Senior Software Systems Engineer - Simulation Evaluation & Validation

Foster City, CA hybrid Until 9/26/2026 5+ years exp H-1B sponsor history First posted July 28, 2026 Last posted July 28, 2026
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:

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

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)
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.


Accommodations
If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [email protected] 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.

Compensation (from employer):
208000–300000 USD per year

About this role

Summary

Develop metrics and pipelines to evaluate simulator fidelity for autonomous vehicles

Job title

Senior Software Systems Engineer - Simulation Evaluation & Validation

Experience level

5+ years

Minimum experience

5+ years exp

Industry

software

Location requirements

Foster City, CA, on-site, remote not specified

Salary

$208k–$300k

Visa sponsorship

H-1B sponsor history

Management role

No

Skills & keywords

Required skills

pythonpandasnumpysqldata analysisstatistics

Preferred skills

autonomous vehicle softwareevaluation pipelinessystem validation

Specializations

simulationevaluationvalidationsensor data analysis
Locations

Structured locations inferred from the posting.

Foster City, CA, USA

On-site City