> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/589546-senior-machine-learning-engineer-perception-llm-vlm](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/589546-senior-machine-learning-engineer-perception-llm-vlm). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Perception LLM/VLM - **Company:** Waymo LLC - **Location:** San Francisco, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $204,000.0 - $259,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Computer Vision, Big Data, Computer Programming, Python (Programming Language), Machine Learning, Language Modeling, Motion Planning, Tensorflow, Data Streaming, Pytorch, Large Language Models, Deep Learning, Information Technology - **Published:** June 19, 2026 - **Apply:** https://diversityjobs.com/career/15228092/Senior-Machine-Learning-Engineer-Perception-Llm-Vlm-California-San-Francisco ## About the Role * 5+ years of experience in Machine Learning, with a focus on large-scale model development (LLM, VLM, or similar foundation models). * Proven expertise in LLM/VLM pre-training, continual learning with large scale datasets. * Strong coding proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks (e.g., Jax, TensorFlow, PyTorch). * Hands-on experience with model training, evaluation, and deployment in a production environment. * Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. We prefer: * Experience in fine-tuning foundation models for autonomous driving or robotics applications * Familiarity with large-scale data curation and quality assurance processes for multimodal datasets. * Background in autonomous vehicle perception, motion planning, or decision-making systems. * Publications in top-tier machine learning or computer vision conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR, ICCV, ECCV). * PhD in a relevant field. 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. ## Description * Design, implement, and optimize large-scale continual pre-training pipelines for cutting-edge VLM foundation models. * Conduct research and development on novel pre-training techniques, focusing on efficiently integrating new, diverse, and multimodal data streams (e.g., visual data from different sensors) into existing models. * Develop and rigorously evaluate metrics and methodologies for measuring the performance, and transferability of continually pre-trained foundation models in the context of autonomous driving. * Stay current with the latest advancements in large language models, vision-language models, and continual learning, and translate relevant research into production-ready systems. ## Related Videos - [Alibaba Big Data and Machine Learning Technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/37-alibaba-big-data-and-machine-learning-technology) - [Photonic Computing: Programming a New Class of AI Accelerators (incl. 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