Principal Physics Simulation Engineer

We are seeking a Principal Physics Simulation Engineer to join a new simulation engineering team building an AI-first simulation platform on NVIDIA technologies for a global heavy-equipment manufacturer that is scaling autonomy, robotics, digital twins and physical AI. In this role, you will own physical-behavior fidelity across the platform, working with our engineering team and the client’s autonomy, robotics and simulation teams to model machines and their interaction with terrain in PhysX, validate simulation against real machine data, and set the fidelity standards that decide whether autonomy can trust the simulator. Responsibilities - Physics Fidelity Ownership: Own physical-behavior fidelity across a greenfield simulation platform built on the full NVIDIA simulation stack. - Machine & Terrain Modeling: Model machines, actuators and their interaction with terrain and objects in PhysX-based simulation, from rigid-body dynamics and articulations to contacts, friction and solver tuning. - Simulation Validation: Define and run validation that compares simulated behavior with real machine data, and close the gaps you find. - Fidelity Standards: Set fidelity metrics and acceptance thresholds that autonomy, robotics and synthetic-data work can rely on. - Technical Leadership: Guide engineers on physics modeling and on trade-offs between fidelity and performance. Requirements - Principal-level expertise in physics-based, high-fidelity simulation of physical behavior. - NVIDIA PhysX: In-depth knowledge of rigid-body dynamics, articulations, joints, contacts, friction and solver tuning. - Vehicle & Machine Dynamics: Strong grasp of mass, inertia, traction, terrain interaction and actuator modeling. - Simulation Validation: Proven experience correlating simulated behavior with real test data and defining fidelity metrics and acceptance thresholds. - Python & C++: Strong programming skills in both languages. Nice to have - Off-Road & Heavy Machine Simulation: Experience simulating heavy or off-road machines, including soil, granular material and rough terrain. - NVIDIA Platform: Hands-on experience with Isaac Sim, Isaac Lab and Omniverse. - Sim-to-Real: Experience with sim-to-real transfer for autonomy or robotics. - Simulation AI Agents: Experience building AI agents for simulation. - Travel Readiness: Willingness to travel to client sites when needed. We offer - Opportunity to work on bleeding-edge projects - Work with a highly motivated and dedicated team - Competitive salary - Flexible schedule - Benefits package - medical insurance, sports - Corporate social events - Professional development opportunities - Well-equipped office About Us Grid Dynamics (NASDAQ: GDYN) is a leading provider of technology consulting, platform and product engineering, AI, and advanced analytics services. Fusing technical vision with business acumen, we solve the most pressing technical challenges and enable positive business outcomes for enterprise companies undergoing business transformation. A key differentiator for Grid Dynamics is our 8 years of experience and leadership in enterprise AI, supported by profound expertise and ongoing investment in data, analytics, cloud & DevOps, application modernization and customer experience. Founded in 2006, Grid Dynamics is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices across the Americas, Europe, and India.