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Simulation Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Electrical Simulation CAE Engineer

San Jose, CA

$118K - $244K/yr

We are the Electrical Simulation CAE Team in Hardware Engineering, and our primary objective is to develop and implement workflows and methodologies that ensure electrical and electromagnetic ...

Apex

Simulation Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$145K - $185K/yr

About the Role As a Simulation Engineer, you will be responsible for developing closed-loop spacecraft test platforms - such as six degrees of freedom simulation platform (6DOF), software-in-the-loop ...

HammerheadAI

Simulation Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

News & Blogs Role Description As an AI/ML Simulation Engineer, you will build the virtual world where our intelligence is born. You will be responsible for creating and scaling high-fidelity digital ...

UnitX

Simulation Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

They are seeking a highly skilled Simulation Engineer to design and build high-fidelity, scalable simulation platforms that enable the robust training, testing, and validation of advanced AI-driven ...

1X Technologies AS

Simulation Engineer

San Carlos, CA · On-site

$119K - $253K/yr

As a Simulation Engineer at 1X Technologies, you will lead thermal and multi-body structural analysis for advanced robotic systems, supporting design decisions across development and production.

JetZero

Simulation Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

Collaborate with systems engineers to define simulation objectives based on technical requirements. * Identify key parameters and test cases to ensure model accuracy. * Integration & Testing:

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All JobsSimulation Developer JobsSimulation Developer Jobs in California

Simulation Developer information

See California salary details

$10.9K

$66.7K

$119.9K

How much do simulation developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for simulation developer in California is $66,716.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43,400.00 and $78,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Simulation Developer vs Simulation Engineer?

AspectSimulation DeveloperSimulation Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Computer Science, Engineering, or related fields; programming skillsBachelor's or higher in Engineering, Computer Science; specialized simulation knowledge
Work EnvironmentSoftware development teams, R&D labs, tech companiesEngineering teams, manufacturing, aerospace, automotive industries
Employer & Industry UsageTech firms, gaming, simulation software companiesEngineering firms, aerospace, automotive, defense
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles, skills, and career pathsJob responsibilities, industry applications, skills needed

Simulation Developers focus on creating and coding simulation software, often emphasizing programming and software design. Simulation Engineers apply simulation techniques to solve engineering problems, focusing on system analysis and testing. While both roles require technical skills and knowledge of simulation, Simulation Developers are more software-centric, whereas Simulation Engineers are more application-focused within engineering contexts.

What does a Simulation Developer do?

A Simulation Developer designs, builds, and tests computer-based models that mimic real-world processes or systems. They use programming languages and simulation software to create virtual environments for training, research, or analysis purposes. These professionals work in various industries, such as aerospace, healthcare, and manufacturing, to help organizations understand complex scenarios and make informed decisions. Simulation Developers often collaborate with subject matter experts to ensure models are accurate and effective.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Simulation Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Simulation Developer, you need strong programming skills (such as C++, Python, or Java), a background in mathematics or engineering, and a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with simulation software (like Unity, Unreal Engine, or MATLAB) and experience using modeling tools and version control systems are typically required. Problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication skills set outstanding simulation developers apart. These competencies are vital for building accurate, reliable simulations that meet user needs and support decision-making in various industries.

What are some typical challenges Simulation Developers face when working on complex projects?

Simulation Developers often encounter challenges such as balancing simulation accuracy with computational efficiency and managing large datasets. Collaborating closely with domain experts and software engineers is essential to ensure the simulation reflects real-world scenarios and integrates smoothly with other systems. Additionally, adapting to evolving project requirements and optimizing code for different hardware platforms can require creative problem-solving and continuous learning.
What are popular job titles related to Simulation Developer jobs in California? For Simulation Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Simulation Developer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Simulation Developer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Simulation Developer jobs in CA? For Simulation Developer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Simulation Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Simulation Developer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $66,716 per year, or $32.1 per hour.

Senior Simulation Engineer - W2 Role

Saransh Inc

Mountain View, CA • On-site

Contractor

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

Role: Senior Simulation Engineer
Location: Mountain View, CA (Hybrid Onsite)
Job Type: W2 Contract
 
Job Description: 
  • We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Simulation Engineer to own and accelerate our synthetic data generation capabilities.
  • This role is crucial for bridging the gap between our high-fidelity simulation environment and our production ML models.
  • You will be responsible for architecting, implementing, and maintaining the entire simulation-to-data pipeline, ensuring a consistent and massive flow of quality training data.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Simulation Acceleration & Data Collection: Directly utilize expertise in NVIDIA Isaac Sim to design, script, and optimize simulation scenarios specifically tailored to generate high-quality, diverse data for VLA (Vision-Language Alignment) and NOVA model training objectives.
  • Pipeline Architecture: Design, build, and maintain robust, scalable pipelines for CAD ingestion, scene creation, sensor emulation, and data processing within the Isaac Sim framework.
  • Synthetic Data Management: Implement and manage advanced auto-annotation tools within the simulation environment to rapidly label complex sensory data (e.g., 3D bounding boxes, semantic segmentation, depth maps) for supervised learning.
  • Environment Maintenance: Take ownership of setting up, configuring, and maintaining the simulation environment (including hardware/software dependencies, GPU utilization, and headless operation) to ensure reliable, large-scale parallel execution.
  • Cross-Functional Support: Collaborate closely with the Machine Learning Engineering team to analyze data gaps, iterate on simulation parameters, and ensure the synthetic data distribution matches the necessary complexity and variability of real-world deployment.
  • Performance Tuning: Profile and optimize simulation execution speed to maximize data throughput, essential for rapid iteration cycles in model tuning.
Required Qualifications:
  • Expertise in Simulation: 3+ years of hands-on experience with NVIDIA Isaac Sim (or a comparable high-fidelity physics simulator like Unity/Unreal used for robotics).
  • Programming Proficiency: Expert-level proficiency in Python for scripting, automation, data pipeline construction, and tool development.
  • Robotics Fundamentals: Strong understanding of robotics kinematics, sensor physics (LIDAR, RGB-D cameras, IMU), and their accurate representation in simulation.
  • ML Data Pipeline Experience: Proven experience setting up automated data collection pipelines for Deep Learning projects, including experience with data versioning and metadata management.
  • CAD/3D Workflow: Familiarity with 3D assets, CAD formats, and procedural generation techniques to create complex virtual scenes.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Familiarity with VLA/NOVA model architectures or similar foundation models in robotics.
  • Experience with cloud computing environments (AWS, Azure, GCP) for scaling simulation jobs.
  • Familiarity with other robotics simulation/middleware like ROS/ROS 2.
  • Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) or software-in-the-loop (SITL) testing methodologies.