Principal Engineer Tech Lead Manager, ML Acceleration

Principal Engineer Tech Lead Manager, ML Acceleration

Boston, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Remote U.S. Only

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Principal Level Tech Lead Manager to build and lead our new Machine Learning (ML) Acceleration team. This pivotal role will drive the strategy, development, and execution of initiatives aimed at significantly accelerating ML model training, drastically reducing the development cycle for new ML models and enabling rapid hot‑patching for issues within our deployed autonomous vehicle services.

• Build, lead, and manage a high‑performing team of ML and infrastructure engineers focused on acceleration.
• Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and career development opportunities to team members.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
• Define team goals, priorities, and roadmap in alignment with company objectives.
• Define the technical vision and strategy for ML acceleration across the organization.
• Identify and evaluate cutting‑edge technologies and methodologies for speeding up ML training, including data pipeline optimization, large‑scale distributed training, data loader optimization, hardware acceleration, and model optimization techniques.
• Design, develop, and implement scalable and efficient ML acceleration solutions.
• Collaborate closely with ML research, ML training platform, and product teams to understand their needs and integrate acceleration solutions seamlessly.
• Communicate complex technical concepts and strategies to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Act as a technical expert and advocate for ML acceleration initiatives across the company.
• Regularly measure and report on the impact of acceleration efforts.
• Continuously seek opportunities for further optimization and innovation.

• Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 5+ years focused on Machine Learning systems and model performance optimization.
• 3+ years of experience in a technical lead or management role, with a proven track record of building and leading high‑performing teams.
• Extensive experience with large‑scale ML model training and deployment, ideally in a production environment.
• Strong understanding of distributed systems and cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Technical Skills
• Deep expertise in ML frameworks such as PyTorch or JAX.
• Proficiency in performance profiling and optimization techniques for Deep Neural Networks.
• Strong programming skills in Python; C++ experience is a plus.
• Knowledge of MLOps principles and practices.
• Leadership Skills
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to attract, hire, and retain top engineering talent.
• Proven ability to drive complex technical projects from conception to completion.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and a proactive, results‑oriented mindset.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.

Salary range: $240,000 – $330,000 USD (base salary only; additional compensation such as bonus or equity may be included).

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, health savings accounts, life insurance, pet insurance, and more.

Motional is an equal‑opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive environment for all employees. Per federal law, we participate in E‑Verify and verify all newly‑hired employees’ immigration status.