Senior Simulation Engineer at Toyota Research Institute

Los Altos, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Automotive, Artificial Intelligence, RoboticsIndustries

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field
10+ years of experience in robotics, autonomous systems, or simulation
Strong programming skills in Python and C++, especially for robotics or systems development
Experience with simulation platforms (e.g., CARLA, Applied Intuition, Nvidia DriveSim, etc) and their integration into autonomous system workflows
Knowledge of sensor simulation principles and how perception systems interact with synthetic data
Understanding of end-to-end autonomy pipelines, from raw sensor input to trajectory outputs
Demonstrated ability to design for both users (e.g., autonomy developers) and simulation infrastructure stakeholders
Passion for using simulation to drive real-world progress and system understanding
(Bonus) Hands-on experience validating machine learning-based autonomy stacks in closed-loop sim

Responsibilities

Build a visually realistic simulator to test full end-to-end autonomy stack behavior, from simulating sensors to motion planning, across a range of scenario conditions
Prototype and integrate with internal and third-party simulators to evaluate their ability to support learned system testing
Curate scenarios, system introspection
Build data logging frameworks used during large-scale virtual tests
Collaborate closely with autonomy, ML, and integration teams to define simulation entry points, runtime configs, and closed-loop evaluation metrics
Build diagnostic tooling and analysis pipelines to understand and improve real system behavior in simulation
Lead cross-functional efforts to close the gap between simulation and on-vehicle deployment, increasing the reliability of sim-based validation
Provide technical mentorship and foster a collaborative, high-trust engineering culture across organizational boundaries
Demonstrate excellent design practices; generate technical documentation; lead technical presentations; aligning with stakeholders before, during, and after implementation

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Simulation WorkflowsSensor SimulationSystem-Level SimulationClosed-Loop ValidationSynthetic Data GenerationData PipelinesAutonomous DrivingMachine Learning InfrastructureRobotics

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the employment type for this Senior Simulation Engineer role?

This is a full-time position.

Is this Senior Simulation Engineer role remote or on-site?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What are the key responsibilities for the Senior Simulation Engineer?

Key responsibilities include building visually realistic simulators, prototyping and integrating simulators, curating scenarios, building data logging frameworks, developing diagnostic tooling, leading cross-functional efforts to bridge simulation and deployment, providing mentorship, and demonstrating excellent design practices.

What is the company culture like at Toyota Research Institute?

TRI fosters a collaborative, high-trust engineering culture across organizational boundaries, emphasizing partnership, collaboration, shared commitment, and cross-functional alignment.

What makes a strong candidate for this Senior Simulation Engineer position?

Strong candidates will have expertise in simulation workflows for autonomy, experience with sensor simulation, data pipelines, closed-loop validation, synthetic data generation, cross-functional collaboration, technical leadership, mentorship skills, and excellent design and documentation practices.

Toyota Research Institute

Research in mobility, safety, and automation

About Toyota Research Institute

Toyota Research Institute focuses on improving mobility through research and development in the automotive and technology sectors. The company works on enhancing safety, automated driving, robotics, materials science, and machine learning. Their products include advanced safety features and automated driving systems that aim to make driving safer and more efficient. Unlike many competitors, TRI emphasizes a research-driven approach, collaborating with various partners and licensing their innovations to enhance Toyota's offerings and maintain a competitive edge. The goal of TRI is to advance mobility solutions that improve quality of life and support the transition to zero-emissions transportation.

Los Altos, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2016Year Founded

$100MTotal Funding

SEEDCompany Stage

Robotics & Automation, Automotive & Transportation, AI & Machine LearningIndustries

201-500Employees

Benefits

Highly competitive benefits package

Robust programs to support the wellbeing, happiness, and health of our people and their families.

401(k) plan including matching and annual profit sharing along with total vacation and holidays totaling 38 days per year.

Subsidized commuter benefits and generous employee and vehicle allowances

2 paid days per year to participate in volunteer activities.

Maternity Leave program with 10 paid weeks plus baby bonding leave and Milk Stork for traveling moms

Baby Bonding Leave–an additional 16 paid weeks–to all new parents, including those who choose to adopt.

Back-up child and adult / elder care programs to help everyone thrive

WellBeats Virtual Fitness Trainer.

Risks

Public skepticism may undermine AI-assisted driving safety initiatives.

Boston Dynamics' high costs could impact TRI's humanoid robot project returns.

Complexity of real-world environments may delay TRI's robot skill deployment.

Differentiation

TRI focuses on AI to enhance human life and mobility.

Partnerships with Boston Dynamics and Stanford showcase TRI's collaborative innovation.

TRI's Driving Sensei concept integrates AI to improve driver skills and engagement.

Upsides

Generative AI allows TRI's robots to learn complex tasks without new coding.

TRI's AI-driven material synthesis could revolutionize EV battery development.

Autonomous tandem drifting collaboration with Stanford pushes vehicle dynamics boundaries.

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