Machine Learning Engineer - Semantic Reasoning (Highway)

Zoox; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 189,000 - 258,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights

Amazon RSUs

Health insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Zoox is hiring an experienced engineer for the Scene Understanding Semantic Reasoning team in Foster City, CA. You will develop production-grade multi-task transformers and integrate Vision-Language Model outputs to build comprehensive spatial representations for our autonomous fleet.

You will work with perception, mapping, and motion planning teams to push the state of the art in semantic understanding under real-world, high-speed driving conditions.

Qualifications

• MS (3–5 years) or PhD (0–2 years) in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or related field with professional software experience, ideally in autonomous driving, robotics, or computer vision.
• Deep understanding of 2D/3D computer vision, semantic segmentation, and deep learning architectures.
• Exceptional programming skills in modern C++ and Python.
• Hands-on experience with modern deep learning frameworks like JAX or PyTorch.
• Proven track record of deploying real-time machine learning models on resource-constrained embedded systems or on-bot hardware.

Responsibilities

• Model Training & Deployment: design, train, and deploy deep learning models for semantic reasoning for high-speed highway environments.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration with Scene Intelligence, Semantic Grounding, and PCP Mapping teams.
• Requirements & Validation: define semantic representation requirements and validation workflows to meet safety metrics.
• Optimization: optimize models for real-time inference with limited compute resources.
• Edge Case Resolution: investigate perception-related regressions in simulations and live fleet data.
• Strategic Architecture: contribute to North Star architecture for Perception Semantic Reasoning across fleets.

Skills

C++

Python

Deep learning

Computer vision

BeV / Vision-Language Models

Education

MS or PhD in CS/Robotics/EE

Tools

PyTorch

JAX

Job description

The Scene Understanding Semantic Reasoning team at Zoox builds the high-performance reasoning engines that allow our autonomous vehicles to navigate complex driving environments and high-speed roads. We translate sensor data and detected objects into deep semantic understanding, ensuring our robots make human-level decisions in real-time.

We are seeking experienced engineers passionate about the intersection of robotics and cutting-edge AI. In this role, you will focus on critical initiatives alongside partner Perception and motion planning teams to develop production-grade multi-task transformers, and integrate cutting-edge Vision Language Action (VLA) model outputs to build comprehensive spatial representations for our fleet. You will tackle the inherent unpredictability of urban driving on highways & freeways to improve range and accuracy, ensuring our vehicles remain safe and resilient at all times.

In this role, you will…

• Model Training & Deployment: Design, train, and deploy deep learning models for semantic reasoning, specifically tailored to achieve the extended spatial range and high fidelity required for high-speed highway environments.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with the Scene Intelligence, Semantic Grounding, and PCP Mapping teams to adapt and elevate the unified machine learning stack for highway scenarios.
• Requirements & Validation: Partner with downstream motion planning teams to define semantic representation requirements, establish robust validation workflows, and ensure model outputs meet strict safety and clearance metrics.
• Optimization: Optimize deep learning models for real-time inference efficiency, ensuring low-latency execution within the rigorous compute constraints of the Zoox vehicle platform.
• Edge Case Resolution: Investigate and resolve perception-related regressions and edge cases found in high-speed driving simulations and live fleet data.
• Strategic Architecture: Contribute to the long-term “North Star” architecture for Perception Semantic Reasoning, paving the way for scalable fleet deployment across new vehicle platforms.

Qualifications

• MS (3–5 years) or PhD (0–2 years) in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with professional software engineering experience — ideally in autonomous driving, robotics, or computer vision.
• Deep understanding of 2D/3D computer vision, semantic segmentation, and deep learning architectures.
• Exceptional programming skills in modern C++ and Python.
• Hands‑on experience with modern deep learning frameworks like JAX or PyTorch.
• Proven track record of deploying real‑time machine learning models on resource‑constrained embedded systems or on‑bot hardware.

Bonus Qualifications

• Prior experience dealing with highway autonomous driving scenarios and their specific mapping/perception challenges.
• Familiarity with state‑of‑the‑art, BEV, Sparse Transformer architectures and Vision‑Language Models (VLMs).
• Strong publication record in top AI conferences or journals (e.g., CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, ICML, NeurIPS).

Base Salary Range

There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. A sign‑on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. The listed range applies only to the base salary. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate’s relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is considering for this position.

$189,000 - $258,000 a year

Benefits

• paid time off (e.g. sick leave, vacation, bereavement)
• unpaid time off
• Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights
• Amazon RSUs
• health insurance
• long-term care insurance
• long-term and short-term disability insurance
• life insurance

About Zoox

Zoox is developing the first ground‑up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility‑as‑a‑service in urban environments. We’re looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution‑oriented team.

Accommodations

If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [e-mail] or your assigned recruiter.

A Final Note:

You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.