects and incorporates high-value data to improve model accuracy and robustness over time.

What you’ll be doing:

- Build, lead and manage a high-performing team in the creation, maintenance, and optimization of our internal data, training, and evaluation pipelines specific to perception modelling team.
- Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and career development opportunities to team members
- Define team goals, priorities, and roadmap in alignment with company objectives
- Work closely with ML engineers to proactively identify and resolve technical challenges , while also contributing directly to the implementation of those improvements. This includes troubleshooting and optimizing machine learning workflows for maximum efficiency and performance, architecting and executing cutting-edge technologies/methodologies for accelerating ML development end-to-end from concept to deployment & maintenance.
- Lead design and code reviews, setting a high bar for quality and ensuring the adoption of best practices.
- Foster cross-functional collaboration ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals.

What We’re Looking for:

- 7+ years of professional software engineering experience, with at least 3+ years in a formal or informal leadership or mentorship role.
- 2+ years of experience developing, operating, or supporting distributed machine learning training across clusters of GPU nodes.
- BS or MS in Computer Science or a related technical field.
- A passion for remaining hands-on and a proven ability to contribute high-quality, production-level code to a shared codebase.
- Fluency in Python and familiarity with data processing libraries (e.g., NumPy, Pandas)
- Proven experience in backend development and leading the architecture of complex systems.
- A deep understanding of ML or Perception topics to strategically guide pipelines/tooling.
- Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering data visualization tools or internal engineering dashboards that drive insights and action.
- Expert knowledge of software engineering principles, with a track record of leading teams in software design, source control management, build processes, code reviews, and testing methods.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate a technical vision and motivate a team

Bonus Points:

- Expertise in concurrency, parallel processing, and database systems to inform architectural decisions.
- Experience with distributed computing frameworks like K8s and Ray.
- A proven track record of developing and deploying Perception systems for autonomous vehicles or robotics.
- A Ph.D. in a relevant field, or equivalent industry experience that demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning.
- Proficiency in modern C++ (C++14/17 or later)
- Experience with building products with current LLMs and MCP protocols.
- Experience with GPU-accelerated data processing.
- Familiarity with Pytorch, TensorFlow or other modern ML development platform
- Experience in project management and a history of successfully delivering complex technical projects.

## #LI-BP1

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors including but not limited to specific skills, experience and expertise, role location, certifications, licenses, and business needs. The estimated compensation range listed in this job posting reflects base salary only. This role may include additional forms of compensation such as a bonus or company equity. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

Candidates for certain positions are eligible to participate in Motional’s benefits program. Motional’s benefits include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, 401k with a company match, health saving accounts, life insurance, pet insurance, and more.

Salary Range $240,000—$330,000 USD

Motional is a driverless technology company making autonomous vehicles a safe, reliable, and accessible reality. We’re driven by something more.

Our journey is always people first.

We aren't just developing driverless cars; we're creating safer roadways, more equitable transportation options, and making our communities better places to live, work, and connect. Our team is made up of engineers, researchers, innovators, dreamers and doers, who are creating a technology with the potential to transform the way we move.

Higher purpose, greater impact.

We’re creating first-of-its-kind technology that will transform transportation. To do so successfully, we must design for everyone in our cities and on our roads. We believe in building a great place to work through a progressive, global culture that is diverse, inclusive, and ensures people feel valued at every level of the organization. Diversity helps us to see the world differently; it’s not only good for our business, it’s the right thing to do.

Scale up, not starting up.

Our team is behind some of the industry's largest leaps forward, including the first fully-autonomous cross-country drive in the U.S, the launch of the world's first robotaxi pilot, and operation of the world's longest-standing public robotaxi fleet. We’re driven to scale; we’re moving towards commercialization of our technology, and we need team members who are ready to embrace change and challenges.

Formed as a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, Motional is fundamentally changing how people move through their lives. Headquartered in Boston, Motional has operations in the U.S and Asia. For more information, visit  [www.Motional.com](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3300142-1&h=1642745316&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D3253528-1%26h%3D3781125006%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fc212.net%252Fc%252Flink%252F%253Ft%253D0%2526l%253Den%2526o%253D3089636-1%2526h%253D3468778127%2526u%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fc212.net%25252Fc%25252Flink%25252F%25253Ft%25253D0%252526l%25253Den%252526o%25253D2881693-1%252526h%25253D646020682%252526u%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Furldefense.com%2525252Fv3%2525252F__http%2525253A%2525252Fwww.motional.com%2525252F__%2525253B!!KT8c38mO!j78LjnhAm2VK7Fu23VO6KlwqDXvVTQFMzmyzieKQqZDQksh2tpWEseK4to8eKzwsEwI%25252524%252526a%25253Dwww.Motional.com%2526a%253Dwww.Motional.com%26a%3Dwww.Motional.com&a=www.Motional.com) and follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/motionaldrive), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/67123512/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/motionaldrive/) and [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr__mGPkBb-KMoYWbSGuA9w).

Motional AD Inc. is an EOE. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. To comply with Federal Law, we participate in E-Verify. All newly-hired employees are queried through this electronic system established by the DHS and the SSA to verify their identity and employment eligibility.

## About Motional

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Motional is an autonomous vehicle technology company developing Level 4 driverless systems for robotaxi and delivery services.
- **Entity Type**: Private (joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv)
- **Headquarters**: Boston, Massachusetts, USA (with offices in Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Santa Monica, and Singapore)
- **Founded**: 2020 (formed as a joint venture; predecessor companies nuTonomy and Ottomatika founded in 2013)
- **Founders**: Motional was created as a joint venture; predecessor companies nuTonomy was co-founded by Karl Iagnemma and Emilio Frazzoli, and Ottomatika was founded by Raj Rajkumar

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Autonomous Vehicle Technology / Self-Driving Systems
- **Target Customers**: B2B partnerships with mobility networks (ride-hail and delivery platforms like Uber), enterprise fleet operators, and mobility service providers
- **Mission**: To make driverless vehicles a safe, reliable, and accessible reality, fundamentally changing how the world moves.

## Products & Services
- **Robotaxi Service (Motional Driverless)**: A fully driverless, Level 4 autonomous vehicle platform designed for ride-hail services. Currently operating commercial robotaxi services on Uber in Las Vegas as of March 2026.
- **Autonomous Delivery**: The same robotaxi platform is designed to support autonomous delivery services, complementing the ride-hail offering.
- **nuScenes Open Source Dataset**: An industry-leading open-source dataset for autonomous vehicle research, demonstrating Motional's commitment to safety-focused data sharing.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private joint venture)
- **Key Metric**: Over 130,000 autonomous rides provided with zero at-fault incidents since predecessor companies began in 2013.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Hyundai Motor Group (joint venture partner), Aptiv (joint venture partner), Uber (commercial robotaxi partnership launched in Las Vegas, March 2026).
- **Growth Signals**: Commercial launch of robotaxi service on Uber in Las Vegas (March 2026), over a decade of autonomous driving development, significant scaling of driverless testing operations.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Industry-Leading Safety Record**: Zero at-fault incidents across 130,000+ autonomous rides, with safety as the company's bedrock principle.
- **Unique Joint Venture Structure**: Combines Hyundai's manufacturing expertise (vehicle production, global scale) with Aptiv's automotive technology leadership (sensors, software, integration).
- **Proven Commercial Deployment**: First-mover advantage with a live, paying robotaxi service integrated into Uber's platform in a major US city.
- **Open Source Leadership**: The nuScenes dataset is a widely used industry benchmark, establishing Motional as a thought leader and attracting top talent.

## Strategic Focus
- **Commercialization at Scale**: Expanding the Las Vegas robotaxi service and replicating the model in new markets.
- **Platform Versatility**: Developing the same core technology for both ride-hail and delivery to maximize revenue per vehicle and market opportunity.
- **Safety-First Approach**: Continuing to lead the industry in transparency and safety data sharing to build public trust and regulatory confidence.
- **Partnership Ecosystem**: Deepening integration with Uber and pursuing additional mobility network partnerships globally.

## Why Work Here
- **Purpose-Driven Mission**: Employees are motivated by a clear social purpose: creating safer roads, more equitable transportation, and reducing emissions — not just building technology for profit.
- **Cutting-Edge Engineering Challenges**: Work on the hardest problems in robotics, machine learning, AI, software, and sensor fusion, with direct impact on a product already on the streets.
- **Culture & Values**: Described as "more human than big tech and more structured than start-ups." Core values include Safety as Bedrock, Build for Everyone (diversity & inclusion), Take Ownership, and Deliver the Future.
- **Global, Collaborative Team**: Offices across the US (Boston, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Santa Monica) and Asia (Singapore), with a culture that emphasizes collaboration across teams and disciplines.
- **Career Growth & Benefits**: Competitive benefits package, investment in employee development, and a "people first" approach that values career growth and well-being. Remote/hybrid policy not explicitly stated but global office presence suggests flexibility.

## Sources
1. [Motional Website](https://motional.com/)
2. [Motional Careers Page](https://motional.com/careers)
3. [Motional - What We Do](https://motional.com/what-we-do)
4. [Motional - Life at Motional](https://motional.com/life-motional)
5. [Motional - Open Positions](https://motional.com/open-positions)

## Other roles at Motional

- [Associate Autonomous Vehicle Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-autonomous-vehicle-technician-motional-las-vegas-481jash4n6a0) — Las Vegas, NV
- [Mission Support Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/mission-support-manager-motional-las-vegas-x0zngfgg9e8q) — Las Vegas, NV
- [Mission Control Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/mission-control-specialist-motional-las-vegas-2049fc917enc) — Las Vegas, NV
- [Operations Safety Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/operations-safety-specialist-motional-las-vegas-t8nyhtc7fe8c) — Las Vegas, NV
- [Senior Technical Program Manager - Infrastructure](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-technical-program-manager-infrastructure-motional-singapore-151jcnww3xfs) — Singapore
- [Project Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/project-manager-motional-boston-56c67sxh2h7x) — Boston, MA
- [Autonomous Vehicle Testing Operator II](https://feeny.ai/job/autonomous-vehicle-testing-operator-ii-motional-pittsburgh-g3bq59mebecg) — Pittsburgh, PA
- [Senior Motion Planning Engineer - Safety-Layer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-motion-planning-engineer-safety-layer-motional-boston-1mqgakn68kzb) — Boston, MA / Las Vegas, NV / Pittsburgh, PA / United States
- [Senior Software Engineer, HIL Infrastructure](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-hil-infrastructure-motional-las-vegas-vwbpxc8hnjv0) — Las Vegas, NV / Pittsburgh, PA
- [Senior Onboard Vehicle Network Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-onboard-vehicle-network-engineer-motional-las-vegas-vxvr6tfsfz3h) — Las Vegas, NV