Staff Software Engineer - Robotics (Simulation)
About The Position
General Motors is seeking a Staff Software Engineer focused on robotics simulation to build and own the simulation infrastructure used by robotics, physical AI, and test teams. The role sits between core robotics development and testing, driving validation before hardware is involved and owning the roadmap toward virtual commissioning and digital twin capabilities. The engineer will build simulation environments for manipulation, perception, and navigation validation; model robot platforms with physically accurate dynamics, kinematics, and actuation; implement realistic sensor models; and develop scene and facility authoring tools, including CAD and plant-model import paths. The role also integrates simulation into CI, supports AI data generation and policy evaluation, measures and documents simulation-to-hardware differences, and advances workcell import and collaborative authoring. The position is remote, with an expectation to report to a GM hub three times a week or at another frequency set by the manager if the selected candidate lives within a specified radius. Relocation benefits are available to candidates who qualify under company policy. The stated salary range is $160,200 to $290,700, with potential incentive pay based on company performance, job level, and individual performance. Eligible employees may participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, subject to a motor vehicle report review and program requirements.
Requirements
- At least 6 years of professional software engineering experience, including at least 4 years building or operating robotics simulation.
- Experience validating real robot behavior against simulation and closing the gap.
- Experience supporting other teams as an infrastructure owner.
- M.S. degree or higher in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical field; equivalent industry experience demonstrating simulation depth may be considered.
- Hands-on experience with a commercial or open-source simulator, such as Process Simulate, Isaac Sim, Gazebo, or a comparable simulator.
- Strong understanding of rigid body dynamics, contact modeling, and numerical integration, including solver limitations.
- Experience with sensor simulation and rendering, including LiDAR and depth camera models.
- Experience with GPU-accelerated or parallel simulation for large-scale data generation.
- Experience with robot description formats including URDF, SDF, and USD, and their conversion pitfalls.
- Proficiency in C++ and Python.
- Ability to work effectively with remote teams across multiple time zones.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with simulation-to-real transfer and domain randomization.
- Experience with virtual commissioning or digital twin projects in manufacturing.
- Familiarity with Visual Components, Process Simulate, or comparable process simulation tools.
- Prior open-source contributions to Gazebo, Isaac Sim, or the ROS ecosystem.
Responsibilities
- Build and own simulation environments for manipulation, perception, and navigation validation.
- Model robot platforms with physically accurate dynamics, kinematics, and actuation.
- Implement realistic sensor models for RGB-D cameras, LiDAR, and other supported sensors.
- Build scene and facility authoring tools, including import paths from CAD and existing plant models.
- Integrate simulation into CI so scenario coverage runs on every release candidate.
- Support the AI team with simulation for data generation and policy evaluation.
- Drive the virtual commissioning and digital twin roadmap, including workcell import and collaborative authoring.
- Quantify and document where simulation diverges from hardware so results are used with known confidence.
- Support other teams as an infrastructure owner and treat simulation as a product for internal users.
- Judge the level of fidelity needed for validation, communicate when simulation results should not be trusted, and balance simulation speed against accuracy.
- Work effectively with remote teams across multiple time zones.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
- Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Retirement savings plan.
- Sickness and accident benefits.
- Life insurance.
- Paid vacation and holidays.
- Tuition assistance programs.
- Employee assistance program.
- GM vehicle discounts.
- Incentive pay program with payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.
- Company vehicle evaluation program, subject to eligibility and program requirements.
- Relocation benefits for candidates who qualify under company policy.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
