Senior Applied ML Scientist (Autonomous Vehicles)

TL;DR

Senior Applied ML Scientist (Autonomous Vehicles): Developing performance metrics and evaluation frameworks for the Waymo Driver software stack with an accent on statistical analysis, simulation, and machine learning. Focus on mining complex real-world driving logs and designing robust data pipelines to improve the quality and interpretability of autonomous driving systems.

Location: Hybrid role, must be based in the US (Mountain View, San Francisco, or New York City)

Salary: $213,000–$263,000 USD

Company

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company dedicated to improving mobility and safety through its fully autonomous driver platform.

What you will do

• Develop signals to measure performance and driving qualities using statistics, math, and machine learning.
• Utilize simulation and real-world driving logs to evaluate software changes.
• Design methods to connect onboard software updates with simulated outcomes.
• Champion code health and best practices within a large, complex codebase.
• Analyze data to provide actionable recommendations for metric quality and interpretability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams of engineers, statisticians, and leadership.

Requirements

• BS in Computer Science, Robotics, Statistics, Physics, Math, or a related quantitative field.
• 2-3 years of industry experience navigating and modifying large codebases.
• Proficiency in C++, Python, and SQL.
• Strong experience in statistical analysis and building data processing pipelines.
• Ability to write, review, and maintain code following industry standards.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Nice to have

• Experience with ML and A/B experiment infrastructure.
• Experience building and validating metrics for complex systems.
• Exposure to ad-hoc data analysis tools for rapid prototyping.
• Prior experience working in the autonomous vehicle industry.

Culture & Benefits

• Participation in a discretionary annual bonus program.
• Equity incentive plan eligibility.
• Comprehensive company benefits program.
• Collaborative environment focused on solving complex, open-ended problems.