Senior Applied Research Scientist II @ Cruise

We’re Cruise, a self-driving service designed for the cities we love.

We’re building the world’s most advanced self-driving vehicles to safely connect people to the places, things, and experiences they care about. We believe self-driving vehicles will help save lives, reshape cities, give back time in transit, and restore freedom of movement for many.

In our cars, you’re free to be yourself. It’s the same here at Cruise. We’re creating a culture that values the experiences and contributions of all of the unique individuals who collectively make up Cruise, so that every employee can do their best work.

Cruise is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, both in our workplace and in our products. If you are looking to play a part in making a positive impact in the world by advancing the revolutionary work of self-driving cars, come join us. Even if you might not meet every requirement, we strongly encourage you to apply. You might just be the right candidate for us.

The Traffic Lights and X-Object understanding team works to build robust capable models that help the Cruise vehicles understand and safely interact with the world around it. These models help classify fine grained semantic information concerning Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) and other critical objects in the vehicle’s environment, identify and comply with directives from humans controlling traffic or from Traffic control devices, such as Traffic lights or caution tape. The team helps ensure a high safety bar as well as predictable interactions with VRUs and comfortable driving, crucial for both legal compliance and demonstrating responsible roadmanship.

We are looking for a Machine Learning Engineer in Perception that will invent pragmatic, long-term and stable software solutions to sophisticated problems. This adaptable role implements a wide spectrum of applied ML and sensor research, and model development to overcome challenges on urban roads.

Ideal candidates would possess a strong background in machine learning, particularly in developing algorithms for perception and overall machine learning workflow. Experience in multi-task learning, feature extraction, and model architecture as well as working with downstream models to leverage perception signals is highly valued. The team seeks individuals who are passionate about improving road safety for VRUs and are eager to contribute to the development of innovative solutions that enhance Cruise’s autonomous vehicle technology.

What you’ll be doing:

From a research perspective, exploring, prototyping, validating, and iterating new algorithms
On the development side, driving efforts to optimize, supervise and refine on-road performance for models on the path to production
This role will support the hardware organization. Likely projects will include sensitivity studies for hardware selection as well as architecture investigations.
Champion of the highest quality in engineering, crafting solutions and not just identifying problems

What you must have:

Solid understanding of computer vision fundamentals including the development and training of ML models
Perform first principles analysis of perception models and experiments to support HW sensor development.
Be able to run and retrain Cruise perception machine learning models and evaluate model performance (PR, other metrics)
Must be able to work independently and multi-functionally between HW and perception teams.
Willing to be hands on with sensor data; has a practical understanding of experimental data and hardware versus purely theoretical.
Basic knowledge of sensing physics and awareness of different sensing modalities (lidar, cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors, etc.).
Growing expertise with ML frameworks such as Tensorflow, Caffe, and PyTorch
Strong programming skills in Python, C++, or other relevant languages
Passionate about self-driving car technology and its impact on the world!

Bonus points!

PhD in machine learning or computer science
Research experience developing computational cameras, physics-based computer vision systems, or other research at the intersection of CV/ML and sensor development.
4+ years of industry experience in Machine Learning
Experience and growing expertise with ROS, OpenCV, Gazebo, or PCL
Track record in deploying perception algorithms into real world environments
Experience and growing expertise with autonomous driving technologies

The salary range for this position is $139,400 - $205,000. Compensation will vary depending on location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. You may also be offered a bonus, long-term incentives, and benefits. These ranges are subject to change.

Why Cruise?

Our benefits are here to support the whole you:

Competitive salary and benefits
Medical / dental / vision, Life and AD&D
Subsidized mental health benefits
Paid time off and holidays
Paid parental, medical, family care, and military leave of absence
401(k) Cruise matching program
Fertility benefits
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
Flexible Spending Account & Health Saving Account
Perks Wallet program for benefits/perks
Pre-tax Commuter benefit plan for local employees
CruiseFlex, our location-flexible work policy. (Learn more about CruiseFlex).

We’re Integrated

Through our partnerships with General Motors and Honda, we are the only self-driving company with fully integrated manufacturing at scale.

We’re Funded

GM, Honda, Microsoft, T. Rowe Price, and Walmart have invested billions in Cruise. Their backing for our technology demonstrates their confidence in our progress, team, and vision and makes us one of the leading autonomous vehicle organizations in the industry. Our deep resources greatly accelerate our operating speed.

Cruise LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive workplace where contributions are valued and celebrated, and our employees thrive by being themselves and are inspired to do the best work of their lives. We seek applicants of all backgrounds and identities, across race, color, caste, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or parental status, or disability. Applicants will not be discriminated against based on these or other protected categories or social identities. Cruise will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, in accordance with applicable laws.

Cruise is committed to the full inclusion of all applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please let our recruiting team know or email [email protected].

We proactively work to design hiring processes that promote equity and inclusion while mitigating bias. To help us track the effectiveness and inclusivity of our recruiting efforts, please consider answering the following demographic questions. Answering these questions is entirely voluntary. Your answers to these questions will not be shared with the hiring decision makers and will not impact the hiring decision in any way. Instead, Cruise will use this information not only to comply with any government reporting obligations but also to track our progress toward meeting our diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging objectives.

Candidates applying for roles that operate and remotely operate the AV: Licensed to drive a motor vehicle in the U.S. for the three years immediately preceding your application, currently holding an active in-state regular driver’s license or equivalent, and no more than one point on driving record. A successful completion of a background check, drug screen and DMV Motor Vehicle Record check is also required.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: Cruise does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Furthermore, Cruise does not pay placement fees for candidates submitted by any agency other than its approved partners.

Senior Applied Research Scientist II

Perception

Cruise

Compensation Overview

What you’ll be doing:

What you must have:

Why Cruise?

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