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Toyota Research Institute · 5 months ago

Research Scientist, World Models for Autonomous Vehicles

Los Altos, CA

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level

$176K/yr - $264K/yr

Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is dedicated to improving the quality of human life through innovative tools and capabilities in mobility. They are seeking a highly motivated Research Scientist to develop uncertainty-aware world models for autonomous vehicles, focusing on enhancing perception, planning, and decision-making in self-driving systems.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)AutomotiveConsumer ResearchMachine LearningProduct Research

Comp. & Benefits

H1B Sponsor Likely

Responsibilities

Develop and refine world models that improve the understanding of sophisticated and dynamic driving environments

Research and implement deep learning, reinforcement learning, and probabilistic modeling techniques for improved scene representation and prediction

Design algorithms that integrate sensor fusion, temporal reasoning, and uncertainty estimation to improve autonomous vehicle behavior

Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including perception, planning, and simulation engineers, to develop real-time, scalable models for deployment

Conduct experiments, simulations, and real-world validations to assess the effectiveness of world models

Publish research findings in premier conferences and journals and contribute to the AI and robotics research community

Stay up to date with advancements in machine learning, generative modeling, and simulation technologies

Qualification

Probabilistic modelingReinforcement learningDeep learningPythonBayesian inferenceWorld modelsGenerative modelingSensor fusionProblem-solvingTeam collaboration

Required

Ph.D. (or equivalent experience) in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field

Strong background in probabilistic modeling, reinforcement learning, and deep learning architectures (e.g., Transformers, VAEs, Diffusion Models)

Strong understanding of Bayesian inference, state-space models, and uncertainty quantification

Hands-on experience with world models, predictive modeling, or generative modeling in robotics or autonomous systems

Prior experience in publishing research at NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR, ICRA, or similar

Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, JAX)

Experience working with autonomous vehicle datasets, sensor modalities (LiDAR, camera, radar), and simulation environments

Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced team research environment

Benefits

401(k) eligibility

Various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave

Annual cash bonus structure

Company

Toyota Research Institute

Glassdoor4.2

Toyota Research Institute is an R&D enterprise with an initial focus on artificial intelligence and robotics.

Founded in 2016

Palo Alto, California, USA

201-500 employees

http://www.tri.global

H1B Sponsorship

Toyota Research Institute has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)

Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship

Represents job field similar to this job

Trends of Total Sponsorships

2025 (10)

2020 (7)