2027 Summer Intern, MS/PhD, Software/ML Engineer, Simulation

Waymo
Mountain View, CA
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Geared toward early-stage researchers or engineers comfortable with building multimodal data pipelines and working with simulation environments, this role is based in Mountain View, California and involves hybrid work arrangements.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with advanced degrees in technical fields and a background in data pipeline development
    — “Currently pursuing a MS or PhD in a quantitative or technical field”
  • Individuals experienced in vision-language models and sensor data integration
    — “Experience with computer vision, Vision-Language Models (VLMs), or prompt engineering”
  • Those who can navigate complex datasets and contribute to simulation testing frameworks
    — “Experience working with large-scale datasets or distributed data pipelines”

Things to consider

  • The role requires hybrid onsite work, which may involve in-office time in Mountain View
    — “This will be a hybrid onsite internship position”
  • Applicants must apply separately to multiple roles if they wish to be considered for them
    — “To be in consideration for multiple roles, you will need to apply to each one individually”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with 3D geometry and sensor data processing in your resume and interview
    — “Familiarity with 3D geometry, coordinate transforms, or sensor data processing”
  • Demonstrate your ability to prototype and iterate on VLM workflows in your application materials
    — “Prototype and iterate on Vision-Language Model (VLM) workflows”
  • Showcase your skills in building and optimizing data pipelines with Python or C++
    — “Design and build multimodal data pipelines in Python or C++”
  • Emphasize your ability to create ground-truth datasets and evaluate model performance
    — “Build ground-truth evaluation datasets, measure model precision and recall”
  • Demonstrate your capability to integrate automated labeling pipelines into testing frameworks
    — “Integrate automated labeling pipelines into data storage and simulation testing workflows”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Design and build multimodal data pipelines
  • Prototype and iterate on Vision-Language Model workflows
  • Build ground-truth evaluation datasets
  • Integrate automated labeling pipelines
Typical background
MS or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Machine Learning

Skills & requirements

Required

PythonC++Data AnalysisSQLBasic Statistics

Preferred

Computer VisionVision-language ModelsPrompt Engineering3D GeometryCoordinate TransformsSensor Data ProcessingLarge-scale DatasetsDistributed Data Pipelines

Stack & domain

PythonC++Data AnalysisSQLBasic StatisticsComputer VisionVision-language Models (vlms)Prompt Engineering3D GeometryCoordinate TransformsSensor Data ProcessingLarge-scale DatasetsDistributed Data PipelinesAutonomous Driving

About the role

Original posting from Waymo

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver—The World's Most Experienced Driver™—to improve access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo’s fully autonomous ride-hail service and can also be applied to a range of vehicle platforms and product use cases. The Waymo Driver has provided over ten million rider-only trips, enabled by its experience autonomously driving over 100 million miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 15+ U.S. states.

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 interns partner with leaders in the industry on projects that create impact to the company. We believe learning is a two-way street: applying your knowledge while providing you with opportunities to expand your skill-set. Interns are an important part of our culture and our recruiting pipeline. Join us at Waymo for a fun and rewarding internship!

You will:

Design and build multimodal data pipelines in Python or C++ that combine vehicle sensor data (camera, LiDAR) and 3D map data for machine learning models

Prototype and iterate on Vision-Language Model (VLM) workflows to automatically detect and categorize complex real-world driving scenarios and road changes

Build ground-truth evaluation datasets, measure model precision and recall, and systematically improve detection accuracy

Integrate automated labeling pipelines into data storage and simulation testing workflows

You have:

Currently pursuing a MS or PhD in a quantitative or technical field (such as Computer Science, Robotics, Machine Learning, or a related area)

Strong programming skills in Python or C++

Experience with data analysis, SQL, and basic statistics

We prefer:

Experience with computer vision, Vision-Language Models (VLMs), or prompt engineering

Familiarity with 3D geometry, coordinate transforms, or sensor data processing

Experience working with large-scale datasets or distributed data pipelines

General Perks

Help solve challenging problems with a direct impact on the company

Competitive compensation packages with a housing/relocation bonus (if applicable)

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Fun intern events and networking opportunities

Onsite Perks 

Free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks 

Free access to Google shuttles

Onsite gym

Note: This will be a hybrid onsite internship position. We will accept resumes on a rolling basis until the role is filled. To be in consideration for multiple roles, you will need to apply to each one individually - please apply to the top 3 roles you are interested in.

The expected hourly rate for this full-time position is listed below. Interns are also eligible to participate in the Company’s generous benefits programs, subject to eligibility requirements.Hourly Masters Pay$70—$70 USDThe expected hourly rate for this full-time position is listed below. Interns are also eligible to participate in the Company’s generous benefits programs, subject to eligibility requirements.Hourly PhD Pay$85—$85 USD

Source: Waymo careers

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