Principal Engineer, Data & ML Infrastructure

Principal Engineer, Data & ML Infrastructure

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Principal Engineer, Technical Lead to lead our large-scale AI model and software evaluation framework – Ground Truth Regression. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in data engineering, machine learning principles and leadership, with experience in developing and deploying advanced data analysis and large scale orchestration frameworks.

At Motional, large‑scale orchestration for data analysis plays a critical role in delivering our ML‑centered autonomous driving vehicle. Our robotaxi ML models and software are developed by hundreds of developers and deployed multiple times a day – The Ground Truth Regression team provides the large‑scale perception analysis framework for validating all changes to perception that can impact autonomous vehicle behavior.

The GT Regression team validates the end impact of ML and software changes to the autonomous vehicle while those changes are in development, providing the tools for root‑cause analysis and safety consideration. We monitor for model errors, anomalies, rare objects and long‑tail driving scenarios across thousands of driving hours. The team develops the full stack – AWS Kubernetes orchestration framework, Re‑Simulation, model metrics, regression reports, and deep‑dive analysis UI’s – and works together with all other perception and ML teams to develop metrics and analyze results.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead a team of engineers with a diverse skill set to deliver critical software supporting the development of the autonomous vehicle ML models and software.
• Drive innovation by researching and developing new large‑scale data warehousing and analysis.
• Own large‑scale data analysis workflows that surface unexpected impacts of planned and unplanned changes to the ML models and software.
• Build high‑quality datasets to improve ML products through training & edge‑case validation.
• Provide statistical depth on model performance & generalization through rigorous error and change analysis.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to the team, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Manage project timelines, resources, and deliverables to ensure successful project execution.

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Proven record leading a small diverse dedicated team supporting a large user base.
• Experience in machine learning, data mining, and statistical analysis.
• Proven experience in developing and deploying large‑scale cloud frameworks.
• Strong programming skills in Python.
• Experience with large‑scale data processing and distributed computing technologies.

Bonus Points:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science or a related field.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure.
• Experience with machine learning in the autonomous driving domain.
• Publications or contributions to the AI/ML community.

Salary Range

$175,000 — $234,250 USD

Candidates for certain positions are eligible to participate in Motional’s benefits program. Motional’s benefits include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, 401k with a company match, health saving accounts, life insurance, pet insurance, and more.

Motional AD Inc. is an EOE. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. To comply with Federal Law, we participate in E‑Verify. All newly‑hired employees are queried through this electronic system established by the DHS and the SSA to verify their identity and employment eligibility.