Senior Researcher
About The Position
Toyota InfoTech Labs (ITL) is seeking a Senior Researcher in Mountain View, California, to advance artificial intelligence technologies for connected, cooperative, and intelligent mobility systems. The role focuses on research at the intersection of large language models, World Models, multi-agent systems, and connected vehicle technologies. The researcher will help develop scalable AI capabilities for perception, prediction, planning, and decision-making across cloud, edge, and embedded platforms, contributing to Toyota’s long-term vision for intelligent transportation and mobility. Reporting to the Manager of InfoTech Labs Research, the Senior Researcher will translate advanced research into practical innovations. The work includes exploring AI architectures, developing prototypes, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and publishing research that advances the field. Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States without current or future immigration-related employment support or sponsorship from Toyota.
Requirements
- PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related engineering discipline.
- At least 3 years of post-PhD research experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, autonomous systems, or closely related technical domains.
- Demonstrated expertise in machine learning, deep learning, or artificial intelligence, including hands-on application of advanced algorithms to complex research problems.
- Experience in at least two of the following: World Models and predictive modeling; multi-agent systems and agentic AI; reinforcement learning and decision making; knowledge distillation and model compression.
- Strong Python programming experience and experience with modern machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.
- Demonstrated record of publishing research in top-tier conferences or journals such as NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR, or AAAI.
- Willingness to work overtime and after hours, and to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
- Must have the right to work in the United States without requiring Toyota immigration support or sponsorship now or in the future.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, connected vehicle technologies, or intelligent mobility systems.
- Hands-on experience with simulation platforms such as CARLA, Gazebo, SUMO, or ROS.
- Experience working with mobility and autonomous driving datasets such as nuScenes, Waymo, or OpenDV.
- Research experience with foundation models, including large language models, vision-language models, and other large-scale AI architectures.
- Deep expertise in fine-tuning, evaluating, and applying advanced AI models to transportation and mobility challenges.
Responsibilities
- Develop networked World Models that improve cooperative understanding, prediction, and decision-making across connected mobility ecosystems.
- Design and evaluate distributed and collaborative World Model architectures for intelligent interaction among connected agents and systems.
- Optimize AI models for real-time deployment across cloud, edge, and embedded computing environments while balancing performance and resource constraints.
- Research and develop World Model-based model predictive control approaches for planning and control in mobility applications.
- Implement, test, and validate advanced algorithms using large-scale simulations and real-world transportation datasets.
- Create proof-of-concept solutions demonstrating innovative applications for connected and intelligent transportation systems.
- Publish technical findings in leading conferences and journals.
- Generate intellectual property through invention disclosures, patents, and other innovative contributions.
Benefits
- Professional growth and development programs.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Team Member Vehicle Purchase Discount.
- Toyota Team Member Lease Vehicle Program, if applicable.
- Comprehensive health care and wellness plans for the employee’s family.
- Toyota 401(k) Savings Plan with company match and an annual retirement contribution, if applicable.
- Paid holidays and paid time off.
- Referral services related to prenatal services, adoption, childcare, schools, and more.
- Tax-advantaged accounts, including Health Savings Account, Health Care FSA, and Dependent Care FSA.
- Relocation assistance, if applicable.
- A work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
