Software Engineer, Simulation & Evaluation

Software Engineer, Simulation & EvaluationSaildrone is a maritime defense company and the global leader in autonomous unmanned surface vehicles. With more ocean miles and real-world operational experience than any USV manufacturer or operator, Saildrone maintains active, combat-deployed systems supporting national security and force projection around the world, 24/7/365.Saildrone's manufacturing and R&D headquarters are located in Alameda, CA, with business development and sales operations in Washington, DC, and deployment hubs in Europe and the Middle East. By combining proven autonomous operations, edge computing, advanced sensing, renewable power, and the most advanced unmanned surface technology on the planet, Saildrone is shaping how the Navy of the future operates.Autonomous systems cannot be developed and validated through field testing alone. As a Software Engineer, Simulation & Evaluation, you will build the infrastructure that lets Saildrone engineers replay real-world data, simulate autonomous behavior, measure performance, and turn failures into repeatable tests.You will work across simulation, replay, resimulation, scenario generation, evaluation, and automated regression.What You'll DoBuild production-quality simulation, replay, resimulation, and evaluation infrastructure for autonomous systemsTalk with simulation users to understand what is difficult to express in scenario definitions, what is hard to maintain, and propose and implement solutionsConnect recorded vehicle data, simulated environments, and production autonomy software into repeatable test workflowsDevelop open-loop and closed-loop testing for autonomous behaviorBuild quantitative metrics, evaluation pipelines, and regression testsTurn real-world failures and edge cases into repeatable scenarios and automated testsAnalyze logs, telemetry, simulation results, and test failures to identify root causesIntegrate simulation and evaluation into the software development lifecycleYou Should HaveStrong C++ software engineering skills and experience building production systemsExperience with simulation, emulation, replay, resimulation, hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, or comparable robotics testing infrastructureStrong systems fundamentals including concurrency, performance, reliability, and LinuxExperience building quantitative evaluation or validation systemsUnderstanding of simulation fidelity and the limitations of simulated or replayed behaviorExperience building infrastructure used by other engineersStrong communication skills to partner with stakeholders across teamsNice To HaveExperience with autonomous vehicles, robotics, aerospace, or other physical autonomous systemsPython for analysis, automation, or test toolingLarge-scale simulation or high-throughput data processingCI/CD and automated regression testingVehicle or field-test dataCompensation And BenefitsSaildrone offers competitive paid time off, a robust holiday schedule, and paid sick leave.

Benefits include premium medical, dental, and vision coverage with significant company contributions for employees and dependents, equity grants, a 401(k) retirement plan, annual professional development reimbursement, and relocation assistance for eligible roles.