Software Engineer Backend - Simulation

Mountain ViewPosted 26 days ago

Role Overview

Waymo is hiring a mid-level Software Engineer Backend - Simulation. This is a full-time hybrid role, based in Mountain View. Part of Waymo's Backend hiring, posted 3 weeks ago. Full responsibilities, required qualifications, and the apply link are listed in the description below.

Salary Context

Salary is not disclosed in this posting. Market median for Mid-level Backend roles is $120k-$167k (based on 44 comparable listings). Many employers share specifics during the interview process or after an initial screen.

Resume Keywords to Include

Make sure these keywords appear in your resume to improve ATS scoring

ApacheORBenefitsWaymoSinceGoogleSelfDriving

Job description

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver—The World's Most Experienced Driver™—to improve access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo’s fully autonomous ride-hail service and can also be applied to a range of vehicle platforms and product use cases. The Waymo Driver has provided over ten million rider-only trips, enabled by its experience autonomously driving over 100 million miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 15+ U.S. states.

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. We develop industry-leading simulation solutions using advanced ML algorithms that measure and enhance the performance of the Waymo Driver. We achieve those goals by jointly modeling the real world, including realistic agents (vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists), roads, traffic control systems, and weather conditions, and the full sensor suite including camera, Lidar and radars.

In this hybrid role, you will report to a Senior Engineering Manager.

You will:

Design and develop C++ software systems and infrastructure for our realistic world generation platform and its integration in downstream Waymo applications
Work closely with simulation, onboard, system engineers and data science on features to enable critical Waymo milestones
Monitor and improve the performance, scalability, testing, and the reliability of the platform
Work with other engineers to design the long-term architecture of the system

You have:

BS or MS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent
Strong professional experience developing modern C++ production software
5+ years of solid coding and design skills
5+ years of experience with backend technologies, workflows, databases, and production monitoring
Ability to solve open-ended technical challenges
Excellent collaboration and communication skills

We prefer:

Working experience with ML and Generative AI models
Some experience with large-scale data processing using frameworks like Google Data Flow or Apache Beam
Experience with the release of software in a highly distributed heterogeneous execution environment
Some experience developing metrics
Experience with developing user-facing APIs and interfaces between different components

The expected base salary range for this full-time position across US locations is listed below. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process.

Waymo employees are also eligible to participate in Waymo’s discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.

Salary Range

$204,000—$259,000 USD

About Waymo

Waymo

waymo.com

BackendHybrid

313 other open roles at Waymo on TryApplyNow.

View all 314 roles at Waymo Visit website

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for the Software Engineer Backend - Simulation position at Waymo?

Use the Apply button above to submit your application directly to Waymo. Most applications take less than 5 minutes if your resume and contact details are ready, and you'll be routed to the employer's official application system to finish.

Is the Software Engineer Backend - Simulation role at Waymo remote or in-office?

This is a hybrid role based in Mountain View. Expect a mix of in-office and remote days, with the specific cadence set by the hiring manager.

What does a Software Engineer Backend - Simulation at Waymo earn?

Waymo has not disclosed a salary range in this posting. Many employers share specifics later in the interview process; you can also ask during a recruiter screen if compensation transparency is important to you.

When was the Software Engineer Backend - Simulation role at Waymo posted?

This role was posted on June 17, 2026 (26 days ago). It's still listed as actively hiring; we re-confirm openings against the source system multiple times per day and remove closed roles.

Browse Backend Developer Jobs →