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Entry Level Automotive Research Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Waabi

Research Engineer, Calibration

Pittsburgh, PA · 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 ...

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 ...

Kulite Semiconductor Products

Project Engineer

Leonia, NJ · On-site

$60K - $75K/yr

... automotive, research and development, general test and various other applications. Monitor ... Requirements: BS in Engineering or Related Discipline. Ability to work across interdisciplinary ...

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 ...

Akraya Inc.

EOL Technician: 26-00943

Newark, CA · On-site

$70 - $80/hr

More than 2 years of experience within an automotive R&D or related engineering domain is preferred. Additional Notes: * This is an onsite position requiring the candidate's presence 5 days per week ...

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

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

As of Jun 10, 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 June 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $69,362 per year, or $33.3 per hour.

Research Engineer, Calibration

Waabi

Pittsburgh, PA • On-site, Remote

$158K - $269K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 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

As a Research Engineer in Calibration, you will create the next generation of calibration systems autonomous driving. You will collaborate with our team of world-renowned scientists and engineers to build innovative, practical, and scalable calibration and monitoring solutions for self-driving. We value original, high-impact ideas and rigorous experimental validation.

You will…

- Be part of a multidisciplinary team of Engineers and Scientists working on a scalable system to produce fast, accurate calibration for a wide array of sensing modalities (e.g. camera, lidar, radar, IMU, GNSS).

- Develop the next generation of calibration algorithms leveraging classical and learning-based approaches in 3D geometry with a focus on robustness, compute efficiency, and safety-critical accuracy.

- Design and implement real-time calibration integrity monitoring algorithms to ensure safe autonomous driving on a diverse fleet of vehicles.

- Coordinate large-scale deployment of the calibration of an entire fleet of autonomous vehicles.

Qualifications:

- Deep knowledge in calibration problems. You have prior experience fusing multi-sensor systems, from posing and modeling hidden sensor parameters, to evaluating calibration quality. You should understand how to leverage classical algorithms (e.g. ICP, RQE, SLAM, visual and radar odometry) and learning-based approaches (e.g. NeRF, 3D Splatting) to solve the calibration problem.

- Understanding of sensor modelling. You know how various sensor modalities work from a physical perspective and understand how different modelling assumptions will impact data interpretation and the final calibration. You have the ability to investigate the calibration issues down to the sensor hardware level to root cause issues.

- Shipping Production Software. You have experience in reading and developing production quality software, versus only creating prototypes and proofs of concept.

- Strong software engineering fundamentals. You write efficient and maintainable code in a native language such as C++ or Rust (we use Rust), and are comfortable with Python interop.

Bonus:

- Experience with building and managing complex data pipelines.

- Experience working on real-time state estimation integrity monitoring.

- Solid knowledge in performance profiling and optimization.

- Solid experience with concurrent, parallel, and distributed computing techniques for efficient computation.

- Publications in top-tier conferences or journals related to high-performance computing, image processing, computer graphics, computer vision, machine learning, or self-driving technology.

The US yearly salary range for this role is: $158,000 - $269,000 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. 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.