Researcher 1

Nissan•Santa Clara, CA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are currently seeking a Researcher I to join our Autonomous Systems team. In this role, you will help develop and evaluate next-generation perception algorithms that enable safe, predictable, and human-like autonomous vehicle behavior. Working at the intersection of machine learning, robotics, and computer vision, you will contribute to cutting-edge research focused on road user detection, road structure estimation, and perception system performance in both simulated and real-world driving environments. If you're excited about solving complex technical challenges and helping shape the future of autonomous driving, we'd love to hear from you.

Requirements

Bachelors Degree with a minimum of 5 years relevant experience or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Robotics, or a related technical field with 0-2 years of relevant experience.
Strong foundation in machine learning, robotics, optimization, controls, computer vision, autonomous systems, or related disciplines.
Demonstrated research experience through thesis work, academic projects, internships, or equivalent activities involving literature review, experimental design, implementation, and technical evaluation.
Strong programming skills in Python and C++.
Experience designing, training, and evaluating machine learning models.
Ability to communicate technical findings and research results effectively.

Nice To Haves

Experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
Experience working with perception systems for autonomous vehicles, robotics, or intelligent transportation systems.
Knowledge of sensor fusion, scene understanding, object detection, tracking, or road structure estimation.
Experience evaluating machine learning models in simulation and real-world environments.
Experience authoring technical papers, patents, conference publications, or research reports.
Familiarity with autonomous driving technology stacks and modern perception architectures.

Responsibilities

Design and execute perception research projects focused on road user detection, scene understanding, and road structure estimation.
Train, evaluate, and optimize machine learning models using appropriate datasets and modern deep learning techniques.
Conduct rigorous testing and validation in simulation environments and real-world vehicle testing scenarios.
Analyze model performance, investigate failure modes, and identify opportunities for improvement.
Develop maintainable research software and experimental frameworks using Python and C++.
Collaborate with researchers and engineers across autonomous systems, software, and vehicle development teams.
Present technical findings, research results, and recommendations to project stakeholders.
Contribute to technical publications, patents, conference papers, and other innovation initiatives.
Document experimental results and provide regular updates to support project planning and execution.