Verification & Validation (V&V) Engineer - HIL, Simulation & Autonomy Validation

Who we are Gatik, the leader in autonomous middle-mile logistics, is revolutionizing the B2B supply chain with its autonomous transportation-as-a-service (ATaaS) solution and prioritizing safe, consistent deliveries while streamlining freight movement by reducing congestion. The company focuses on short-haul, B2B logistics for Fortune 500 retailers and in 2021 launched the world’s first fully driverless commercial transportation service with Walmart. Gatik's Class 3-7 autonomous trucks are commercially deployed across major markets, including Texas, Arkansas, and Ontario, Canada, driving innovation in freight transportation. The company's proprietary Level 4 autonomous technology, Gatik Carrier™, is custom-built to transport freight safely and efficiently between pick-up and drop-off locations on the middle mile. With robust capabilities in both highway and urban environments, Gatik Carrier™ serves as an all-encompassing solution that integrates advanced software and hardware powering the fleet, facilitating effortless integration into customers' logistics operations. About the role The Verification & Validation (V&V) Engineer is responsible for validating autonomous driving software using Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), simulation environments, replay frameworks, map validation platforms, and internal testing tools. This role focuses on verifying software quality, system performance, and release readiness prior to vehicle deployment. The ideal candidate will work closely with autonomy, mapping, infrastructure, and tool development teams to execute validation plans, analyze results, identify issues, and provide data-driven recommendations for software releases. This role is onsite 5 days a week at our Mountain View, CA or Fort Worth, TX office! What you'll do Verification & Validation Develop and execute test plans for autonomy software, vehicle systems, and new feature releases. Perform functional, integration, regression, and release validation testing. Verify system behavior across perception, localization, planning, controls, and mapping functions. Support requirements-based verification and release sign-off activities. HIL & Simulation Testing Execute validation activities using HIL, SIL, simulation, replay, and scenario-based testing environments. Collaborate with tool owners and infrastructure teams to understand and effectively utilize validation platforms. Develop and maintain test scenarios within existing validation frameworks. Evaluate autonomy performance across nominal, edge-case, and safety-critical scenarios. Support automation and continuous validation efforts where applicable. Map & Route Validation Validate map releases, route configurations, lane connectivity, speed zones, stop controls, and operational routes. Verify map fixes and updates before deployment. Investigate map-related issues impacting autonomy performance and operational behavior. Work with mapping teams to ensure map quality and deployment readiness. Data Analysis & Issue Investigation Analyze vehicle logs, replay results, simulation outputs, and validation data. Investigate software defects, autonomy performance issues, disengagements, and unexpected vehicle behaviors. Perform root cause analysis and provide detailed findings to engineering teams. Validate software fixes through targeted testing and regression assessments. Track validation metrics and support release readiness decisions using data-driven analysis. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Autonomy, Mapping, Systems, Safety, Software, and Infrastructure teams. Participate in feature reviews, release reviews, and validation planning activities. Communicate validation findings, risks, and recommendations to stakeholders. Support continuous improvement of validation methodologies and testing processes. Documentation & Reporting Create and maintain test plans, test procedures, validation reports, and release summaries. Document issues, test results, and verification evidence. Support release sign-off activities through comprehensive validation reporting. Maintain traceability between requirements, test cases, and validation results. What we're looking for Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, Automotive Engineering, or a related technical field. Experience in Verification & Validation, ADAS, autonomous vehicles, robotics, or automotive systems. Understanding of HIL, simulation, replay, or system-level testing methodologies. Experience executing structured test plans and analyzing results. Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Preferred Qualifications Experience with autonomous vehicle software validation. Experience with HIL, simulation, replay, and map validation tools. Familiarity with vehicle sensors, autonomy software, and fleet operations. Experience with log analysis, Python, SQL, Grafana, Foxglove, or similar data analysis tools. Experience working with cross-functional engineering teams. Salary Range - $160,000- $220,000 More about Gatik Founded in 2017 by experts in autonomous vehicle technology, Gatik has rapidly expanded its presence to Mountain View, Dallas-Fort Worth, Arkansas, and Toronto. As the first and only company to achieve fully driverless middle-mile commercial deliveries, Gatik holds a unique and defensible position in the AV industry, with a clear trajectory toward sustainable growth and profitability. We have delivered complete, proprietary AV technology - an integration of software and hardware - to enable earlier successes for our clients in constrained Level 4 autonomy. By choosing the middle mile – with defined point-to-point delivery, we have simplified some of the more complex AV challenges, enabling us to achieve full autonomy ahead of competitors. Given extensive knowledge of Gatik’s well-defined, fixed route ODDs and hybrid architecture, we are able to hyper-optimize our models with exponentially less data, establish gate-keeping mechanisms to maintain explainability, and ensure continued safety of the system for unmanned operations. Visit us at Gatik for more company information and Careers at Gatik for more open roles. Notable News Forbes: Forget robotaxis. Upstart Gatik sees middle-mile deliveries as the path to profitable AVs Tech Brew: Gatik AI exec unpacks the regulations that could shape the AV industry Business Wire: Gatik Paves the Way for Safe Driverless Operations (‘Freight-Only’) at Scale with Industry-First Third-Party Safety Assessment Framework Auto Futures: Autonomous Trucking Group Gatik Secures Investment From NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS Automotive News: Gatik foresees hundreds of self-driving trucks on road soon, and that's just the beginning Forbes: Isuzu And Gatik Go All In To Scale Up Driverless Freight Services Bloomberg: Autonomous Vehicle Startup Takes Off by Picking Off Easier Routes Reuters: Driverless vehicles on limited routes bump along despite US robotaxi scrutiny Taking care of our team At Gatik, we connect people of extraordinary talent and experience to an opportunity to create a more resilient supply chain and contribute to our environment’s sustainability. We are diverse in our backgrounds and perspectives yet united by a bold vision and shared commitment to our values. Our culture emphasizes the importance of collaboration, respect and agility. We at Gatik strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels they have opportunities to succeed and grow because we know that together we can do great things. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse team. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status or any legally protected status.