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Salary: USD 186,200 - 223,400 / annual
Torc, now part of the Daimler family, is a leader in autonomous driving technology focused on developing software for automated trucks. The simulation team is building the foundation for autonomous vehicle (AV) 3.0 driver-out development and certification, serving as the critical technical interface between simulation/modeling and autonomy consumers.
In this Staff-level role, you will own and evolve the technical architecture for scalable vehicle modeling and simulation across vehicle types, sensor platforms, and fleet variability. You'll develop and maintain high-fidelity truck and vehicle dynamics models covering longitudinal, lateral, and transient behavior in nominal, off-nominal, and failure-mode domains. You'll define statistical validation metrics that directly support Safety Case claims, ensuring model fidelity meets the bar for driver-out certification.
Key responsibilities include designing and scaling robustness testing frameworks for controller/planner interaction testing, developing high-fidelity simulation platforms for closed-loop evaluation at scale, and partnering with autonomy engineering teams to capture vehicle model requirements. You'll own model capability communication, known limitations, and release notes; ensure vehicle model updates don't regress autonomy V&V system performance; and drive test plan design for data acquisition and field data collection.
You'll execute the full software development lifecycle primarily in C++ within a Linux environment using ROS/ROS2 tooling, applying Lean-Agile methodologies. You'll perform root cause analysis on complex simulation and hardware-in-the-loop issues, set direction for system-level test plans and verification strategies, and mentor engineers across simulation and autonomy domains. You'll also build collaborative relationships with OEM partners and simulation tool vendors.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field plus 10+ years of relevant experience; OR Master's Degree in above fields plus 7+ years; OR PhD plus 3+ years
- Deep proficiency in C++ (primary), Python for tooling, ROS/ROS2, CMake, and Linux
- Strong background in physics-based modeling of ground vehicles, including longitudinal/lateral dynamics, tire models, and powertrain
- Working knowledge of AV autonomy stack architecture (planning, controls, system integration)
- Demonstrated ability to translate vehicle model capabilities and limitations to autonomy teams
- Experience defining statistical validation metrics and robustness testing frameworks for formal safety case claims
- Experience with unit, integration, and regression testing, automated validation pipelines, and simulation-based performance benchmarking at scale
- Track record of driving technical consensus across simulation, autonomy, controls, product, and safety teams
- Ability to own and maintain key technical systems across multiple repositories and contribute to cross-org architectural decisions
- Operates as advanced-level professional with wide latitude for independent judgment and minimal supervision
- Track record of mentoring engineers and contributing to technical direction
BONUS:
- Experience as technical lead for vehicle simulation sub-team
- Experience with high-fidelity truck & trailer or heavy-vehicle models
- Experience building or extending closed-loop autonomous vehicle simulation environments at scale
- Familiarity with scenario-based validation and sim-to-real correlation activities
- Familiarity with how learned models (neural networks) consume simulation and vehicle model outputs in autonomy V&V workflows
