Senior / Staff Software Systems Engineer - Simulation Evaluation & Validation

Zoox; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 201,000 - 315,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights

Amazon RSUs

Paid time off

Job summary

Zoox is seeking a role focused on developing metrics and evaluation pipelines to assess simulator fidelity for our GenAI-powered simulator of virtual worlds with dynamic agents and realistic sensor data.

You will collaborate with autonomy, safety, and simulation teams to define validation criteria and use exploratory data analysis to identify gaps in simulator performance, supporting Zoox in scaling autonomous driving across multiple cities and complex environments.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of quantitative evaluation in autonomous robotics or sensor data
• Proficiency in Python and data analysis with Pandas/NumPy/SQL
• Applied statistics knowledge and strong communication
• BS, MS, or Ph.D. in CS, Robotics, or related field

Responsibilities

• Define and implement metrics to measure the accuracy of simulated sensors, agents, and virtual environments
• Drive consensus on validation methodologies with cross-functional teams in Autonomy, Safety, and Simulation
• Develop robust evaluation strategies for simulator fidelity, mine datasets, and lead their implementation in large-scale evaluation pipelines
• Write design proposals and drive execution while proactively communicating risks to partner teams

Skills

Python

Data analysis

Statistics

Communication

Education: CS/Robotics

Education

BS/MS/PhD in CS/Robotics

Tools

Pandas

NumPy

SQL

Job description

Simulation is central to ensuring the safety and scalability of autonomous vehicles at Zoox. In this role, you will develop metrics and evaluation pipelines to assess simulator fidelity and guide improvements to our GenAI-powered simulator of virtual worlds with dynamic agents and realistic sensor data.

You’ll collaborate with autonomy, safety, and simulation teams to define quantitative validation criteria for simulator fidelity, and use exploratory data analysis to root-cause gaps in simulator performance. Your work will directly support Zoox scaling autonomous driving across multiple cities in increasingly complex environments.

In this role, you will:

• Define and implement metrics to measure the accuracy of simulated sensors, agents, and virtual environments.
• Drive consensus on validation methodologies with cross-functional teams in Autonomy, Safety, and Simulation.
• Develop robust evaluation strategies for simulator fidelity, mine datasets, and lead their implementation in large-scale evaluation pipelines.
• Write design proposals and drive execution while proactively communicating risks to partner teams.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in quantitative evaluation, autonomous robotics, or sensor data analysis (lidar, camera, radar)
• Proficiency in Python and data analysis (e.g., Pandas, NumPy, SQL), with a strong foundation in data visualization
• Working knowledge of applied statistical methods (e.g., histograms, probability distributions, simple hypothesis testing)
• Strong communication skills and thrives in dynamic environments by proactively seeking clarity
• BS, MS, or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field

Bonus Qualifications:

• Experience with autonomous vehicle software stack (e.g., Perception, Prediction, Planning)
• Experience implementing large-scale evaluation pipelines
• Experience using applied statistics for system validation (e.g., confidence intervals, p-values)

$201,000 - $315,000 a year

There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. A sign-on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. The listed range applies only to the base salary. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is considering for this position.

Zoox also offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including paid time off (e.g. sick leave, vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long-term care insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, and life insurance.

About Zoox

Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We’re looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.

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Accommodations

If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [e-mail] or your assigned recruiter.

A Final Note:

You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.