Senior/Staff Engineer, Machine Learning

About the role

Nuro is transitioning its focus toward licensing autonomous driving software for robotaxis and consumer vehicles. We are seeking an experienced engineer to help build and refine the Nuro Driver and Nuro Toolkit systems. You will contribute to the core technology that enables safe, self-driving capabilities across diverse vehicle platforms. In this capacity, you will own the design and execution of machine learning workflows that underpin the perception and planning stacks. Your work will directly influence how third-party manufacturers integrate autonomy into their production vehicles. You will be responsible for translating high-level product requirements into robust software components that meet stringent safety standards. This role requires a proactive approach to debugging model behavior and ensuring system reliability in complex driving scenarios. You will play a key part in defining the technical direction for scalable autonomy solutions beyond our own fleet.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect and implement machine learning pipelines that process high-dimensional sensor data for training and inference.
• Optimize neural network architectures to meet latency and accuracy targets for real-time autonomous driving applications.
• Instrument the Nuro Driver stack with advanced analytics to diagnose model performance in simulation and on-road testing.
• Partner with simulation engineers to create synthetic data scenarios that expose edge cases in driving behavior.
• Refactor legacy code within the Nuro Toolkit to support modular integration with external vehicle control systems.
• Lead code reviews and technical design sessions to ensure alignment with software best practices for safety-critical systems.
• Quantify the impact of model updates on fleet-wide safety metrics and driving policy compliance.
• Collaborate with hardware teams to characterize sensor performance and its interaction with machine learning algorithms.
• Develop tooling that automates the validation of model outputs against regulatory and operational requirements.
• Guide junior engineers in the implementation of robust machine learning features within the autonomous stack.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience deploying machine learning models in production automotive or robotics environments.
• Expertise in designing software systems that operate reliably under the constraints of real-world driving conditions.
• Strong proficiency in the software development lifecycle, including version control, testing, and continuous integration.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearances for access to sensitive project data.
• Willingness to adhere to Nuro's strict coding standards and documentation protocols for safety-critical modules.
• Compliance with all applicable vehicle safety regulations and internal quality assurance processes.
• Capability to work independently and make sound technical decisions with minimal direct supervision.
• Commitment to following established procedures for incident response and postmortem analysis.

Skills & tools

• Hands-on experience with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch for model development.
• Deep understanding of autonomous driving software architecture, including perception, prediction, and planning layers.
• Familiarity with the Nuro Driver and Nuro Toolkit codebases and associated development workflows.
• Proficiency in scripting languages used for data processing and automation within the engineering pipeline.
• Knowledge of simulation platforms and data logging tools used to validate autonomous system behavior.
• Experience with version control systems and collaborative engineering practices.
• Understanding of sensor suites including cameras, lidar, and radar as they relate to machine learning inputs.

Nice to have

• Preference for candidates who have contributed to large-scale data processing systems for training autonomous vehicle models.
• Experience with model optimization techniques such as quantization, pruning, or distillation for embedded deployment.
• Background in defining software interfaces that enable third-party integration of autonomous driving stacks.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks governing autonomous vehicles in North American markets.

Practical notes

• By submitting your application, you confirm your agreement with the Nuro Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
• This position is based in Mountain View, California, and requires physical presence at the headquarters office.
• Full-time engagement is required, and the position does not offer remote or hybrid work arrangements.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for this role at this time.
• No relocation assistance or visa sponsorship is provided for this position.
• The listed location and engagement terms are mandatory and non-negotiable aspects of the job description.
• Applications must be submitted in accordance with the timeline posted on the Nuro careers page, which is subject to change without notice.