ML Performance Engineer

Key Skills

Agile methodologies, AI Robotic systems, C++, Design, Infrastructure as code, Machine learning techniques, Optimization, Python Programming, Teamwork

Job Description

Software Engineering builds the brains of Waymo's fully autonomous driving technology. Our software allows the Waymo Driver to perceive the world around it, make the right decision for every situation, and deliver people safely to their destinations. We think deeply and solve complex technical challenges in areas like robotics, perception, decision-making and deep learning, while collaborating with hardware and systems engineers. If you’re a software engineer or researcher who’s curious and passionate about Level 4 autonomous driving, we'd like to meet you. 

Waymo's Compute Team is tasked with a critical and exciting mission: We deliver the compute platform responsible for running the fully autonomous vehicle’s software stack. To achieve our mission, we architect and create high-performance custom silicon; we develop system-level compute architectures that push the boundaries of performance, power, and latency; and we collaborate closely with many other teammates to ensure we design and optimize hardware and software for maximum performance. We are a multidisciplinary team seeking curious and talented teammates to work on one of the world’s highest performance automotive compute platforms.

In this role, you'll:

• Collect application/ML model performance traces and analyze for performance optimization opportunities
• Land the optimizations to the application/ML model code base by
• Evaluating the correctness of the change (including retrain the ML model to evaluate accuracy)
• Ensure the change is net-positive for the current onboard performance
• Work with the application teams to adopt or apply the optimizations
• Add proper testing to ensure optimized performance is tracked and not regressed in the future
• Land the optimizations to the infrastructure by
• Prototype the performance optimizations and evaluate its effectiveness on applications/ML models
• Generalize the optimization at the infra level (compiler, firmware, runtime, framework, etc.) and project the potential impact to all applications (ML models) across board
• Motivate the infra teams to land the optimization to the specific level of the stack, set the performance expectation through solid methodology (e.g. roofline) and ensure the infrastructure team is aligned about the expectation
• Once the optimization is landed by the infra teams, close the loop by evaluating the overall performance impact and ensure it’s landed in the expected way

At a minimum we’d like you to have:

• BS degree in Computer Science/Electrical Engineering or equivalent, or equivalent practical experience
• 3+ years of experience writing complex C++ code
• 3+ years of experience writing code in Python
• 1+ years experience in optimizing compute performance for ML applications
• Experience in compute architectures and performance analysis optimization methodologies

It's preferred if you have:

• Experience in ML compiler design and implementation
• Experience in performance tools, simulators, HW/SW codesign
• Experience in robotic application development/optimizations
• Proficiency in collaboration with application teams and infrastructure teams

The expected base salary range for this full-time position across US locations is listed below. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process. 

Waymo employees are also eligible to participate in Waymo’s discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements. 

Salary Range

$187,000—$233,000 USD

While at Waymo, you will enjoy benefits that cover…

Health and wellness: Our people are at the heart of everything we do. At Waymo, you can enjoy top-notch medical, dental and vision insurance, mental wellness support, a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), a Health Saving Account (HSA), on-site physicians and/or nurses in some locations, and special wellness programs.

Financial wellness: Your financial peace of mind is important to us. At Waymo, we offer competitive compensation, bonus opportunities, equity, a generous 401(k) plan or regional retirement plans, 1-on-1 financial coaching, a 529 College Savings Plan and lots of other perks and employee discounts.