Senior Simulation Vehicle Modeling Engineer

About the role

Torc Robotics is on the lookout for a Senior Simulation Vehicle Modeling Engineer who will play a crucial role in developing high-fidelity vehicle dynamics models specifically for autonomous trucks. This position is essential for ensuring that simulation tools are both accurate and reliable, which is vital for validating the software that powers autonomous driving systems.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Develop and oversee vehicle dynamics models that provide accurate representations of truck behavior for simulation and validation tasks.
• Create and sustain advanced simulation platforms that enable extensive evaluations of autonomous driving software.
• Collaborate closely with autonomy engineering teams to gather and implement specifications for vehicle models that aid in planning, control, and system-level verification and validation.
• Effectively communicate the capabilities and limitations of models, along with release notes, to improve the autonomy validation processes.
• Utilize automated regression frameworks to ensure that any updates to vehicle models do not adversely affect the performance of the autonomy validation system.
• Participate in the entire software development lifecycle, primarily using C++ in a Linux environment, along with ROS/ROS2 tools, while applying Lean-Agile methodologies.
• Conduct thorough root cause analyses for any issues that arise during simulations and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Assist in crafting test plans for data acquisition and telemetry to support field data collection aimed at enhancing vehicle models.
• Contribute to the development of system-level test plans and verification strategies.
• Clearly articulate progress, design decisions, and challenges during daily meetings and design reviews.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with OEM partners and simulation tool vendors to evaluate, integrate, and co-develop simulation capabilities.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, with a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience; or a Master's Degree in one of these disciplines with at least 3 years of experience; or a PhD in a related area with a minimum of 1 year of experience.
• Strong expertise in C++, which is the primary programming language, along with additional skills in Python for tooling and machine learning applications, and familiarity with ROS/ROS2, CMake, and Linux.
• Experience in physics-based vehicle modeling, including dynamics, tire models, and powertrain systems.
• Understanding of the architecture of autonomous vehicle systems, including planning, controls, and system integration, to work effectively with autonomy engineering teams.
• Ability to communicate vehicle model capabilities and limitations clearly to engineering teams and gather their requirements for enhancing model fidelity.
• Experience with unit, integration, and regression testing, as well as automated validation pipelines and simulation performance benchmarking.
• Proven capability to achieve consensus among simulation, autonomy, controls, and product engineering teams.
• Ability to manage and maintain critical technical systems across multiple repositories and contribute to architectural decisions across the organization.
• Must exhibit advanced professional skills, demonstrating significant independence and the ability to work with minimal supervision.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with high-throughput reinforcement learning and parallel execution techniques for verification and validation processes.

Skills & tools

• Proficient in C++, Python, ROS/ROS2, Linux, CMake, simulation modeling, vehicle dynamics, automated testing, and Lean-Agile methodologies.

Practical notes

• Visa sponsorship is available for this position, making it accessible to a wider range of candidates.
• The benefits package includes comprehensive health coverage, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development to support your career growth.
• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled, so interested candidates are encouraged to apply promptly.

About the company

Torc Robotics writes the software that lets heavy trucks drive themselves on public highways. The company began in Blacksburg, Virginia, in 2005 with students from Virginia Tech and later became part of Daimler Truck. Engineering and test work now run in the United States, Canada, and Germany, with an early commercial focus on Freightliner Cascadia trucks used in U.S. freight.