Staff Machine Learning Engineer,Perception

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Rx insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

Rivian in Palo Alto is seeking a member of the Perception team to develop machine learning algorithms impacting self-driving features. Responsibilities include the full lifecycle of projects, from design to maintenance.

The ideal candidate will hold a relevant degree and have substantial experience in ML and software engineering, with strong Python and C++ skills. The salary range for this position is $228,000 - $285,000, along with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience building and deploying large-scale ML systems.
• Deep understanding of foundation models and self-supervised learning.
• Experience training and evaluating transformer models.

Responsibilities

• Be independently responsible for the lifecycle of projects and features.
• Develop production-ready software for vehicles and cloud.
• Work with the team to ensure perception outputs enhance customer experience.

Skills

Machine learning

Python

C++

Software engineering

Robotics

Education

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

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

In this role you will be a member of the Perception team at Rivian, which develops machine learning algorithms that directly impact safety critical self‑driving features for the Rivian Autonomy Platform. You will be responsible for design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance of onboard Perception functionality.

Responsibilities

• Be independently responsible for the entire lifecycle of projects or features including engineering design, development, deployment, testing and maintenance.
• Develop production ready software to run on our vehicles and in the cloud.
• Develop perception capabilities using tools from machine learning, state estimation, and robotics.
• Develop tools and processes to evaluate and measure the performance of the perception system.
• Work with the broader team to ensure that our Perception outputs are integrated to deliver a great experience to customers.

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience building and deploying large‑scale ML systems
• Deep understanding of foundation models, self‑supervised learning, and world models in robotics or simulation
• Strong software engineering background, with fluency in Python and C++
• Experience training and evaluating transformer models or end‑to‑end autonomous agents
• Familiarity with real‑time inference systems and autonomous vehicle constraints
• Proven leadership in driving ML projects from research to production

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 covers most of the premium.

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.