Staff Simulation Engineer, Physics Engineer

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies • Irvine, CA

6d • $171,100 - $226,740

About The Position

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture building technology for software-defined vehicles, including operating systems, zonal controllers, cloud, and connectivity solutions. The Virtual Vehicle team develops vehicle simulations that engineers across the company rely on as evidence.

The Staff Simulation Engineer will be a core owner of the physics engine: a high-performance, deterministic C++ simulation core for full-vehicle dynamics and subsystem behavior, coupled to production controller software through standard co-simulation interfaces. The role focuses on improving performance and capability while preserving validated results, and setting technical direction for selecting, implementing, and verifying physics fidelity.

Requirements

• MS/PhD in Mechanical, Aerospace, Computer Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related field, or equivalent demonstrated experience.
• 7+ years building performance-critical numerical or simulation software in modern C++, or an equivalent demonstrated record.
• Strong numerical methods knowledge, including integration schemes, stiff systems, and constraint and contact solvers.
• Experience profiling and optimizing real workloads, with disciplined use of sanitizers and static analysis.
• Experience reasoning about floating-point reproducibility across compilers and platforms.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with the internals of a multibody or vehicle-dynamics simulation engine.
• Co-simulation experience with FMI or similar standards.
• Tire and suspension modeling knowledge.
• Open-source contributions to scientific or simulation software.

Responsibilities

• Own engine performance and numerical robustness, with regression evidence that validated results are preserved.
• Design and implement multi-fidelity simulation so each study runs at the fidelity its question requires.
• Extend vehicle-dynamics and subsystem modeling capability, including tires, suspension, driveline, terrain, and sensors.
• Own reproducibility and performance standards enforced in continuous integration.
• Set technical direction, document architectural decisions, and mentor engineers.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary.
• Eligibility for the annual company performance bonus program for full-time positions; payments are discretionary and not guaranteed.
• Eligibility for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and applicable plan terms and vesting requirements.
• Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs. Offerings vary by country.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior