Senior / Staff Software Systems Engineer - Simulation Evaluation & Validation at Zoox (Foster City, CA)
Zoox· Foster City, CA· $201k–$315k·
Role details
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)
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.
Follow us on LinkedIn
Accommodations If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to accommodations@zoox.com 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.
Why work at Zoox
- Culture: Diverse, supportive community with inclusion‑focused strategy. Crew‑led groups for personal and professional development. Emphasis on trust, humility, and openness zoox.com/careers
- Work environment: Hybrid? The careers page lists many roles as “On‑site” in Foster City, CA, with other office locations available. In‑office perks include a famous food program with daily changing local and sustainable dishes, plus a busy calendar of events and sports teams.
- Benefits: Comprehensive health plans (Cigna), mental health support, wellbeing program, flexible time off, generous family planning and caregiver support, and a commitment to work‑life balance.
- Growth opportunities: Work on cutting‑edge autonomous vehicle technology alongside some of the brightest minds in AI, engineering, computer vision, and more. Offers internships and re‑entry programs (via Path Forward) for career returners.
- Recruitment process: Uses AI tools to assist in reviewing applications but final decisions are human. No fees are charged at any stage – watch for recruitment scams zoox.com/journal/landing-a-job-zoox