Technical Lead Manager, LLM/VLM Foundation Model

Who you are

You have a strong background in machine learning and have led teams in developing advanced AI solutions — your experience includes working with large language models (LLMs) and vision-language models (VLMs) in practical applications. You are skilled in defining strategic visions and can translate complex technical concepts into actionable plans for your team. Your leadership style fosters collaboration and innovation, encouraging your team to push the boundaries of what's possible in autonomous driving technology.

You possess a deep understanding of reinforcement learning, generative modeling, and Bayesian inference — these skills enable you to tackle open problems in autonomous driving effectively. You are familiar with building training and data platforms tailored for specific applications, ensuring that your team has the resources needed to succeed. You thrive in a research-oriented environment and are comfortable initiating collaborations with other teams to enhance project outcomes.

Desirable

Experience with hierarchical learning and robust evaluation methods is a plus, as it aligns with the goals of the Waymo AI Foundations team. You have a track record of delivering state-of-the-art solutions and are passionate about improving the generalization capabilities of AI systems in real-world scenarios.

What you'll do

As the Technical Lead Manager, you will guide a team of scientists and engineers in building cutting-edge LLMs and VLMs specifically for the autonomous driving domain. You will define the vision and strategy for leveraging the latest multimodal technologies to enhance the Waymo Driver's capabilities. Your role will involve overseeing the development of training and data platforms that cater to Waymo's unique requirements, ensuring that your team can effectively implement and iterate on their models.

You will be responsible for setting clear objectives and key results for your team, aligning their efforts with Waymo's mission to improve mobility and safety. You will facilitate regular meetings to track progress, address challenges, and celebrate successes, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Collaboration will be key in this role — you will work closely with other research teams within Alphabet to share insights and leverage collective expertise. Your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly will help bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring that everyone is aligned on project goals and timelines.

What we offer

Waymo offers a competitive salary range of $281,000 to $356,000 USD, along with eligibility for an annual bonus program and equity incentive plan. You will be part of a mission-driven company that is at the forefront of autonomous driving technology, contributing to a safer future for all road users. Our benefits program is generous, designed to support your well-being and professional growth.

Join us at Waymo, where your work will have a direct impact on the future of transportation. We encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn't match every requirement — your unique perspective could be just what we need to drive innovation forward.