Application Guide
How to Apply for Systems Test Engineer, Simulation
at Serve Robotics
🏢 About Serve Robotics
Serve Robotics is pioneering zero-emission sidewalk robots for sustainable food delivery, moving deliveries away from congested streets to benefit local businesses and communities. Unlike traditional robotics companies, they focus on personable, real-world deployment in major cities while maintaining an agile, collaborative culture of industry veterans solving complex urban mobility problems. Their mission to transform robotic delivery from novelty to ubiquity offers a chance to work on cutting-edge technology with tangible social impact.
About This Role
This Systems Test Engineer role focuses on building scalable simulation-based autonomy tests by converting requirements and incidents into reproducible pass/fail scenarios and KPIs, then integrating them into CI pipelines for regression detection and release readiness. You'll partner with autonomy, controls, QA, release engineering, and ML teams to close coverage gaps, reduce test flakes, and create metrics dashboards and simulation-derived datasets—directly impacting the reliability and safety of Serve's sidewalk delivery robots.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day involves designing simulation tests in Isaac Sim or Unreal Engine based on autonomy requirements or field incidents, then scripting them in Python for integration into CI pipelines. You'll collaborate with autonomy engineers to refine test scenarios, analyze flaky tests, and update metrics dashboards, while working with release teams to ensure simulation gates pass before deployment—all focused on making Serve's sidewalk robots safer and more reliable in cities.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Serve Robotics Is Looking For
- Has 4-6 years of hands-on experience in robotics/autonomous systems testing with strong Python skills for automation and tooling, plus 2-4 years specifically in Isaac Sim, Unreal Engine, or Gazebo simulation environments.
- Demonstrates experience turning real-world incidents or requirements into reproducible test scenarios and integrating them into CI/CD pipelines for fast regression detection.
- Shows a collaborative mindset with examples of partnering with cross-functional teams (autonomy, ML, QA) to close test coverage gaps and produce actionable metrics/dashboards.
- Possesses a bachelor's in computer science/engineering or equivalent practical experience, with a passion for sustainable urban mobility and end-to-end system testing in dynamic environments.
📝 Tips for Applying to Serve Robotics
Highlight specific projects where you used Isaac Sim, Unreal Engine, or Gazebo to test autonomous systems—include metrics on test coverage, flake reduction, or CI integration.
Tailor your resume to show how you've turned requirements or incidents into reproducible test scenarios (e.g., 'converted 50+ autonomy edge cases into automated simulation tests').
Mention any experience with robotics simulation for real-world deployment (not just research), as Serve's robots operate in cities like LA and Miami.
Research Serve's current deployments (e.g., in Dallas or Chicago) and suggest how simulation testing could address urban challenges they face.
Emphasize collaboration examples with autonomy, ML, or release engineering teams—this role requires close partnership across disciplines.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Explain your passion for sustainable urban mobility and how simulation testing can scale Serve's robot fleet from novelty to ubiquity.", 'Detail a specific example of building simulation-based tests for autonomous systems, including tools used and impact on release readiness.', "Describe how you've partnered with cross-functional teams (e.g., autonomy or ML) to close test gaps or create metrics dashboards.", "Connect your experience to Serve's real-world deployments—e.g., how simulation could test for pedestrian interactions in cities like Atlanta."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Watch videos of Serve's sidewalk robots in action in Los Angeles or other cities to understand their movement and real-world interactions.
- → Read about Serve's partnerships with merchants and cities to grasp their business model and deployment challenges.
- → Explore their tech stack mentions (robotics, ML, computer vision) and consider how simulation tests align with their agile, collaborative culture.
- → Look into recent news about their expansion to cities like Dallas or Chicago to identify potential testing scenarios for new environments.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying with generic test engineering experience without highlighting simulation tools (Isaac Sim/Unreal/Gazebo) or autonomous systems testing.
- Failing to show collaboration examples—this role requires partnering with autonomy, ML, and release teams, not working in isolation.
- Overemphasizing academic or research simulation projects without tying them to real-world deployment or CI/CD integration.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Serve Robotics!