Staff Simulation Engineer, Vehicle Systems

Rocket Lab; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

At Rocket Lab, we are seeking a Staff Simulation Engineer to enhance our electric vehicle platform. The role involves developing and maintaining simulation environments crucial for vehicle motion control systems, ensuring safety and quality in software development. Candidates should have extensive experience in simulation and control systems, coupled with strong programming skills in C++ and Python.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in simulation, control system development, or embedded software validation.
• Strong experience with Linux based simulation environments and companion tools.
• Proficient in C++ and Python for simulation model development.

Responsibilities

• Develop multi-domain simulation models for vehicle motion control.
• Build scalable simulation toolchains for continuous integration.
• Collaborate with controls and software teams to ensure simulation accuracy.

Skills

Linux based simulation environments

C++

Python

Simulation automation

Control theory

Vehicle dynamics

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Degree in Mechatronics

Degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Jenkins

Git

Python based frameworks

Job description

About Us:
42dot is a mobility AI company committed to solving mobility challenges with software and AI. As the Global Software Center of Hyundai Motor Group, 42dot pioneers the future of mobility by advancing the development of software-defined vehicles.

We develop safety-first, user-centric software-defined vehicle technologies that deliver the latest performance through continuous updates like smartphones. By advancing software and AI technology, 42dot envisions a world where everything is connected and moves autonomously through a self-managing urban transportation operating system

About the Role

At 42dot, we are building a tightly integrated electric vehicle platform with simulation at the core of our development process. As a Staff Simulation Engineer, you will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and deploying simulation environments that accelerate the design, validation, and optimization of advanced vehicle motion control systems. Your work will directly impact how we develop and deliver safety critical software by enabling high velocity, quality, and robustness throughout system development.

Responsibilities

• Develop multi domain simulation models ranging from simple one dimensional, single variable representations to high fidelity, multi degree of freedom physical models of vehicle systems

• Cross compile and execute control software on Linux host systems to enable fast, hardware independent validation of algorithm behavior and integration logic

• Execute control software on target hardware with real time models to evaluate closed loop performance and system level interactions

• Build scalable simulation toolchains and automation infrastructure to support continuous integration and regression testing

• Design and implement virtual test scenarios, edge case conditions, and fault injection strategies

• Collaborate with controls, software, and test teams to ensure simulation coverage supports development velocity and system safety

• Perform model correlation and calibration using vehicle test data to ensure simulation accuracy

• Optimize simulation execution for performance and scalability across local and cloud based compute environments

• Support traceability and validation documentation for homologation, safety, and compliance needs

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

• 10+ years of experience in simulation, control system development, or embedded software validation

• Proven ability to develop simulation models from first principles, ranging from single mass approximations to multi degree of freedom representations

• Strong experience with Linux based simulation environments, cross compiling, and executing control software on host and target systems

• Proficient in C++ and Python for simulation model development, integration tooling, and automation

• Practical knowledge of vehicle dynamics, control theory, and physical system modeling

• Strong experience with simulation automation and integration using tools such as Jenkins, Git, and Python based frameworks