Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Perception - Autonomous Driving

NVIDIA is hiring a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Perception - Autonomous Driving in Santa Clara, United States. It pays $184k-$288k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on NVIDIA.

Level's read on this job

Level rates this machine learning engineer role Builds AI ●●●●: the job is building AI systems.
The posting mentions PyTorch and computer vision among its tools and skills.
Level classes it as a senior role.
NVIDIA has 2,800+ other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

PyTorch

computer-vision

Intelligent machines powered by Artificial Intelligence computers that can learn, reason and interact with people are no longer science fiction. GPU Deep Learning has provided the foundation for machines to learn, perceive, reason and solve problems. Now, NVIDIA’s GPU runs Deep Learning algorithms, simulating human intelligence, and acts as the brain of computers, robots and self-driving cars that can perceive and understand the world.

We are now looking for an extraordinary Senior Perception Engineer to develop and productize NVIDIA’s autonomous driving solutions. As a member of our perception team, you will be driving E2E solutions for perception modules that are responsible for traffic signal understanding — including traffic lights, traffic signs, road markings, construction objects, and other traffic signals critical for driving without reliance on HD maps. You will be challenged to improve robustness and accuracy as well as efficiency of the solutions to fully enable autonomous driving anywhere and anytime.

What You’ll Be Doing:

Designing end2end solutions for Perception and AV stack to enable traffic signal detections across various driving environments from complex intersections to rural roads to highways.
Applied research and development of innovative deep learning models for traffic light detection, traffic sign recognition, road marking detection, construction object detection, text recognition, and other traffic signal tasks.
Develop generalizable approaches to support diverse ODDs and Country/region expansion
Drive and prioritize data-driven development by working with large data collection and labeling teams to bring in high value data to improve perception system accuracy. Efforts will include data collection prioritization and planning, labeling prioritization, labeling efficiency optimization, so that value of data is maximized
Leverage data simulation and augmentation for solving extreme scenarios
Productize the developed perception solutions by meeting product requirements for safety, latency, and SW robustness.

What We Need to See:

Minimum Requirement: PhD with 4+ years, MS with 6+ years, or BS (or equivalent experience) with 8+ years of relevant experience in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
2+ years of technical leadership demonstrating high technical and organizational complexity is a big plus.
Hands-on work experience in developing deep learning and algorithms to solve sophisticated real world problems, and proficiency in using deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch).
Experience in data-driven development and collaboration with data and ground truth teams.
Strong programming skills in python and/or C++.
Outstanding communication and teamwork skills as we work as a tightly-knit team, always discussing and learning from each other.

Ways to Stand Out from the Crowd:

Proven expertise in developing generalizable perception solutions for autonomous driving or robotics using deep learning with cameras.
Hands-on experience in developing and deploying DNN-based solutions to embedded platforms for real time applications.
Proven expertise in deep learning backed up by technical publications in leading conferences/journals.
Expertise with Visual Language Models, Transformers, BEV architectures, and modern traffic signal perception techniques. Experience in working on complex object detection and recognition problems is a big plus.

Intelligent machines powered by AI are no longer science fiction. GPU Deep Learning has made it possible for self-driving cars to learn, perceive, and reason about the world. NVIDIA GPUs power the algorithms that enable both traffic element understanding and scalable perception across global road systems. Join us and help define the future of reliable, data-driven autonomous driving.

#AutonomousVehicles

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and other objective job-related factors. The expected base salary ranges for this position are:
184,000 USD – 287,500 USD for Level 4; and 224,000 USD – 356,500 USD for Level 5.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until November 3, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

How we rate this

Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Perception - Autonomous Driving at NVIDIA rates 96 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Builds AI (AI Level 4 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Perception - Autonomous Driving is an open job at NVIDIA.
Level rates this role AI Level 4 of 4: Builds AI.
The listed salary is $184k-$288k a year.
The role is based in US, CA, Santa Clara.
The job was posted on September 21, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
Applications are handled by NVIDIA. Apply on NVIDIA

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Computer visionPyTorch

Also common in machine learning engineer jobs at this level

LLM TensorFlow AWS Generative AI Spark Kubernetes

Pay

This job starts at: $184k
Typical machine learning engineer job: $197k

This posting starts 7% below the typical machine learning engineer job. See machine learning engineer jobs

Questions you could be asked

Walk me through a computer vision problem you solved, from raw data to a deployed model.
Walk me through how you've used PyTorch in your day-to-day work.
How would you decide a model or AI system is ready to ship?
Tell me about a time a model underperformed in production. How did you find out, and what did you change?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Computer vision and PyTorch. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
Lead with what you built, trained or shipped. This role is judged on the AI system itself, not the tools around it.

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