Principal Software Engineer

Who you are

• MS in computer science with an emphasis in machine learning or equivalent degree (PhD preferred)
• 10+ years of leadership experience in a large-scale machine learned production system
• Experience leading a post-training system that is used in production with 100M+ users, solving multiple targeted problems in parallel
• Experience building metrics, data, and flywheels for post-training applications
• Experience influencing without authority at the director and VP level or higher
• An ability to balance influencing day-to-day leadership on the ground with developing and influencing engineering strategy
• Experience building a post-training platform from scratch
• Experience with utilizing ML in AV and/or other robotics applications

What the job involves

• As Principal Software Engineer Post Training, you will play a key role in advancing the technology to power the Waymo Driver and especially help it scale to dramatically more miles and locations across the world
• Your primary responsibility will be to develop and lead a strategy of a next-generation post-training system on top of existing large-scale models (whose development this role will also influence)
• Post training is already used in the onboard software system, but we believe that there is a significant opportunity to advance its impact, in line with the advancements within the AI community in other applications
• Your role would be to figure out how to accomplish that goal in the challenging, highly impactful problem of autonomously driving a vehicle in the real world at large scale
• This role follows a hybrid work schedule and reports into the Onboard organization
• Advance the state-of-the-art post-training techniques in the AI running on board the autonomous vehicle
• Keep up with post-training research and find the right applications for the unique problems at Waymo
• Participate in the leadership community advancing the ML stack across Waymo in general
• Partner with teams developing ML platforms to develop them for effective, scalable post-training
• Partner with teams not yet using post-training effectively to understand their needs and guide them to effective post-training strategies

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Employee assistance programs focused on mental health
• Personalized workplace adjustments for diverse needs and abilities, including physical, mental, and neurodivergent considerations
• Access to mental health apps
• Onsite wellness centers
• Second medical opinion for you and your loved ones
• Medical advocacy program for transgender employees
• Counseling services
• Support programs including menopause benefit
• Competitive compensation
• Regular bonus and equity performance grant opportunities
• Generous 401(k) and regional retirement plans
• Annual cross-company compensation review and pay equity analysis
• 1-on-1 financial coaching
• Fertility and growing family assistance
• Parental leave and baby bonding leave
• Caregiver leave
• Elder care and support
• Backup childcare
• Survivor income benefit
• Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, sick leave, parental leave, disability, and holidays
• Jury duty leave
• Military leave
• Hybrid work model with remote work opportunities also available
• Educational reimbursement
• Peer learning and coaching platform
• Donation matching programs
• Employee resource groups
• Volunteer hours
• Internal community groups and local culture clubs
• Inspiring spaces to work, recharge, and collaborate with fellow Waymonauts
• On-site meals and snacks
• Fitness centers, massage programs, and ergonomic support
• On-demand fitness, wellbeing, and cooking classes
• Commuter benefits