Software Engineer - Behaviors & Planning

About Overland AI 

Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Overland AI is transforming land operations for modern defense. The company leverages over a decade of advanced research in robotics and machine learning, as well as a field-test forward ethos, to deliver combined capabilities for unit commanders. Our OverDrive autonomy stack enables ground vehicles to navigate and operate off-road in any terrain without GPS or direct operator control. Our intuitive OverWatch C2 interface provides commanders with precise coordination capabilities essential for mission success.  

Overland AI has secured funding from prominent defense tech investors including 8VC and Point 72, and built trusted partnerships with DARPA, the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command. Backed by eight-figure contracts across the Department of Defense, we are strengthening national security by iterating closely with end users engaged in tactical operations.   

Role Summary: 

We are seeking a Software Engineer to join the team that decides where our autonomous ground vehicles go and how they get there, in off-road terrain with degraded GPS and intermittent comms. You'll work alongside experienced planning, optimization, and systems engineers. You'll ship real code to real vehicles early, and grow into co-owning a core part of the stack within your first 6–12 months.

You don't need years of production experience. You do need strong fundamentals, curiosity, and the drive to own your work all the way to the field.

Focus areas. You'll start in one of these, matched to your interests and our needs:

• Systems: architecture, performance, tooling, and reliability of the planning stack.
• Planning: navigation and decision-making under uncertainty, including learned and classical approaches.
• Trajectory Optimization: MPC/MPPI, vehicle modeling, and real-time optimization.

What You'll Do

• Implement, test, and improve features in the behaviors and planning stack, with C++ and Python in a shared codebase.
• Use our off-road driving data to evaluate changes and catch regressions.
• Debug issues from logs, simulation, and field data, with mentorship along the way.
• Join field tests and see your code run on vehicles.
• Take part in design discussions and code reviews, both giving and receiving feedback.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS or MS in Computer Science, Robotics, Engineering, or a related field, OR equivalent experience.
• • PhD graduates are welcome.
• 1–3 years of professional experience. Internships, research, and substantial projects all count.
• Solid programming aptitude in C++ or Python, and desire to become excellent in both.
• Strong CS fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, and complexity.
• Enthusiasm to support periodic field testing.

Desired Experience & Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field.
• Experience with both learned (e.g., learned costmaps, imitation/RL) and classical (search, sampling, optimization) planning.
• Experience integrating prior or opportunistic map data with onboard perception.
• Off-road UGV and/or on-road AV planning experience. UGV experience is a plus, not a requirement.
• Experience in DDIL environments.

Location:

The location for this position will be onsite in Seattle, WA

Compensation And Benefits

Pay range: $160,000 - $190,000 annually

Actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Overland AI believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day.

Benefits include:

• Equity Compensation
• Best-in-class healthcare, dental, and vision plans
• Flexible PTO
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Monthly wellness stipend
• One-time workplace & productivity reimbursement

Overland AI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, protected veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

This position may involve access to export-controlled technology. Employment is contingent on the ability to comply with U.S. export control laws.

Overland AI provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans during the application process. Please contact peopleops@overland.ai to request an accommodation.