Staff ML Tech Lead - World Model Evaluation

Waymo; California (MO); On-site; USD 238,000 - 302,000; Full time

Job summary

Waymo is seeking a Staff Tech Lead Manager for the Simulator Evaluation team to scale cutting-edge ML evaluation tooling for World Model understanding. You will translate AI advances into production-ready metrics and frameworks used by engineers across Waymo to ensure safety and performance of the autonomous fleet.

You will lead a top-tier ML team, drive technical direction, and partner with cross-functional teams to deploy solutions into production-critical systems, while fostering rigorous

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Machine Learning, or related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on technical leadership managing 5-10 engineers.
• 7+ years building, deploying, and optimizing ML systems in production.
• Strong Python and/or C++ software engineering proficiency.
• Experience with ML frameworks like PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow.
• Proven ability to design robust evaluation frameworks for complex systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead a top-tier applied ML team focused on building eval frameworks, infrastructure, and AI-powered tooling for World Model understanding and evaluation.
• Drive technical direction, and provide technical inputs and guidance to the team.
• Architect ML-driven metrics and evaluation frameworks that rigorously test World Model quality, automatically surfacing anomalies and edge cases across vast datasets.
• Chart the technical direction for World Model evaluation, working closely with Product and Program managers to translate modeling challenges into clear business objectives.
• Build AI-powered internal tools and products that streamline the model eval journey for users, transforming complex model analysis into intuitive, automated, fast-iteration workflows.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (e.g., Onboard, Research, and other Simulation teams) and senior technical leadership to deploy your team’s solutions into Waymo’s production-critical systems.

Skills

Python

C++

Machine Learning

ML Frameworks

Data Processing

Leadership

Systems deployment

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Robotics/ML

MS/PhD preferred

Tools

PyTorch

JAX

TensorFlow

Job description

Waymo is seeking a Staff Tech Lead Manager for the Simulator Evaluation team to scale cutting-edge ML evaluation tooling for World Model understanding. You will translate AI advances into production-ready metrics and frameworks used by engineers across Waymo to ensure safety and performance of the autonomous fleet.

You will lead a top-tier ML team, drive technical direction, and partner with cross-functional teams to deploy solutions into production-critical systems, while fostering rigorous