Staff Technical Lead Manager (AI)

TL;DR

Staff Technical Lead Manager (AI): Leading a top-tier applied ML team to build models for autonomous vehicle behavior understanding and evaluation with an accent on deep learning, Gen AI, and large-scale production systems. Focus on designing LLM/VLM solutions for anomaly detection, optimizing model performance for expansive fleets, and driving technical direction across cross-functional teams.

Location: Hybrid work schedule in Mountain View, CA; San Francisco, CA; or New York City, NY

Salary: $238,000–$302,000 USD

Company

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company dedicated to building the world's most experienced driver to improve mobility and safety.

What you will do

• Lead an applied ML team focused on AV behavior understanding using deep learning and Gen AI.
• Design and build Gen AI LLM/VLM solutions for behavior analysis and anomaly detection.
• Enhance user feedback analysis by implementing tools for sentiment assessment and root cause analysis.
• Oversee the production and optimization of ML models for a fleet traveling millions of miles.
• Drive technical direction and provide guidance to the team.
• Collaborate with PMs and senior leadership to align technical agendas with business objectives.

Requirements

• B.S. in Computer Science, Robotics, Machine Learning, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience leading engineering teams of 5-15 people.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in machine learning projects and production deployment.
• Strong coding experience in C++ and/or Python.
• Experience with ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Hugging Face.
• Expertise in deep learning models and ML deployment at scale.

Nice to have

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science or a related quantitative field.
• Deep learning experience with Transformers.
• Gen AI LLM/VLM experience.
• Experience with MLOps, evaluation techniques, and model performance optimization.
• Large-scale data processing and analytical skills.

Culture & Benefits

• Participation in discretionary annual bonus program.
• Equity incentive plan.
• Generous company benefits program.
• Collaborative environment working on cutting-edge autonomous driving technology.