Simulation Platform Tech Lead - Scale & Validate Autonomy

Cssmerge; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 208,000 - 263,000; Full time

Job summary

Atoms in San Francisco is seeking a Technical Lead for Simulation to own the architecture of our simulation platform and the validation that gates autonomy releases. In this role, you will take simulation from log replay, to scenario suites running in continuous integration, to the pre‑vehicle gates a release passes.

This role will span across programs, and you will own the build-versus-buy decisions for the platform and the tooling around it.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in robotics/AI.
• 2+ years as a technical lead or engineering manager, setting technical direction.
• Production CI simulation platform ownership with determinism and reproducibility.
• Hands-on log replay at scale with ground-truth scoring.
• System-level scenario testing with libraries and coverage definitions.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python and ability to read large codebases.
• Experience with autonomous vehicles/robotics platforms and sensing pipelines.
• Mentoring ability and track record of raising technical standards.
• Fluency with modern AI coding and development tools.
• Onsite work in San Francisco, five days a week.

Responsibilities

• Platform architecture: design the simulation platform, clock control, determinism, log storage, and reproducibility.
• Log replay: pipeline for converting logs to replayable test cases and scored ground-truth checks.
• Scenario execution: manage scenario schema, library, and test suites across releases.
• Release gating: define pass criteria and remediation paths for failing scenarios.
• Build versus buy: evaluate platforms, loans, cost, lead time, and maintain vendor relations.
• Simulation fidelity: measure agreement between simulated and vehicle behavior.
• Technical standards: set testing, reviews, docs, and reporting practices; mentor engineers.
• Cross-functional interfaces: align with autonomy engineering, robotics safety, testing and roadmap.

Skills

Simulation platform ownership

Log replay at scale

Scenario testing

C++

Python

Build vs buy judgment

Autonomy robotics experience

Robotics middleware

Sensor data fusion

Mentoring engineers

AI tooling

Onsite SF

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field

8+ years of relevant experience in robotics/AI

Tools

C++

Python

Job description

Atoms in San Francisco is seeking a Technical Lead for Simulation to own the architecture of our simulation platform and the validation that gates autonomy releases. In this role, you will take simulation from log replay, to scenario suites running in continuous integration, to the pre‑vehicle gates a release passes.

This role will span across programs, and you will own the build-versus-buy decisions for the platform and the tooling around it.