Tech Lead, Simulation Engine

May Mobility; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 189,000 - 272,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare package

401k with employer match

Parental leave

Flexible vacation

Wellness program

Job summary

May Mobility in Ann Arbor, MI, seeks a Lead Simulation Engineer to architect and scale our autonomous vehicle simulation engine, adapters, and evaluation backend. You will drive high-fidelity vehicle dynamics, multi-body physics, rendering, and sensor simulation while ensuring determinism and performance.

You will set the technical direction for the team, review designs, collaborate with HiL partners, and mentor engineers across the organization.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in CS, Robotics, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of hands-on software engineering experience in simulation, robotics, or physics-based systems.
• Expert-level proficiency in modern C++ and Python with large-scale software.
• Experience with simulation loop design and robotics middleware integration.

Responsibilities

• Architect and maintain the core simulation engine and adapter layer.
• Lead development of ego-vehicle dynamics and multi-body physics models; integrate rendering and sensor-simulation engines.
• Own the backend for a unified metrics system to evaluate simulation results.
• Set technical direction, ensure determinism and performance across the stack, lead reviews.
• Partner with HiL team on integration hooks and mentor engineers.

Skills

Modern C++

Python

Software architecture

Vehicle dynamics

Robotics middleware

Education

BS/MS/PhD in CS, Robotics, or related field

Tools

HiL testing

Sensor simulation

Job description

May Mobility is transforming cities through autonomous technology to create a safer, greener, more accessible world. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, May develops and deploys autonomous vehicles (AVs) powered by our innovative Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) technology that literally reimagines the way AVs think.

Our vehicles do more than just drive themselves – they provide value to communities, bridge public transit gaps and move people where they need to go safely, easily and with a lot more fun.

We're building the world's best autonomy system to reimagine transit by minimizing congestion, expanding access and encouraging better land use in order to foster more green, vibrant and livable spaces.

Since our founding in 2017, we've given more than 500,000 autonomous rides to real people around the globe.

And we're just getting started. We're hiring people who share our passion for building the future, today, solving real-world problems and seeing the impact of their work. Join us.

Job Summary

As Lead Simulation Engineer, you will architect and scale our core autonomous vehicle simulation engine, adapter layers, and unified evaluation metrics backend. You will drive the development of high-fidelity vehicle dynamics, multi-body physics, rendering, and sensor-simulation pipelines while guaranteeing stack-wide determinism and performance. Additionally, you will set technical direction for the simulation team, oversee code and design reviews, collaborate with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) partners on integration hooks, and mentor engineers across the organization.

Essential Responsibilities

• Architect and maintain the core simulation engine and the adapter layer that integrates it with the vehicle's autonomy middleware.
• Lead development of advanced ego-vehicle dynamics and multi-body physics models, and integrate external high-fidelity rendering and sensor-simulation engines.
• Own the mathematical logic and backend execution framework behind a unified metrics system for evaluating simulation results.
• Set the technical direction for the simulation engine, uphold determinism and performance across the stack, and lead design and code reviews.
• Partner with the Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) team on integration hooks, and mentor engineers across the team.

Skills and Abilities

Success in this role typically requires the following competencies:

• Deep expertise in modern C++ and Python for performance-critical systems programming.
• Strong software architecture skills for large, modular simulation or robotics systems, including deterministic, reproducible environments.
• Solid grounding in vehicle dynamics, multi-body physics, or related numerical modeling.
• Familiarity with autonomy or robotics middleware and integrating heterogeneous components into a coherent system.

Qualifications and Experience

Candidates most successful in this role typically hold the following qualifications or comparable knowledge or experience:

Required Qualifications

• B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. Degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of hands-on software engineering experience with a strong focus on simulation, robotics, or physics-based systems.
• Expert-level proficiency in modern C++ and Python, with a track record of architecting large-scale, performance-critical software.
• Hands-on experience with simulation loop design, vehicle dynamics, or integrating with robotics middleware and external engines.
• Prior experience leading and mentoring engineering teams.

Desirable Qualifications

• Background in autonomous vehicles or advanced robotics.
• Experience with high-fidelity rendering or sensor-simulation pipelines.
• Familiarity with ML integration in simulation, such as data-driven traffic agents or scene reconstruction.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) testing.
• Knowledge of deterministic and real-time computing.

Physical Requirements

• Standard office working conditions which includes but not limited to:
• Prolonged sitting
• Prolonged standing
• Prolonged computer use
• Travel Required? Moderate: 11%-25%

Benefits and Perks

• Comprehensive healthcare suite including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability plans. Domestic partners who have been residing together at least one year are also eligible to participate.
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Healthcare and Dependent Care Accounts available.
• Rich retirement benefits, including an immediately vested employer safe harbor match.
• Generous paid parental leave as well as a phased return to work.
• Flexible vacation policy in addition to paid company holidays.
• Total Wellness Program providing numerous resources for overall wellbeing.

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and/or people of color are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every qualification. At May Mobility, we're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workforce, so if you're excited about this role but your previous experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway! You may be the perfect candidate for this or another role at May.

May Mobility is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants for employment will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, genetics or any other legally protected basis.

Salary Range

$189,000—$272,000 USD