Ai Research Engineer • Entry-Level

Who you are

You are currently pursuing a Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a related field — your academic background has equipped you with a solid foundation in the principles of perception systems and intelligent environment understanding. You are proficient in Python and/or C++, allowing you to contribute effectively to the development of perception algorithms. Your coursework or project experience in computer vision, machine learning, and data processing has prepared you to tackle real-world challenges in perception.

You have familiarity with popular deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow — this knowledge will enable you to implement and refine perception models effectively. Your experience with image and video processing tools and libraries will be invaluable as you analyze sensor data to improve model accuracy and robustness. You are eager to collaborate with cross-functional teams, understanding the importance of integrating perception outputs into downstream decision-making systems.

Desirable

While not required, experience with 3D perception, point cloud processing, or multi-sensor fusion would be a plus — these skills will enhance your contributions to the team. Exposure to robotics, autonomous systems, or real-time perception pipelines will give you an edge in understanding the complexities of the projects you will work on. Knowledge of evaluation frameworks and datasets will further support your ability to benchmark perception models and propose improvements.

What you'll do

As a Perception Intern, you will assist in building and refining perception algorithms for 3D object detection, tracking, segmentation, and scene understanding. Your role will involve analyzing sensor data, including images, video, lidar, and radar, to enhance model performance. You will support data preprocessing, labeling, augmentation, and validation workflows, ensuring that the data used for training models is of high quality.

You will conduct experiments to benchmark perception models, documenting your findings, tools, and results in clear and reproducible formats. Collaboration will be key as you work with cross-functional teams, including Behaviors, Actions, and Platforms teams, to integrate perception outputs into decision-making systems. Your contributions will directly impact the development of intelligent systems that understand their environment.

What we offer

Motional provides a dynamic internship experience where you can apply your academic knowledge to real-world challenges. You will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals in the field, gaining insights into the latest advancements in perception technology. This internship will not only enhance your technical skills but also provide you with valuable industry experience that can shape your future career.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn't match every requirement — we value diverse perspectives and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all interns. Join us in our mission to develop cutting-edge perception systems that enable intelligent understanding of the environment.