ML Engineer, ML Acceleration and Performance (All Levels)

Watershed; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 228,000 - 285,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a Staff Software Engineer for ML Optimization and Hardware Acceleration in California. You will lead ML optimization for autonomy features, bridging research and embedded deployment on diverse hardware.

Lead efforts on Transformer/LLM/VLM/LDM models, apply PTQ/QAT and kernel fusion, and collaborate with hardware teams to maximize throughput on Rivian's embedded platforms while maintaining safety and efficiency.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in CS/EE or related field with >3 years DL/heterogeneous computing experience.
• Deep understanding of modern model architectures including Transformers, LLMs, VLMs and LDMs.
• Experience with model compression: distillation, pruning, PTQ/QAT.
• In-depth GPU architecture knowledge and hardware-aware optimization skills.
• Proficiency in Python and PyTorch or TensorFlow; familiarity with CUDA; experience with inference engines (TensorRT, ONNX).

Responsibilities

• Model optimization and deployment of ultra-low latency DL/ML for Rivian ADAS and Autonomy use cases.
• Hardware-aware optimization: PTQ, QAT, kernel fusion, and distillation for embedded platforms.
• Profiling with Torch Profiler and NVIDIA Nsight to identify bottlenecks across iterations.
• Collaborate with software and hardware teams to optimize models on embedded platforms with tight compute/memory constraints.
• Apply deep GPU architecture knowledge to optimize models across diverse hardware targets.
• Build automated pipelines for regular model profiling across architectures to improve system-wide insight.

Skills

Transformers

LLMs

VLMs

LDMs

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

CUDA

Torch Profiler

NVIDIA Nsight

Education

MS or PhD in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering

Tools

TensorRT

AIMET

ONNX runtimes

CUDA kernels

Job description

About Rivian

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions‑free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.

As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

Role Summary

As a Staff Software Engineer for ML Optimization and Hardware Acceleration, you will be a lead member of the Autonomy team at Rivian. You will develop and optimize advanced machine learning algorithms that directly impact the safety‑critical self‑driving features of our category‑defining vehicles. This role focuses on the intersection of cutting‑edge model architectures including Transformers, LLMs, VLMs, LDMs and high‑performance hardware execution. You will bridge the gap between theoretical ML research and real‑time embedded deployment, ensuring our autonomy stack remains both state‑of‑the‑art and ultra‑efficient.

Responsibilities

• Model Optimization: Develop and deploy ultra‑low latency Deep Learning and Machine Learning algorithms specifically tailored for Rivian ADAS and Autonomy use cases.
• Hardware‑Aware Design: Research and implement hardware‑aware optimization strategies, including Post‑Training Quantization (PTQ), Quantization‑Aware Training (QAT), kernel fusion, and model distillation to maximize throughput on embedded platforms.
• Performance Profiling: Utilize and automate deep‑dive profiling tools (e.g., Torch Profile, NVIDIA Nsight) to identify bottlenecks and ensure performance consistency across weekly evaluation runs.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner with low‑level software and hardware architecture teams to characterize in‑house ML models on embedded platforms, optimizing them within strict compute and memory constraints.
• Architectural Reasoning: Apply a deep understanding of GPU architectures to optimize models across significantly different hardware targets, ensuring scalability across the Rivian fleet.
• Workflow and Infrastructure Engineering: Design and build automated pipelines for regular model profiling across diverse architectures to enhance organization‑wide insight into execution bottlenecks.

Qualifications

• Education/Experience: MS (+3 years of experience in deep learning, heterogeneous computing, and ML accelerators) or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Core ML Expertise: Deep understanding of modern model architectures, including Transformers, LLMs, VLMs and LDMs.
• Optimization Skills: Proven experience in model compression techniques: knowledge distillation, pruning, and quantization (PTQ/QAT).
• Hardware Knowledge: In‑depth understanding of GPU architecture and the ability to optimize for diverse hardware specifications.
• Technical Toolset:
  • Proficiency in Python and deep knowledge of PyTorch or TensorFlow.
  • Hands‑on experience with TensorRT, AIMET, ONNX runtimes.
  • Experience with low‑level programming (CUDA kernels, C++, or BLAS subroutines) for inference logic.
  • Experience with profiling tools like torch profiler and nvidia nsight.
• Leadership: Strong team player with excellent communication skills to drive complex, cross‑functional efforts in a fast‑paced environment.

How to distinguish yourself

• A strong track record of publications in top‑tier venues such as MLSys, ICML, NeurIPS, or ISCA.
• Significant and direct industry experience in a related domain.
• Active participation and contributions to relevant open‑source projects.
• Public demonstrations of expertise, including technical talks, presentations, or live demos.

Pay Disclosure

Salary Range for California Based Applicants: $228,000 - $285,000 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full‑time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, and Rivian overs most of the premiums.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [e-mail].

Candidate Data Privacy and Technology

Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

AI does not make hiring decisions: Qualified candidate applications are reviewed by a member of our team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans. We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.