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Senior Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Role Summary:

The Center of Excellence within the ADMT LLC focuses on applied research and pre-development with the goal to evaluate and/or develop and transfer innovative technology from industries and research institutions into the autonomous driving domain for technology/supplier decisions and to build the strategic base for a further development of a VW Group owned vertical integrated AD-stack. This specific role has the main focus areas:

• To know and understand the future of AI and to derive requirements on sensor technologies and compute architectures / technologies
• To develop reference processes, methods and tools need to enable, scale and industrialize MaaS/TaaS applications
• To implement those and define KPI to evaluate and benchmark these enablers for autonomous driving
• To conduct benchmarks and assessments
• To collaborate with internal and external partners

Role Responsibilities:

Software Development and Testing

• Maintains, as well as furthers, and enhances existing machine learning modules for autonomous vehicles, not necessarily the software stack for driving but methods around industrialization of MaaS/TaaS and with that to increase availability of service.
• Designs and implements new machine learning based approaches based on existing frameworks
• Keeps up to speed with the state of the art of academic research and technology in the industry
• Tests developed modules in the prototype vehicle (unit tests, integration tests, in-vehicle/field tests, etc.)
• Analyzes and evaluates conducted tests
• Presents project/progress reports and presentations to top management, mentors, partners, and project affiliates
• Transfers technologies and solutions to ADMT GmbH, CARIAD
• Manages and coordinates the tech scouting process

Network Development

• Expands research network between ADMT LLC and local entities
• Initiates and implements partnerships with external partners (companies, research institutions, universities) within Silicon Valley and US
• Transfers project outcomes to internal Volkswagen Group partners (ADMT GmbH, CARIAD)
• Communicates regularly and influences partners in Germany

Strategic Management

• Secures intellectual property

Years of Relevant Experience:

• 7+ years post-grad professional work experience

Required Education:

• Master’s degree in computer science or equivalent
• PhD strongly preferred

Skills:

• Strong technical background of different machine learning algorithms
• Strong project management and business development skills
• Communication & documentation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Analytical skills
• Conceptual thinking skills
• Integration - joining people, processes or systems
• Excellent verbal and writing skills
• Detailed knowledge of autonomous driving and software technologies
• Strong attention to detail

Required Specialized Skills

• Should have experience with algorithm development for Autonomous Driving tasks including Perception, Sensor Fusion, Motion Prediction, Path Planning, End-to-End Driving, Simulation, V2X Software and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies & technical skills
• Background in Deep Neural Network Learning, Computer Vision and Machine Learning
• Strong programming skills with Python and TensorFlow/Pytorch PyTorch on on-premises compute and public clouds (e.g. AWS), Knowledge of generating features from sensor technology like camera, lidar, radar, GPS/ D-GPS and HD maps
• Experience with data gathering, data quality, system architecture, coding best practices
• Take initiative to launch projects with the ability to quickly learn and develop own ideas in an interdisciplinary environment
• Extracting high level logical structure from low level, multi-dimensional data
• Experience with different types of Neural Networks such as Transformers, CNNs, RNNLLMs, LSTMs, GNNs,
• Experience with different ML paradigms such as supervised/unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, self-supervised learning, and imitation learning paradigms and the latest research trends
• Specification/Documentation of interfaces between software modules.
• Programming languages/tools as Python, C++, Python, LaTex, Bash, Cmake, Git, Linux, familiar with data structures and algorithms, machine learning and math
• Knowledge in using open-source libraries: OpenCV, OpenGL, TensorRT, Open3D, CUDA, Open3D, PCL
• Project Management & leadership
• Experience running one or more projects simultaneously.
• Project managing tasks - manage timelines, budgets, resource planning, risk etc.
• Effective at communicating with teams across cultures and in different times zones

Desired Specialized Skills

• Experience with current state-of-the-art technologies such as Vision-Language Models, Neural Radiance Fields, Embodied AI, Deep Sensor Fusion, Generative AI
• Experience with AI/ML compute optimization techniques such as quantization, knowledge distillation, compilation, sparse computing
• Experience in programming concepts: Data filters/pipelines, multi-threading, programming for various types of SoC, real-time systems
• Experience in a regulated industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical devices etc.
• Experience in one or more of the following technical areas:
• Compute architectures and technologies
• Sensor technologies
• Robotics
• Broad knowledge of full vehicle interrelationship automotive systems and interfaces between them
• High level of engagement and self-initiative

Work Flexibility:

• Up to 10% international and domestic travel to meet with internal/external partners.
• Travel for internal and external shows for communication of project progress, results, and transfer.
• Regular conference attendance for autonomous driving and especially software technologies.

In Belmont, California, the base salary range for this role is $165000 - $210000, depending on education and experience.

Volkswagen Group of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.

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