Senior / Staff Applied Scientist

Waabi; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation and equity awards

Health and wellness benefits

Unlimited vacation

Flexible hours and work-from-home support

Daily drinks, snacks and catered meals

Regular team-building activities

Job summary

Waabi is seeking a Senior Applied Data Scientist in San Francisco to shape evaluation methodologies for autonomous driving technology. Responsibilities include designing production frameworks, prototyping analyses, and developing analytical models to correlate simulation with real-world outcomes. Candidates should have 6+ years in applied data science and strong skills in Python, SQL, and statistical methods. The role offers a competitive salary range of $146,000 - $280,000 plus benefits like health and wellness coverage, unlimited vacation, and flexible working hours.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6+ years of professional experience in applied data science, advanced analytics, or machine learning.
• Strong command of Python and SQL for data analysis and prototyping.
• Expertise in statistical methods: hypothesis testing, A/B testing, sampling methodologies, and statistical modeling.

Responsibilities

• Design scalable production frameworks for autonomy evaluation.
• Prototype complex analyses, write production‑quality evaluation code, and build sophisticated tools.
• Develop advanced analytical models to correlate simulation performance with real‑world outcomes.

Skills

Applied data science

Machine learning

Statistical methods

Python

SQL

Education

MS/PhD in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, or Robotics

Tools

Statistical software

Job description

Applied Data Scientist – Senior Technical Role

We are looking for a highly experienced Applied Data Scientist to shape evaluation methodologies for autonomous driving technology. This senior technical role sits at the intersection of Evaluation, Systems & Safety, and the Autonomy teams.

Responsibilities

• Design scalable production frameworks for autonomy evaluation, applying statistically rigorous methodologies to ensure comprehensive Operational Design Domain coverage.
• Design and implement methodologies to systematically measure and monitor the performance, fidelity, and reliability of the evaluation infrastructure, ensuring it remains a highly trusted source of truth.
• Prototype complex deep‑dive analyses, write production‑quality evaluation code, and build sophisticated tools and dashboards that synthesize progress for technical and executive leadership.
• Act as a key partner to Safety and Autonomy teams, ensuring automated reporting faithfully captures technical intent and system requirements.
• Develop advanced analytical models to correlate closed‑loop simulation performance with real‑world driving outcomes, quantifying fidelity and predictive power of evaluation metrics.
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert and collaborative partner, elevating the analytical bar through code reviews, methodological guidance, and defining best practices for end‑to‑end data science workflows.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6+ years of professional experience in applied data science, advanced analytics, or machine learning, with a track record of driving end‑to‑end projects.
• MS/PhD or equivalent experience in a highly quantitative field (Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Robotics).
• Strong command of Python and SQL for data analysis and prototyping.
• Expertise in statistical methods: hypothesis testing, A/B testing on complex systems, sampling methodologies, and statistical modeling.
• Experience working with internal cross‑functional partners and stakeholders.
• Open‑minded and collaborative team player who helps others.
• Passionate about self‑driving technologies, solving hard problems, and creating innovative solutions.

Bonus / Nice to Have

• Experience in the Autonomous Vehicle or Robotics industry.
• Familiarity with Systems Verification and Validation.
• Experience with large‑scale databases and analytics.
• Experience with workflow automation/orchestration frameworks.

Salary Range

The US yearly salary range for this role is $146,000 - $280,000 USD in addition to competitive perks & benefits. Waabi (US) Inc.’s yearly salary ranges are determined based on several factors in accordance with the Company’s compensation practices. The salary base range is reflective of the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Note: The Company provides additional compensation for employees in this role, including equity incentive awards and an annual performance bonus.

Perks and Benefits

• Competitive compensation and equity awards.
• Health and wellness benefits covering medical, dental and vision for full‑time employees.
• Unlimited vacation.
• Flexible hours and work‑from‑home support.
• Daily drinks, snacks and catered meals (when in office).
• Regularly scheduled team‑building activities and social events both on‑site, off‑site & virtually.
• As we grow, this list continues to evolve!

Equal Opportunity Employer

Waabi is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a supportive, inclusive, and accessible workplace for all our employees. We seek applicants of all backgrounds and identities, across race, color, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military or veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or parental status, caregiver status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. We make workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please let our recruiting team know.