Research Scientist, Prediction & Planning

Job Summary

The Predictive Planning team (PrePlan) at Waymo is seeking a highly skilled researcher to design, implement, and evaluate state-of-the-art generative models for autonomous vehicle planning and prediction. This role involves developing next-generation, ML-powered systems that enhance the capabilities of the Waymo Driver and accelerating the rapid scaling of Waymo’s business.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and evaluate state-of-the-art generative models for autonomous vehicle planning and prediction
• Develop next-generation, ML-powered systems that enhance the capabilities of the ML driver and accelerate the rapid scaling of Waymo’s business
• Translate open-ended, real-world driving challenges into well-defined machine learning problems, applying cutting-edge techniques, including foundation models and reinforcement learning
• Write high-quality, scalable, and thoroughly tested code to bring cutting-edge research into production
• Partner with world-class researchers, engineers, and product managers to deliver safe and smooth planning behaviors, and publish findings at top-tier academic venues

Requirements

• PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
• A proven track record of publications in top-tier conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, ICRA, IROS, RSS, CoRL, ACL, or EMNLP)
• Demonstrated impact on the broader ML community through influential research, widely adopted open-source projects, or significant industry contributions
• Hands-on expertise with modern deep learning frameworks, for example JAX or PyTorch
• Proficient programming skills in Python and/or C++, coupled with strong analytical and debugging abilities

Preferred

• Specialized research experience in deep learning, reinforcement learning, causal reasoning, or foundation models
• Prior industry experience (e.g. internships) in applied ML research or software development
• Domain expertise in solving motion planning, prediction, or related robotics problems
• Hands-on experience deploying, evaluating, and maintaining ML-based systems in real-world, production environments

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
• Proven track record of publications in top-tier conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, ICRA, IROS, RSS, CoRL, ACL, or EMNLP)
• Demonstrated impact on the broader ML community through influential research, widely adopted open-source projects, or significant industry contributions
• Hands-on expertise with modern deep learning frameworks, for example JAX or PyTorch
• Proficient programming skills in Python and/or C++, coupled with strong analytical and debugging abilities

Benefits

• Discretionary annual bonus program
• Equity incentive plan
• Generous Company benefits program

Pay

The expected base salary range for this full-time position across US locations is $175,000—$215,000 USD. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level.