Senior Software Engineer, Simulation

Brain Corp is a San Diego, California, USA-based AI company creating transformative core technology for the robotics industry. Our purpose is to create autonomous technology that helps the real world work better. Brain's robotic and AI solutions help retailers ensure that the right product is on the right shelf at the right price, in a clean environment. Through the BrainOS® Robotics Platform, which powers the largest global fleet of the Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) in operation in commercial public spaces, Brain Corp delivers insightful and efficient automated solutions in both commercial floor cleaning and inventory management, empowering organizations and their employees to achieve more. Brain Corp currently powers more than 30,000 AMRs, representing the largest fleet of its kind in the world. Brain Corp is funded by the SoftBank Vision Fund, Clearbridge, and Qualcomm Ventures.

Position Summary:

BrainCorp is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Software Engineer, Simulation to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing and developing a new simulation environment tailored for both Software-in-the-Loop (SITL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) testing of autonomous mobility robots. The primary objective of this role is to enhance test automation coverage and support the autonomy team in testing robot navigation algorithms effectively.

As a core member of the Robot Platform Software team, the Senior Software Engineer, Simulation will work with our world-class team of engineers and scientists to build a platform for the next generation of intelligent machines. Their experience will be pivotal in advancing our mission: safe, secure and reliable robots everywhere.

Essential Job Functions:

• Design, develop, deploy and maintain a state-of-the-art simulation environment for autonomous mobility robots, suitable for both SITL and HITL testing scenarios.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define simulation requirements and ensure alignment with project goals.
• Integrate the simulation environment with existing testing frameworks and automation pipelines to streamline the testing process.
• Integrate sensor models, environmental dynamics, and robot behaviors into the simulation environment.
• Optimize simulation performance and scalability, particularly for cloud-based deployment on Google Cloud Platform.
• Work closely with the autonomy team to facilitate testing of robot navigation algorithms within the simulation environment. 
• Conduct thorough testing and validation of the simulation environment to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Stay updated on emerging technologies and methodologies in simulation software development, robotics, and cloud computing.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior team members as needed.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements: 

• Bachelor of Science degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience (5+ years) in software engineering with a focus on simulation or robotics.
• Experience with simulation frameworks such as Nvidia's Isaac Sim or similar platforms.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics: 

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or C++, with a strong emphasis on object-oriented design and development.
• Solid understanding of simulation concepts, including physics engines, sensor models, and 3D graphics rendering.
• Familiarity with cloud computing platforms, particularly Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).

Things that make a difference:

• MS in computer science, or related field.
• Experience working with Nvidia architectures (i.e. Jetson).
• Experience with autonomous systems, robot navigation algorithms, and motion planning techniques.
• Knowledge of reinforcement learning, machine learning, or computer vision algorithms.
• Prior experience in Agile development methodologies and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
• Contributions to open-source projects related to simulation, robotics, or AI.
• Experience with robotic sensors such as lidars.
• Extensive experience designing for ease of testing, both at the unit level and and integration test level.
• Experience architecting, designing, implementing, testing, and debugging complex system level software. 
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a dynamic, collaborative environment.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Good working knowledge of robotics and surrounding systems.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Essential functions may require maintaining the physical condition necessary for sitting, walking or standing for periods of time; operating a computer and keyboard; talk and hear at normal room levels; using hands to finger, grasp, and feel; repetitive motion; close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; lift, push, carry, or pull up to 10 pounds.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. Employee is exposed to the typical office environment with computers, printers and telephones.

Salary Range:

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in San Diego, California is $133,565 to $161,684. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and length of experience within the job, type and length of experience within the industry, education, etc. Brain Corp is a multi-state employer and this salary range may not reflect positions that work in other states.

In addition to base pay, our competitive total rewards package consists of:

• Stock options
• 401(k) plan with match (no waiting period and immediate vesting)
• Comprehensive suite of insurance benefits for employees (and their families) to include a variety of medical plan options (including an HSA with employer contribution), dental, vision, life and disability insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Legal/Identity support plans, pet insurance
• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)
• Generous paid time off including flexible vacation, Paid Sick Leave, time off for volunteering in the community, 10 paid company holidays, and a winter company shutdown

Additional Perks include:

• Daily on-site lunch available in the San Diego office 
• On-campus gym including pool and tennis courts in the San Diego office 
• Opportunities to connect with colleagues including monthly game nights, hikes, wellness challenges, and community events 
• Internal continuous learning events 
• Opportunities to share your own interests and hobbies with the Company

Our Commitment to Inclusion:

At Brain, our commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equality is central to building a better world for people. We understand that our mission to enhance the intelligence and usefulness of robots is not just about the technology itself, but about improving the lives of people across the globe. By fostering a diverse workforce, we ensure our technology is intuitive and accessible to everyone, empowering us to meet the unique needs of our global community. This dedication to diversity fuels our innovation, enabling us to create products that our customers truly value and love.