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Entry Level Automotive Research Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Waabi

Research Engineer, Calibration

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$158K - $269K/yr

Waabi is backed by and partners with world leaders in AI, automotive, logistics, and deep tech. ... To learn more visit: www.waabi.ai As a Research Engineer in Calibration, you will create the next ...

Horiba Instruments

Manufacturing Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$72K - $93K/yr

Manufacturing Engineer Austin, TX Are you looking for an exciting career in the semiconductor ... from automotive R&D, process and environmental monitoring, in-vitro medical diagnostics ...

Reliance One

Entry-Level Engineer

Toledo, OH

$27.58/hr

Entry-Level Product Quality Engineer Toledo, Ohio, United States $27.58 per hour Contract ... Automotive Manufacturer • Opportunity to Work on Vehicle Launches and Quality Improvement ...

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Entry Level Automotive Research Engineer information

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$30K

$69.4K

$118K

How much do entry level automotive research engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level automotive research engineer in the United States is $69,362.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,500.00 and $78,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Automotive Research Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Automotive Research Engineer, you generally need a bachelor's degree in mechanical or automotive engineering, strong analytical skills, and foundational knowledge of vehicle systems. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools like MATLAB or Simulink, and basic laboratory testing equipment is typically required. Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with cross-functional teams and present research findings clearly. These abilities are essential for developing innovative automotive solutions, ensuring safety, and meeting industry standards.

What does an Entry Level Automotive Research Engineer do?

An Entry Level Automotive Research Engineer assists with the design, development, and testing of automotive systems and components. They typically support senior engineers by conducting experiments, collecting data, and analyzing results to improve vehicle performance, safety, and efficiency. Their work may involve using computer-aided design (CAD) software, running simulations, and working with prototypes. Entry level engineers often collaborate with other departments, such as manufacturing and quality assurance, to ensure projects meet technical specifications and industry standards.

What are some typical projects an Entry Level Automotive Research Engineer might work on during their first year?

As an Entry Level Automotive Research Engineer, you can expect to be involved in projects such as conducting testing on new vehicle components, analyzing data from prototype evaluations, and assisting in the development of innovative automotive technologies. You'll often collaborate with senior engineers, designers, and manufacturing teams to support ongoing research initiatives. These projects help you build a strong foundation in problem-solving and technical skills, and provide valuable exposure to cross-functional teamwork within the automotive industry.

What is the difference between Entry Level Automotive Research Engineer vs Entry Level Automotive Design Engineer?

AspectEntry Level Automotive Research EngineerEntry Level Automotive Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical, Automotive, or Electrical EngineeringBachelor's in Mechanical, Automotive, or Industrial Design Engineering
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, testing facilities, R&D departmentsDesign studios, CAD labs, prototype workshops
Employer & Industry UsageAutomotive manufacturers, research institutionsAutomotive manufacturers, design firms
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Entry Level Automotive Research Engineers focus on testing, analyzing, and developing new automotive technologies, often working in labs and R&D settings. In contrast, Entry Level Automotive Design Engineers primarily work on creating vehicle designs using CAD software and prototypes. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds but differ in daily tasks and work environments. Understanding these differences helps job seekers find the right entry point in the automotive industry.

What are the most commonly searched types of Automotive Research Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Automotive Research Engineer jobs are:
Entry Level Automotive Research Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Automotive Research Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 98% Physical, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $69,362 per year, or $33.3 per hour.

Research Engineer, Learnable Planner (Integration)

Waabi

Phoenix, AZ • On-site, Remote

$159K - $296K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Waabi, founded by AI visionary Raquel Urtasun, is the leader in Physical AI. With a world-class team, we're unlocking the next era of autonomous transportation with technology that's powering commercial autonomous trucks and robotaxis. Waabi is backed by and partners with world leaders in AI, automotive, logistics, and deep tech.

With offices in Toronto, San Francisco, Dallas, and Pittsburgh, Waabi is growing quickly and looking for diverse, innovative and collaborative candidates who want to impact the world in a positive way. To learn more visit: www.waabi.ai

The Motion Planning team delivers the core module within the autonomy stack that makes decisions and generates trajectories for our self-driving trucks. As a research engineer for Learnable Planner you will support integration of new AI technologies into our autonomy/planner stack enabling our launch of fully driverless autonomous trucks. You will contribute towards Waabi's vision of a single AI system that learns end-to-end and in a provably safe manner as well as our revolutionary high-fidelity, closed-loop simulator, Waabi World.
 
You will...
- Integrate cutting-edge ML models in production planning stack from development to validation, deployment, and monitoring
- Develop necessary interfaces and pipelines in simulation for testing prototype or production planning models
- Work closely with motion planning sub-teams and research scientists to improve our planner architecture and develop rich and novel representations that can facilitate end-to-end solutions
- Champion engineering excellence, ensuring high-quality, well structured and tested code.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field of artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, and self-driving technologies, and apply insights from the literature.
- Work with large datasets from various sources as well as Waabi World, our high-fidelity simulator.
- Contribute to the publication of research findings in conferences as well as Waabi's blog.
 
Qualifications:
- MS/PhD in machine learning, computer science, engineering, or a related field. Exceptional Bachelor's students will also be considered.
- Experience in ML-based or classical techniques for planning/decision making (e.g., imitation and reinforcement learning, optimization-based approaches, search methods, probabilistic reasoning).
- Passion for taking research ideas and turning them into practical solutions for real-world applications.
- Open-minded and collaborative team player with willingness to help others.
- Solid understanding of computing fundamentals, including code efficiency.
- Experience in deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch.
- Proficiency in Python, Rust, C++ and/or CUDA.
 
Bonus/nice to have:
- Experience deploying ML/DL models to a production motion planning or related robotics stack.
- Experience in iterating on a model including evaluation, introspection and fine-tuning.
- Strong grasp of machine learning literature, including current trends and state-of-the-art techniques.
- Comfortable with model compilation and exporting, lower level concepts like TensorRT, CUDA kernels.
The US yearly salary range for this role is: $159,000 - $296,000 USD in addition to competitive perks & benefits. Waabi US Inc.'s yearly salary ranges are determined based on several factors in accordance with the Company's compensation practices. The salary base range is reflective of the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations.  Note: The Company provides additional compensation for employees in this role, including equity incentive awards and an annual performance bonus.

Perks/Benefits:
- Competitive compensation and equity awards.
- Health and Wellness benefits encompassing Medical, Dental and Vision coverage (for full-time employees only).
- Unlimited Vacation.
- Flexible hours and Work from Home support.
- Daily drinks, snacks and catered meals (when in office).
- Regularly scheduled team building activities and social events both on-site, off-site & virtually.
- As we grow, this list continues to evolve! 

Waabi is a technology start-up building technologies to transform the way the world moves. Join our talented team to be a part of the future and to make an impact!

Waabi is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a supportive, inclusive, and accessible workplace for all our employees. We seek applicants of all backgrounds and identities, across race, color, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military or veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or parental status, caregiver status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. We make workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please let our recruiting team know.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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