Master Thesis Projects in Planning, Decision-Making

This year, we're trying something a little different to make it easier for you to explore and apply for our master thesis projects. Instead of separate ads for every topic, we've grouped all projects into three main clusters — each focused on a different part of autonomous driving. You're welcome to apply to one, two, or all three clusters if you like, but later in the application process, we'll ask you to prioritize the projects you're most excited about in each cluster.

Teach Cars to Think, Plan, and Make Safe Decisions

Ifperception is how an autonomous vehicle sees the world, then planning and decision-making are how it thinksand acts in it. In this cluster, you'll explore howcars predict the behavior of other road users, make complex decisions underuncertainty, plan safe and efficient maneuvers, and validate that their choicesare robust and trustworthy.

Your work will helpshape the "brain" behind autonomous driving — turning data and predictions intosafe, real-world actions.

Planning, Decision-Making & Safety: Thesis Projects(Cluster C)

Hereare the master thesis projects offered in this cluster — each topic below is a separate project youcan apply for:

• Project 1: Hybrid Planner for Complex Driving Scenarios – Design and evaluate planning strategies that combine classical and learning-based methods for challenging traffic situations.
• Project 2: Automated Generation of Challenging Driving Scenarios – Develop techniques to automatically create difficult and safety-critical test cases to push autonomous systems to their limits.
• Project 3: Object Occlusion Modelling in Object-Level Reinforcement Learning – Investigate how occlusions affect decision-making and improve how vehicles reason under incomplete information.
• Project 4: Evaluation of Predictors for Safety Assessment – Analyze and benchmark different prediction models to understand their impact on safety and decision-making performance.
• Project 5: Falsification of Safety-Critical Decision and Control Software – Develop methods to uncover weaknesses in decision-making and control logic through falsification and testing.
• Project 6: Training End-to-End Planners in Sensor-Level Simulation – Train planning systems directly from raw sensor inputs in simulation environments to bridge the gap between perception and control.

Depending on whichproject you're offered, you'll work on designing, training, and evaluatingsystems that make autonomous driving safer and more reliable. You might createalgorithms that plan optimal trajectories, develop scenario generation tools totest vehicle behavior, or design validation techniques to ensure decisions holdup in the real world. Throughout the projects, you'll collaborate closely withexperienced engineers and researchers — and your work will help build thedecision-making intelligence of future autonomous vehicles.

We offer severalmaster thesis projects across three clusters:

• Sensing & Perception – how the car sees and understands the world
• AI Tooling & Infrastructure – the data, platforms, and tools that power autonomous systems
• Planning, Decision-Making & Safety (this one) – how the car predicts, plans, and acts intelligently

Eachcluster has its own job ad and a detailed project PDF with background on alltopics. You'll receive the PDF in a separate email after you apply to help youexplore the projects in more depth and choose the ones that best match yourskills and interests.

So Who Are We Looking For?

We'reseeking passionate and curious Master'sstudents from (including but not limited to):

• Computer Science / Software Engineering
• Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence
• Robotics / Autonomous Systems
• Control Engineering / Mechatronics
• Mathematics / Applied Physics

Becausethis cluster spans several projects, the required skills vary. When you apply,please list all relevant skills,tools, and knowledge areas — and describe your level of experiencewith each (e.g., basic, intermediate, advanced). This helps us understand yourprofile and match you with the project that best fits your background.

Expected Skills & Experience

Typicalskills we look for (you're not expected to have all):

• Programming (e.g., Python, C++)
• Experience with motion planning, control algorithms, or decision-making systems
• Understanding of machine learning, reinforcement learning, or safety validation methods
• Knowledge of prediction models, scenario generation, or simulation tools
• Familiarity with testing, verification, or safety-critical software development

What's in It for You?

• Work on projects that directly shape the decision-making intelligence of autonomous vehicles
• Gain hands-on experience with planning, prediction, and safety validation technologies
• Collaborate with experts and contribute to real-world solutions that improve road safety
• Join a diverse, innovative, and inclusive team shaping the future of mobility

How to Apply?

Submityour CV, motivation letter, andgrade transcripts.

• Applying as a pair? Include your partner's name in the application.
• Planned start: January 2026 (flexible)
• Application deadline: October 31, 2025 (applications reviewed continuously)

Formore information, contact: Gabriel Campos, Research Manager –

This role mayinvolve access to sensitive information, trade secrets, and confidential data.Selected candidates may undergo a background check as part of the recruitmentprocess.

More about Zenseact

Our Software Makes a Difference

We use AI-driventechnology to fight traffic accidents and make roads safer. Every year, 1.4million people lose their lives in traffic — we're here to change that.

One Purpose, One Product

Wedesign the complete software stack for autonomous driving and advanceddriver-assistance systems. With continuous updates, cars become safer over time— bringing us closer TowardsZero. Faster.

Culture with People at Heart

We can only succeedtogether. Our culture is built on care, trust, and belonging — a place whereeveryone can grow, be themselves, and do their best, both at work and in life.

Zenseact worksproactively to create a culture of diversity and inclusion, where individualdifferences are appreciated and respected. To drive innovation, we seediversity as an asset — we value and respect differences in gender, race,ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, sexual orientation, age, and more.

Interviews are held on a continuous basis, so wehighly recommend that you submit your application as early as possible.

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