Latest AI JobsBrowse Jobs
wayve logo

Principal Research Scientist, Robot Foundation Models

wayveSunnyvale, California USAWayve Labs
Apply on company site
Salary
$370,040 – $512,710
Job type
Full-time
Work mode
Remote
Experience
Senior
Posted
2 Oct 2026
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

Principal Research Scientist, Robot Foundation Models is a founding member role at Wayve located in Sunnyvale, California, suiting experienced machine learning researchers interested in building foundation models for general-purpose robots and embodied intelligence. This position focuses on driving 0-to-1 research to create intelligent agents capable of perceiving and manipulating the physical world across diverse robot platforms.

Role Overview

The Principal Research Scientist joins the Multi-Embodiment Generalist Agent team within Wayve Science to establish a new robotics research program. The position requires defining technical strategies, shaping model architectures, and building data flywheels to support multi-embodiment agent deployment on real hardware.

Key Responsibilities

Lead research into architectures, data pipelines, and learning methods for robot foundation models.
Design and evaluate vision-language-action models, world and action models, omni-modal systems, and video generation models.
Explore reinforcement learning, behavioral cloning, and alternative learning techniques for robot policy development.
Synthesize, curate, and filter large-scale video datasets for training and evaluation.
Build and utilize scalable distributed training infrastructure for large models and data.
Collaborate across science, engineering, and robotics teams to connect research insights with real-world robot performance.

Requirements

Deep experience in machine learning with a focus on vision-language models, video models, robot policies, or foundation models for robotics and embodied AI.
Practical experience with scalable, multi-node training involving large datasets and models.
Strong research track record featuring publications in top-tier venues such as ICRA, CoRL, CVPR, NeurIPS, ICML, or ICLR.
Strong coding proficiency and hands-on experience using modern machine learning frameworks.
Ability to drive an independent research agenda while working alongside cross-functional engineering teams.
Experience translating research concepts into functional systems, experiments, or deployed capabilities.

Skills and Tools

Vision-language-action models (VLAs)
World and action models (WAMs)
Omni models and video models
Reinforcement learning and behavioral cloning
Distributed training pipelines
PyTorch

Salary and Benefits

Salary range of $370,040 to $512,710 with offers of equity
Annual market-benchmarked salaries and relocation support with visa sponsorship where applicable
Comprehensive benefits including health insurance, dental, enhanced parental leave, retirement provisions, therapist access, and wellbeing partnerships
Hybrid working model with core hours, office collaboration spaces, and hands-on access to vehicle workshops and labs
Learning and development budgets for training and conferences

About the Company

Wayve builds an end-to-end AI platform for autonomous driving and embodied intelligence that enables vehicles and machines to learn directly from real-world experience. The company operates multiple global hubs including Sunnyvale, London, Vancouver, and Yokohama, utilizing a hybrid work environment.

How to Apply

Candidates should apply directly on the official company careers page.

Skills and tech stack

PyTorchVision-Language-Action Models (VLAs)World and Action Models (WAMs)Omni modelsVideo modelsReinforcement LearningBehavioral CloningMachine Learning

Questions candidates ask

What team is this role for?

This role is for the Multi-Embodiment Generalist Agent team within Wayve Science.

Where is the position located?

The position is based in Sunnyvale, California USA, with a hybrid working model.

What is the salary range for this role?

The salary ranges from $370,040 to $512,710, and the position includes equity.

What publication venues are relevant for the research track record?

Top-tier venues include ICRA, CoRL, CVPR, NeurIPS, ICML, or ICLR.

Is visa sponsorship available?

Yes, visa sponsorship and relocation support are available where applicable.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official wayve careers page.

Apply on company site