Full-Time
Principal Applied Scientist
Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems Engineering Department
Subaru
Automaker promoting family-centric culture and service
Compensation Overview
$140k - $165k/yr
Michigan, USA
In Person
PhD
 AI & Machine Learning (1) |
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- Ph.D. in machine learning, computer science, electrical engineering, robotics, or a closely-related field
- Applied Research Portfolio Ownership for AI modeling and autonomous driving: Owns the applied research portfolio for AI modeling and autonomous driving, selecting problems that materially advance advanced driver-assistance systems safety and future autonomous capability and that can be translated into production-relevant innovation
- Defines and drives the scientific/technical strategy for complex, ambiguous problems by establishing success criteria, evaluation gates, decision points, and staged roadmaps that guide teams from hypothesis to production-ready evidence
- Formulates research hypotheses; designs experiments; defines datasets and evaluation metrics; and executes rigorous studies beyond routine development work, including failure analysis, robustness testing, and boundary-case characterization relevant to autonomous driving safety
- Translates external and internal research into production-viable solutions by adapting methods to real vehicle constraints (compute/latency, reliability, maintainability, data constraints) and Subaru engineering workflows, partnering with Engineering to ensure research becomes deployable systems rather than prototypes
- Creates clear “research-to-product” handoff packages including problem framing, baseline comparisons, experimental evidence, implementation guidance, operational considerations, and acceptance criteria that engineering teams can execute against
- Builds and sustains partnerships with academic labs by identifying the right collaborators, shaping joint research agendas, and maintaining a pipeline of emerging methods aligned to Subaru’s roadmap; represents Subaru in technical reviews and collaborations with an internal-first publication posture and selective external participation as approved
- Mentors and technically guides engineers and scientists by reviewing experimental design, raising scientific rigor, and developing internal best practices for research methods, evaluation, documentation, and reproducibility
- Drives IP creation by identifying patentable innovations and working with internal stakeholders to document novelty, defensibility, and application to Subaru programs
- Domestic 10% travel requirement
- Experience in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS)/autonomous vehicles (AV), robotics, embedded machine learning, or other high-reliability domains where safety, edge cases, and operational constraints are central
- Deep expertise in modern artificial intelligence modeling relevant to autonomous driving (perception, multimodal/foundation models, robustness/uncertainty, or planning-related learning) with the ability to judge tradeoffs under real-world constraints
- Experimental Design and Evaluation Rigor: Proficiency in dataset construction, metric design, failure analysis, statistical reasoning, reproducibility, and clear technical writing
- Research-to-Product Execution: Ability to produce implementable guidance, baselines, acceptance criteria, and staged adoption plans suitable for engineering execution
- Technical Leadership and Communication: Ability to present complex technical issues to research, engineering, and leadership audiences and influence decisions with evidence
- Mentorship and Bar-Raising: Consistent ability to mentor and uplevel scientists/engineers via reviews, standards, best practices, and documentation
- Strong Python proficiency and practical familiarity with modern ML tooling sufficient to prototype, evaluate, and guide engineering implementation
- Comfort representing the organization in technical reviews and research collaborations with academia/industry partners while maintaining internal-first externalization
Subaru designs, manufactures and markets vehicles while building a community around its brand through a family-like culture that includes employees, owners, retailers and partners. The Subaru Love Promise guides interactions to show love and respect to all people and to value diverse perspectives. Its product approach centers on reliable vehicles supported by a people-first culture and a partner network, emphasizing experiences and collaboration across its ecosystem. The goal is to grow business opportunities while improving the lives of employees and partners by fostering a connected Subaru family.
Company Size
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Company Stage
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Total Funding
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Headquarters
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Founded
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Forester sales rose 33.5% in July 2026, supporting near-term volume and pricing.
- WRX sales jumped 214.7% in July 2026, reviving an enthusiast halo.
- Captive finance by 2030 can lift F&I revenue and lock in lease customers.
What critics are saying
- July 2026 U.S. sales fell 3.7% year-to-date, signaling weakening momentum.
- The 541,237-vehicle GAWR recall exposes quality-control failures and creates brand trust damage.
- Legacy collapsed to 20 July sales, while Solterra fell 91.2%, threatening relevance and mix.
What makes Subaru unique
- Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD and rugged utility still anchor loyal U.S. buyers.
- Forester led July 2026 sales, showing strong mainstream demand for Subaru’s core SUV lineup.
- The 2030 U.S. captive finance launch deepens dealer control and customer retention.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Company Match
401(k) Retirement Plan
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Holidays
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Hybrid Work Options
Tuition Reimbursement
Vehicle Discount Programs
Professional Development Budget
Conference Attendance Budget
Wellness Program
Mental Health Support
Company News
Subaru to launch captive finance business in U.S., extends Chase partnership through transition. The automaker plans to offer direct financing, leasing, and floorplan services by 2030 while maintaining continuity for dealers and existing customers. On the Dash: * Subaru's new captive finance company is expected to give retailers more financing flexibility and stronger support for sales and F&I operations. * Existing Subaru Motors Finance customers and dealers will continue working with Chase during the multi-year transition, avoiding near-term disruption. * The move positions Subaru to strengthen customer retention by managing financing and lease relationships directly. Subaru Corp. and Subaru of America announced plans to establish a captive finance business in the United States on August 5. The company said it aims to start offering retail financing, leasing, and floorplan financing directly to customers and retailers by 2030, designing the initiative to strengthen its long-term business strategy in the U.S. During the transition to its new finance operation, the automaker also announced it will continue its partnership with Chase, which will provide financial services through Subaru Motors Finance. Existing customer loans and leases will remain unchanged, ensuring a seamless experience for both customers and retailers as the automaker builds its captive finance platform. The automaker said it expects the new finance operation to enhance dealer and customer relationships. According to Chairman and CEO Yoichi Hori in a statement, "Entering the captive finance business will help us support our sales division and our retailers, and strengthen our relationship directly with our customers, which will provide long-term value for our shareholders and partners." Ultimately, the company anticipates that having direct financing capabilities will strengthen customer relationships and create long-term value for shareholders and business partners. President and COO Jeff Walters added in a statement, "This is a forward-looking move that provides Subaru with a stronger foothold in the U.S. market and allows us to grow our relationships with our customers and retailers."
| / | Share Post | Subaru joins Hinterland Music Festival as official automotive sponsor. by Johan Wippsson 2026-07-28 Hinterland Music Festival is proud to announce a two year partnership with Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) as the event's official automotive sponsor for 2026 and 2027. Through the partnership, festivalgoers will have a chance to experience Subaru vehicles and activations in two locations throughout the weekend: the Subaru Recharge Zone on the festival grounds and the Subaru Outpost at Hinterland Basecamp near the car camping area. The Subaru Recharge Zone will showcase the Forester Hybrid and Crosstrek Hybrid, highlighting the automaker's growing family of hybrid vehicles. Guests can enjoy car karaoke, interactive art, and a space to cool down and recharge between sets. At Hinterland Basecamp, the Subaru Outpost will feature a car camping display celebrating the capability of the brand's redesigned Outback Wilderness, with games and giveaways for festivalgoers. The partnership between Hinterland and Subaru was brokered by Dallas-based Connect Partnership Group. HINTERLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL ST. CHARLES, IOWA JULY 30- AUGUST 2, 2026 THURSDAY, JULY 30 beabadoobee AUDREY NUNA Jane Remover Frost Children Porch Light Nourished by Time Pixel Grip Lipstick Homicide FRIDAY, JULY 31 Snow Strippers Paris Paloma SOFIA ISELLA Saint Avangeline Between Friends Ninajirachi Crooked Torus Sarah Tonin Leslie & The Ly's SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 Mumford & Sons Jessie Murph The Format Julia Wolf Waylon Wyatt The Brook & The Bluff Buffalo Traffic Jam Derry & the Dirty Dishes Quintron & Miss Pussycat SUNDAY, AUGUST 2 Kali Uchis Young Miko Suki Waterhouse Audrey Hobert Haute & Freddy Gouge Away Jeffery Lewis Recommendations Did you know? Anberlin band member Stephen Christian has offered the explanations that he planned naming his first daughter Anberlin and that the name was a modification of the phrase "and Berlin" from a list of cities Christian wanted to visit. The one story that Christian asserts is true, however, is that he heard the word in the background noise of the Radiohead song "Everything in Its Right Place".
Daily 5 report for July 27: More trouble for Western brands in China; Honda's Outback fighter on deck. July 27, 2026 03:00 PM EDT Welcome to the Daily 5 report for Monday, July 27. The pain that China has wrought for many Western automakers shows no sign of letting up. Audi is the latest Western brand to warn a slump in China sales will undermine revenue and profits in 2026. Once the top luxury brand in China, Audi has struggled, along with German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz, to launch electric and connected cars to match the prowess of China's domestic automakers. China's car and light-truck sales are forecast to fall 10 percent this year to 24.6 million, AlixPartners says. The drop in China volume is increasing pressure on non-Chinese automakers and suppliers to refocus on competitiveness at home without China as a reliable profit center. But for Volkswagen Group, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis, Europe is looking bleaker, too. Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume is now pressing the EU to impose higher tariffs on Chinese plug-in hybrids. Sales of plug-in hybrids from Chinese brands in Europe tallied 208,368, or 28.3 percent, of all PHEVs in the first half of 2026, Dataforce said. AlixPartners sees Chinese-brand vehicles grabbing 17 percent of the light-vehicle market in Europe, including Russia, by 2031. Sales of Chinese brand models are on track to rise 25 percent to 2.3 million this year, with particularly strong growth in Germany and France, AlixPartners says. We also have an exclusive report on Honda Motor Co. plans to field a Subaru Outback rival in the form of a lifted Accord, one of the company's all-time bestsellers. The Outback, with one of the auto industry's most loyal customer bases, has been the envy of rival automakers for years. U.S. annual sales of the Outback have consistently topped 100,000 ― and sometimes reaching near 200,000 ― since 2011. Ford has also looked at developing an Outback rival. But only the more upscale Toyota Crown Signia remains a direct showroom competitor today, though sales pale in comparison. That's it for today. Have a great rest of your day. ― David Phillips, senior editor
Honda eyes Accord hatchback to challenge Subaru Outback - automotive news. Honda eyes Accord hatchback to fight Subaru; why are used EV prices rising? July 27, 2026 01:53 PM EDT Honda is eyeing a lifted Accord hatchback to take on the Subaru Outback, potentially launching in 2029. America's Car-Mart warns it may not survive without new financing. And Andrew Garberson of Recurrent explains why used electric vehicle prices keep climbing even as off-lease supply surges.
Subaru takes top three spots at Ducker Carlisle Awards for second straight year. Thursday, 23 July, 2026 Subaru has taken home top honors once again at the 2026 Ducker Carlisle North American Parts Benchmark Awards! Repeating its impressive success from last year, the automaker surged past a strong group of industry competitors to sweep the top three positions. These major victories were presented during the annual Ducker Carlisle North American Parts Benchmark Conference. Subaru wins top three podium spots. Subaru went head-to-head with more than 30 participating OEM member companies that contend in this annual competition. Alongside rival automakers, Subaru also competed against major powersports and heavy equipment manufacturers from around the world. Matching last year's standout results, Subaru earned first place in the Top Performing Warehouse category, with three of its regional distribution centers sharing the top spot: Douglasville, Georgia; Aurora, Colorado; and Ontario, California. While the entire organization is celebrating this clean sweep, Jim Pernas, Vice President of Fixed Operations - Parts Group at Subaru of America, Inc., highlighted his team's commitment and hard work: "Subaru is proud to receive this recognition for the second consecutive year, and to continue meeting and exceeding our own high standards that support the quality of Genuine Subaru Parts and Accessories. Our national network of warehouses continues to raise the bar with its commitment to quality and efficiency, and its dedication to working hand in hand with our retailers." In addition to securing the top three spots, Subaru placed seven of its SOA distribution facilities in the national top 20 under the "Lines per Head per Year" productivity metric. Remarkably, five of those facilities placed inside the top 10 - a rare accomplishment for any single manufacturer evaluated at the NAPB Conference. Highly regarded throughout the industry, the conference provides leading brands like Subaru with well-earned recognition. The event measures supply chain efficiency across North American OEMs before submitting performance data to Ducker Carlisle for benchmarking. While this year's results were a huge success for Subaru, the brand is already looking ahead, aiming to carry this winning momentum straight into next year's evaluation. Visit Reliable Subaru in springfield, MO today. To discover more about Subaru's award-winning supply chain efficiency and vehicle reliability, reach out to its team at Reliable Subaru today!