Sr. Staff ML Engineer, Model Pre-training, Autonomy

Watershed Ventures; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 265,000 - 331,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian seeks a Sr. Staff Machine Learning Engineer to lead pretraining efforts for its Large Driving Model, building the foundation layer for self-driving through scalable models and distributed training systems.

You will guide objectives across camera, LiDAR, radar, maps, and vehicle-state inputs, partnering with cross-functional teams to translate pretraining progress into real autonomy outcomes.

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience building large-scale ML systems.
• Strong experience training large neural networks with distributed training frameworks.
• Deep understanding of transformers, representation learning, self-supervised learning, or foundation models.
• Strong PyTorch experience, including distributed training, mixed precision, and large-scale training pipelines.
• Strong engineering judgment and ability to lead ambiguous technical efforts from prototype to production impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead pretraining strategy for large-scale autonomy foundation models.
• Develop pretraining objectives for multi-sensor driving data.
• Study scaling trends across model size, data, compute, sensors.
• Build distributed training workflows for large models (FSDP, mixed precision).
• Collaborate with perception, prediction, planning, simulation, data, and ML infra teams.
• Develop evaluations for representation quality and downstream tasks.
• Mentor engineers and lead on architecture, stability, and evaluation.

Skills

Large-scale ML

Distributed training

PyTorch

Transformers

Self-supervised learning

Foundation models

Model pretraining

Distributed training frameworks

FSDP

Mixed precision

Education

B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Science, ML, Robotics, or related field

Tools

FSDP

Checkpointing

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

We are seeking a Sr. Staff Machine Learning Engineer to lead model pretraining efforts for our Large Driving Model, an end‑to‑end autonomy model that learns from large‑scale, multi‑sensor driving data. This role is focused on building the foundation model layer for self‑driving: scaling larger models, improving pretraining objectives, understanding scaling laws, and developing the distributed training systems needed to train models across massive real‑world and simulated datasets. This is an ideal role for someone excited by the intersection of large‑scale ML, autonomous driving, multi‑modal representation learning, and high‑performance distributed training.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical strategy for pretraining large‑scale autonomy foundation models.


• Develop pretraining objectives for multi‑sensor driving data, including camera, LiDAR, radar, maps, route, and vehicle‑state inputs.


• Study scaling trends across model size, data scale, compute, sensor mix, and downstream autonomy performance.


• Build and improve distributed training workflows for large models, including FSDP, mixed precision, checkpointing, and training performance optimization.


• Partner with perception, prediction, planning, simulation, data, and ML infrastructure teams to connect pretraining progress to real autonomy outcomes.


• Develop evaluations that measure representation quality, downstream task performance, and closed‑loop behavior.


• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership on model architecture, training stability, scaling, and evaluation.

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a related field.


• 8+ years of experience building large‑scale ML systems.


• Strong experience training large neural networks with distributed training frameworks.


• Deep understanding of transformers, representation learning, self‑supervised learning, or foundation models.


• Strong PyTorch experience, including distributed training, mixed precision, and large‑scale training pipelines.


• Strong engineering judgment and ability to lead ambiguous technical efforts from prototype to production impact.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $265,000 - $331,000 for California based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs. The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full‑time and part‑time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short‑term disability insurance, and long‑term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full‑time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part‑time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.

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) record‑keeping; (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.