About the role

Aplyr's Quick Take

This role is for a Staff Software Engineer focused on machine learning algorithms for improving routing and pick-up/drop-off quality in Waymo's autonomous driving technology. You'll work on designing and implementing models, analyzing data, and collaborating with various teams to enhance user experience. It's an individual contributor role with a strong emphasis on technical problem-solving.

Good fit

Ideal candidates have 7+ years of software engineering experience, particularly in machine learning and data analysis. A strong background in robotics or autonomous systems, along with a collaborative working style, will help you thrive here.

Worth noting

The salary is notably high at $302,000, which reflects the specialized nature of the work. The role also involves significant cross-team collaboration, which may appeal to those who enjoy teamwork in a tech-heavy environment.

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.

Software Engineering builds the brains of Waymo's fully autonomous driving technology. Our software allows the Waymo Driver to perceive the world around it, make the right decision for every situation, and deliver people safely to their destinations. We think deeply and solve complex technical challenges in areas like robotics, perception, decision-making and deep learning, while collaborating with hardware and systems engineers. If you’re a software engineer or researcher who’s curious and passionate about Level 4 autonomous driving, we'd like to meet you.

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

You will:

Design, implement, and evaluate new algorithms and models to improve pick-up/drop-off points selection and routing quality, considering factors like walking inconvenience, safety, traffic, and user preferences.
Develop and enhance our simulation and evaluation infrastructure to accurately measure the impact of changes and accelerate development cycles.
Analyze large datasets from our fleet to identify opportunities, develop new metrics, and guide product direction.
Collaborate closely with teams across Waymo, including TaaS, Onboard Router, and Pullover, to ensure a cohesive and optimal user experience.
Contribute to the full software development lifecycle, from ideation and design to implementation, testing, deployment, and monitoring.

You have:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
7+ years of software engineering experience, including significant experience in designing and building production-grade systems.
Proven experience (3+ years) in developing and deploying machine learning models in real-world applications.
Strong proficiency in C++.
Demonstrated ability to work with large datasets, including data extraction, analysis, and feature engineering (e.g., using SQL/Plx).

We prefer:

Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related field.
Experience with ML techniques for Ranking and Recommendation Systems
Experience in robotics, autonomous vehicles, or geospatial systems.
Track record of influencing technical direction and strategy.

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

$238,000—$302,000 USD

Skills & Tags

go rust machine learning ai data product design

Aplyr's read

Waymo is a leader in autonomous vehicle technology, attracting talent passionate about transforming transportation with innovative self-driving solutions.
Synthesized from recent postings & public sources

What's promising

•Waymo benefits from Alphabet's resources, providing robust support for research and development.
•The company is pioneering in autonomous vehicle technology, setting industry standards.
•Waymo's diverse hiring across roles indicates a comprehensive approach to scaling operations.

What to watch

•Regulatory hurdles could delay widespread adoption of self-driving technology.
•High competition in the autonomous vehicle market may impact Waymo's market share.
•Operational challenges in scaling ride-hailing services could affect growth.

Why Waymo

•Waymo's extensive real-world testing gives it a competitive edge in data-driven development.
•The company's collaboration with Alphabet enhances its technological capabilities.
•Waymo's focus on safety and reliability differentiates it in the autonomous vehicle sector.

Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?

About Waymo

Waymo

waymo.com

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Waymo is a self-driving technology company that aims to make it safe and easy for people and things to get where they’re going. As a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Waymo is at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology, significantly impacting the future of transportation.