Senior Simulation Vehicle Modeling Engineer

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Michigan.

📋 Description

• Develop and manage vehicle dynamics models, including high-fidelity truck models that accurately depict longitudinal, lateral, and transient behaviors for simulation and autonomy validation purposes.

• Design, create, and uphold high-fidelity simulation platforms utilized to validate autonomous driving software through large-scale closed-loop evaluation pipelines.

• Collaborate with autonomy engineering teams to define and implement vehicle model requirements that support planning, controls, and system-level verification and validation (V&V) activities.

• Oversee communication regarding model capabilities, known limitations, and release notes to facilitate effective autonomy validation.

• Ensure that updates to vehicle models do not negatively impact the performance of the autonomy V&V system by employing automated regression frameworks.

• Conduct full software development lifecycle processes primarily using C++ in a Linux development environment, incorporating ROS/ROS2 tools while applying Lean-Agile methodologies.

• Perform root cause analysis on issues discovered during simulation runs and hardware-in-the-loop testing.

• Participate in the design of test plans for data acquisition and telemetry to support field data collection for vehicle model refinement.

• Assist in developing system-level test plans and verification strategies.

• Clearly communicate progress, design decisions, and obstacles at daily stand-ups and design reviews.

• Establish and sustain collaborative relationships with OEM partners and simulation tool vendors to assess, integrate, and co-develop simulation capabilities.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field with 6+ years of relevant experience; or a Master’s Degree in the aforementioned fields with 3+ years of relevant experience; or a PhD in the same fields with 1+ years of relevant experience.

• Expertise in C++ (primary), Python for tooling and machine learning integrations, ROS/ROS2, CMake, and Linux.

• Experience in physics-based modeling of ground vehicles, including longitudinal and lateral dynamics, tire models, and powertrain.

• Familiarity with the architecture of autonomous vehicle (AV) autonomy stacks—planning, controls, and system integration—to effectively collaborate with autonomy engineering teams and ensure that vehicle models fulfill V&V requirements.

• Capability to translate vehicle model capabilities and limitations to autonomy engineering teams and capture their requirements to guide model fidelity improvement initiatives.

• Proficiency in unit, integration, and regression testing, in addition to automated validation pipelines and simulation-based performance benchmarking.

• Expected to facilitate consensus among simulation, autonomy, controls, and product engineering & safety teams.

• Ability to own and maintain essential technical systems across multiple repositories and contribute to cross-organizational architectural decisions.

• Must function as an advanced-level professional with significant independence for judgment and minimal supervision.

• Willingness to mentor and guide engineers within the team and contribute to the technical direction in the simulation and autonomy domains.

🏝️ Benefits

• A competitive compensation package that includes a bonus component and stock options.

• 100% paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for full-time employees.

• 401K plan with a 6% employer match.

• Flexibility in scheduling and generous paid vacation available immediately after the start date.

• Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD+D) and Life Insurance.