Staff Software Engineer - Simulation Realism

The Simulator Team at Waymo builds state-of-the-art simulations of realistic environments for testing and training the Waymo Driver. Our team is a diverse, and collaborative group of software engineers, machine learning (ML) engineers, and data scientists. We develop industry-leading simulation solutions using advanced ML algorithms that measure and enhance the performance of the Waymo Driver. By applying machine learning, we model the real world, including realistic agents (vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists), roads, traffic control systems, and weather conditions.

A key aspect of our simulation effort is the generation of foundational data that enables realistic simulation and trustworthy evaluations. This involves producing high-fidelity world representations from complex, large-scale multi-modal sensor datasets. We face significant challenges in ensuring the quality and accuracy of these signals, and in engineering robust, scalable systems for handling massive data volumes. This includes designing and implementing effective data lifecycle management strategies to maintain data integrity and accessibility.

In this hybrid role, you will report to a Sr Staff TLM.

You will:

• Design and develop scalable C++ and Python software systems for our data generation and management platform.
• Build and optimize data pipelines for processing, labeling, and curating large-scale multi-modal sensor data.
• Implement robust data lifecycle management, versioning, and storage solutions.
• Improve the performance, reliability, and scalability of the data platform.
• Collaborate with engineers and researchers to define and build data APIs and interfaces.
• Contribute to the long-term architecture of the simulation data ecosystem.

You have:

• BS or MS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent.
• 7+ years of experience in software development, focusing on backend or infrastructure.
• Strong coding and design skills in C++ and/or Python.
• Experience with large-scale data processing systems (e.g., Flume, Beam, Spark).
• Experience with databases, data warehousing, and production monitoring.
• Ability to solve open-ended technical and system design challenges.

We prefer:

• Experience building data platforms, data lakes, or ML feature stores.
• Familiarity with data management best practices for ML.
• Experience with large-scale multi-modal data.
• Experience developing user-facing APIs and interfaces.

The expected base salary range for this full-time position across US locations is listed below. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process.

Waymo employees are also eligible to participate in Waymo’s discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.

Salary Range

$251,000—$310,000 USD