Transportation Simulation Engineer - CARLA and Co-Simulation

Description

Join a forward-thinking team committed to innovating the transportation sector! At Leidos, we support the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory (STOL), focusing on enhancing transportation operations, safety, mobility, and reducing environmental impacts. STOL champions the integration of emerging technologies such as cooperative driving automation (CDA) and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) to revolutionize transportation.

Learn more about STOL here! 

Role Overview:

We are seeking a dedicated Transportation Simulation Engineer – CARLA and Co-Simulation to join our McLean, Virginia group. You will engage in dynamic projects involving Operations, Safety, and Freight, and in the rapidly advancing fields of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Cooperative Driving Automation (CDA), Digital Twin, V2X, and Connected Vehicle (CV) technologies.

Anticipated pay range for this position: $80,000-$110,000

Key Responsibilities:

• Create, implement, and maintain three-dimensional simulation models using the CARLA Simulation platform (https://carla.org/) for transportation research and development projects.
• Integrate CARLA with other tools (e.g., SUMO) and datasets to simulate complex traffic scenarios, including interactions involving connected and automated vehicles.
• Develop and implement algorithms into CARLA for simulation studies and data analysis.
• Conduct scenario testing and performance evaluations for advanced transportation systems, leveraging CARLA’s visualization and analytical capabilities.
• Support development and testing of CDASim (https://highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/FHWA-HRT-25-008.pdf)
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers to design simulation environments tailored to vehicle dynamics, traffic management, and safety applications.
• Analyze and present simulation results through detailed reports and presentations for stakeholders, including FHWA leadership and industry partners.
• Stay informed on advancements in transportation simulation and contribute to best practices for three-dimensional modeling.
• Perform cross-disciplinary simulations, including automated driving, vehicle dynamics, V2X communication, and sensor simulation.
• Create guidance, training, and outreach materials for technical audiences, practitioners, and stakeholders.
• Develop documentation, reports, and presentations to effectively communicate project results.
• Support and contribute to the development of technical proposals.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or a related field.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience with CARLA in a professional or academic setting.
• Expertise in CARLA, including integration with external tools or datasets.
• Strong programming skills (Python or C++) to modify and enhance CARLA’s capabilities.
• Familiarity with traffic simulation tools such as VISSIM, Aimsun, or SUMO and their integration with CARLA.
• Knowledge of connected and automated vehicle technologies and applications in transportation research.
• Excellent communication skills to convey technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance (includes three years of U.S. residency).

Preferred Experience:

• Master or PhD’s degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with professional tools (e.g., Roadrunner) to develop digital twin and 3D simulation scenes.
• Familiarity with high-definition (HD) maps.
• Solid understanding of V2X communication protocols and experience with communication simulation tools (e.g., NS-3, OMNET++).
• Experience with vehicle dynamics simulators (e.g., CARSIM, TruckSIM).
• Knowledge of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies.
• Demonstrated project management skills and experience managing subcontractors.
• Experience leading or assisting in the development of technical proposals.
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and practices.
• Familiar with CDASim or have hands-on experience with CDASim

Team Dynamics:

• Strong team collaboration and constructive feedback engagement.
• Clear and effective communication skills.
• Commitment to schedules with a focused work ethic.
• Receptive to professional growth and learning opportunities.
• High-quality standards and enthusiasm for transportation simulation and technology.

Anticipated pay range for this position: $80,000-$110,000

Original Posting Date:

While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.