Machine Learning Engineer, Model Optimization

waymo· Perception (7LT)
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About this role

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver—The World's Most Experienced Driver™—to improve access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo’s fully autonomous ride-hail service and can also be applied to a range of vehicle platforms and product use cases. The Waymo Driver has provided over ten million rider-only trips, enabled by its experience autonomously driving over 100 million miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 15+ U.S. states.

The Perception team builds the system which learns the spatial-temporal representation and their semantic meanings of the surrounding environment of the autonomously driving vehicle (ADV), i.e., the system that “perceives” the world around the car. We work jointly with downstream teams on the optimization and integration into the Waymo Driver. We conduct our own research to address real-world problems and collaborate with research teams at Alphabet. We have access to millions of miles of driving data from a diverse set of sensors, enabling engineers like you to (1) develop methods for efficiently and continuously learning from large scale real-world data, to (2) develop models and model training at scale, to (3) analyze real-world behavior and develop systems for handling the complexities of interacting with the real-world, and (4) optimize models for our onboard and offboard hardware.

In this hybrid role you will report to a Technical Lead Manager.

You will:

  • Optimize FLOPs utilization in model training and model inference through model architecture/ hardware co-development, optimize for a naturally sparse representation (most spatial-temporal information in self-driving is sparse).
  • Optimize model inference for different onboard and offboard (simulation) platforms.
  • Analyze and optimize real-time inference of complex model architectures with many model components as well as on the critical path within an onboard system.

You have:

  • Bachelors in Computer Science or a similar discipline, or an equivalent amount of deep learning experience
  • 3+ years experience in Machine Learning and/or Computer Vision
  • Experience with Python
  • Experience with ML frameworks like PyTorch or JAX

We prefer:

  • MS or PhD Degree in Machine Learning, Robotics, Computer Science or a similar discipline
  • Publications at top-tier conferences like CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, ICLR, ICML, ICRA, IROS, RSS, NeurIPS, AAAI, IJCV, PAMI
  • Experience with C++

The expected base salary range for this full-time position across US locations is listed below. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process. 

Waymo employees are also eligible to participate in Waymo’s discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements. 

Salary Range
$170,000$216,000 USD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the salary disclosed for the Machine Learning Engineer, Model Optimization position at waymo?
The salary for this Machine Learning Engineer, Model Optimization role at waymo is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Machine Learning Engineer, Model Optimization position at waymo located?
This Machine Learning Engineer, Model Optimization role at waymo is based in Mountain View, California, United States; San Francisco, California, United States. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Which team or department does the Machine Learning Engineer, Model Optimization at waymo belong to?
This Machine Learning Engineer, Model Optimization position is part of the Perception (7LT) department at waymo. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Machine Learning Engineer, Model Optimization position at waymo?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to waymo's official application portal hosted on greenhouse where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Machine Learning Engineer, Model Optimization job at waymo posted?
This Machine Learning Engineer, Model Optimization position at waymo was posted on Dec 5, 2025. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Machine Learning Engineer, Model Optimization
waymo
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