Waymo PhD Research Internship is a 2027 internship opportunity for PhD students to work on research and training projects within Waymo’s AI Foundations team. The Waymo PhD Internship role focuses on defining research goals, setting up datasets and training code, analyzing results, and iterating experiments to improve model performance.
The internship is offered by Waymo, an autonomous driving technology company that develops the Waymo Driver and partners with research teams across Alphabet. Waymo describes its interns as important contributors and part of its recruiting pipeline, offering a hybrid onsite internship with company benefits and hourly PhD pay.
Waymo PhD Research Internship Benefits
- The advertised compensation is US$85 per hour for this full-time internship. Eligible interns may also participate in Waymo’s benefits programmes, subject to the applicable eligibility conditions.
- Benefits that may include medical, dental and vision insurance, mental wellness support, wellness programmes, and other financial and employee benefits.
- The position is hybrid and onsite, so applicants should consider the practical costs of working in California, including accommodation, transportation and other living expenses
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Waymo PhD Research Internship Eligibility Criteria
- Be currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Machine Learning or a related quantitative field.
- Understand pre-training and post-training techniques for large foundation models.
- Have practical experience training modern artificial intelligence models.
- Demonstrate strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret experimental results.
- Be able to formulate testable hypotheses based on research findings.
- Write reliable, correct software with limited supervision.
Preferred Qualifications
- A strong research background in robotics or self-driving cars.
- Familiarity with modern AI infrastructure and tools, including PyTorch and JAX.
- Experience working in computing clusters or server environments.
- A strong research record, including publications in leading academic conferences.
How to Apply for Waymo PhD Research Internship?
- Apply now (link on the job page anchors to the application section)
- We will accept resumes on a rolling basis until the role is filled
- To be in consideration for multiple roles, apply to each one individually and apply to the top 3 roles you are interested in
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Waymo PhD Research Internship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, pay, application process, and other details published on the official job page.
What is the Waymo PhD Research Internship role about?
The Waymo PhD Internship is a research-focused internship within the AI Foundations team. Interns define research goals, set up datasets and training code, analyze results, and iterate experiments to improve model performance. The role involves writing clear documentation and incorporating team feedback to adjust experiments and research directions, as described on the official job page.
Who is eligible to apply for this Waymo PhD Research Internship?
Candidates currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Machine Learning, or a related quantitative field are eligible. The job description also lists knowledge of pre-training and post-training of large foundation models, hands-on AI model training experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to write correct software with minimal guidance.
Is this internship onsite or remote?
The job listing indicates the position is On Site and notes that it will be a hybrid onsite internship. Locations listed include Mountain View, California and San Francisco, California. The posting specifies hybrid onsite expectations rather than fully remote arrangements.
What compensation is provided for PhD interns?
The official page lists an expected hourly PhD pay of $85—$85 USD. It also states that interns are eligible to participate in the Company’s generous benefits programs, subject to eligibility requirements. Specific benefit details are summarized on the job page under benefits sections.
What kind of benefits does Waymo offer interns?
Waymo’s benefits highlighted on the page include health and wellness (medical, dental, vision, mental wellness support), financial wellness (competitive compensation, bonus opportunities, equity, employee discounts), flexibility and time off, enhanced family leave options, community and personal development (education reimbursement, mentorship), and access to Google offices and other perks.
How and when should I apply?
The job page features an ‘Apply now’ button that anchors to the application section. Resumes are accepted on a rolling basis until the role is filled. To be considered for multiple roles, applicants must apply to each role individually and are encouraged to apply to their top three roles of interest.
Does Waymo prefer any additional qualifications?
Waymo lists preferences such as a solid research background in robotics or self-driving cars, familiarity with AI infrastructure and tooling like PyTorch and JAX, comfort working in cluster/server environments, and a strong research track record including publications in top conferences.
Will interns collaborate with other teams?
Yes. The AI Foundations team description states they initiate and foster collaborations with other research teams in Alphabet. Interns partner with industry leaders on projects that create company impact and may collaborate across teams as part of research initiatives.
Are there instructions for applicants needing accommodations?
The job posting states Waymo is committed to accessible hiring. Applicants needing assistance applying or participating in interviews due to a disability should contact the recruiting team or email waymo-candidatesupport@google.com. The email is intended only for requesting application accommodations.
Is the application deadline fixed?
The page indicates that Waymo will accept resumes on a rolling basis until the role is filled and does not list a specific deadline date. Applicants should submit applications as early as possible since selection occurs on a rolling basis.
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