Machine Learning Research Perception Intern Santa Clara, CA

We are currently looking for a Machine Learning Research Perception Intern to join our team in Santa Clara, CA. With a focus on mobility and autonomous driving technologies, Nissan is seeking researchers who want to challenge themselves, develop their skills, and contribute to the future of intelligent vehicles. On our team, we focus on next-generation sensor integration and real-world performance evaluation for autonomous driving systems.

As a Machine Learning Research Intern
- Perception, you will gain hands-on experience evaluating advanced sensing technologies used in autonomous vehicles. Working closely with engineers and researchers, you will help integrate new sensors into existing autonomous driving platforms, develop testing and validation methodologies, support vehicle-based experiments, and analyze large-scale datasets to assess sensor performance and system-level impact. This role provides exposure to the complete sensor validation lifecycle, from system integration and experimental design to machine learning-driven analysis and performance evaluation.

• Gain hands-on experience with the complete sensor validation workflow, from system integration and interface development to vehicle testing and data-driven performance evaluation.
• Develop practical skills in autonomous driving system engineering, including sensor fusion, experimental design, performance metric development, and large-scale data analysis.
• Support the integration and evaluation of next-generation sensing technologies for autonomous vehicles.
• Analyze real-world sensor data and develop insights into system performance, robustness, and reliability.
• Collaborate with experienced autonomous vehicle engineers and researchers on perception-focused projects and advanced mobility technologies.

• Must be currently enrolled in a Master's or PhD degree program in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• GPA of 3.0 or above (Candidates will be required to provide an official or unofficial transcript during the application process for verification.)
• Strong programming skills in C++ and/or Python.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Self-motivated with a willingness to challenge yourself and continuously develop your technical capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative research and development environment.
• Interest in autonomous driving systems, perception technologies, robotics, or machine learning.

• Experience with autonomous systems, robotics, or sensor technologies such as LiDAR, radar, cameras, or related sensing platforms.
• Experience designing experiments and analyzing real-world datasets.
• Familiarity with Linux and Robot Operating System (ROS).
• Exposure to sensor fusion, perception algorithms, machine learning, or data analytics techniques.
• Experience working with large-scale autonomous vehicle datasets is a plus.

• We offer Business Synergy Teams (ERGs) and opportunities for our employees to strengthen their relationships and meet people from similar and diverse backgrounds to foster a culture of belonging.

• Expand your knowledge and skills through Nissan's rich innovation offerings, seminars, learning platforms, and leadership trainings.

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