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
• 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

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Employee assistance programs focused on mental health
• Personalized workplace adjustments for diverse needs and abilities, including physical, mental, and neurodivergent considerations
• Access to mental health apps
• Onsite wellness centers
• Counseling services
• Second medical opinion for you and your loved ones
• Support programs including menopause benefit
• Medical advocacy program for transgender employees
• Competitive compensation
• Regular bonus and equity performance grant opportunities
• Generous 401(k) and regional retirement plans
• Annual cross-company compensation review and pay equity analysis
• 1-on-1 financial coaching
• Fertility and growing family assistance
• Parental leave and baby bonding leave
• Backup childcare
• Survivor income benefit
• Elder care and support
• Caregiver leave
• Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, sick leave, parental leave, disability, and holidays
• Jury duty leave
• Military leave
• Hybrid work model with remote work opportunities also available
• Educational reimbursement
• Peer learning and coaching platform
• Donation matching programs
• Volunteer hours
• Employee resource groups
• Internal community groups and local culture clubs
• Inspiring spaces to work, recharge, and collaborate with fellow Waymonauts
• On-site meals and snacks
• Fitness centers, massage programs, and ergonomic support
• On-demand fitness, wellbeing, and cooking classes
• Commuter benefits

• BS or MS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent
• Strong coding and design skills in C++ and/or Python
• Experience with databases, data warehousing, and production monitoring
• Ability to solve open-ended technical and system design challenges
• 7+ years of experience in software development, focusing on backend or infrastructure
• Experience with large-scale data processing systems (e.g., Flume, Beam, Spark)
• Familiarity with data management best practices for ML
• Experience building data platforms, data lakes, or ML feature stores
• Experience with large-scale multi-modal data
• Experience developing user-facing APIs and interfaces