Mission Summary:
The Actions Interns will focus on generating reliable, safe, and efficient actions for the system—translating perception and behavior decisions into executable motions or outputs. This role may involve action modeling, motion planning, control algorithms, trajectory optimization, reinforcement learning, generative models, data pipeline development, ML frameworks, or actuator-level experimentation, depending on team needs.
Responsibilities:
- Develop or refine action-generation algorithms and/or models, motion planners, and trajectories
- Run simulation or real-world experiments to evaluate action execution quality
- Support analysis and tuning of action performance (latency, smoothness, stability).
- Work with Behaviors to ensure action feasibility and alignment with higher-level goals
- Collaborate with Perception to evaluate downstream impacts of perception noise or drift
- Document tools, experiments, and action models clearly
Required Skills:
- Currently pursuing a Masters/PhD degrees in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a related field
- Strong programming skills (Python required; C++ preferred)
- Coursework or project experience in one or more:
- Motion planning
- Control systems
- Trajectory optimization
- Robotics or autonomous systems
- Machine learning
- Familiarity with simulation tools
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with classical control (PID, MPC) or modern learning-based control
- Knowledge of kinematics, dynamics, or robotics frameworks
- Understanding of actuator constraints, latencies, and real-time execution considerations
- Experience developing machine learning models for motion planning in a real-world robotic setting
Note: This will be a hybrid onsite internship position in Boston or Pittsburgh. We will accept resumes on a rolling basis until the role is filled. Compensation will be based on location and degree level.
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 and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
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.
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