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The Role
Develop novel perception algorithms for high-performance driving and evaluate models on high-performance vehicles. Requires collaboration and communication of results.
Summary Generated by Built In
At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we’re on a mission to improve the quality of human life. We’re developing new tools and capabilities to amplify the human experience. To lead this transformative shift in mobility, we’ve built a world-class team advancing the state of the art in AI, robotics, driving, and material sciences.
This is a Summer 2026 paid 12-week internship opportunity. Please note that this internship will be a hybrid in-office role.
The Team
Within the Extreme Performance Intelligent Control team, we are developing techniques to advance vehicle safety and performance capabilities using tools from machine learning, optimization, and control theory. We are pursuing a cooperative approach to high-performance driving by developing predictive models and control frameworks for extreme vehicle maneuvering that match or exceed the skills of expert drivers. We envision a world where these tools allow each vehicle to support its driver, creating a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
The Internship
We are looking for a research intern to develop new perception, modeling, and/or control methodologies for high-performance driving that infer and reason about uncertainty. This is an opportunity to apply your knowledge to novel problems and develop impactful research. This paid, 12-week, Summer 2026 internship is a hybrid in-office role in our headquarters in Los Altos, CA, and will involve experiments with high-performance vehicles on a closed racetrack.
Responsibilities
- Develop novel perception algorithms for high-performance driving.
- Implement, deploy, and evaluate models and algorithms on high-performance cars.
- Present results in verbal and written communications at international conferences and internally.
Qualifications
- Ph.D. candidate working on related fields: robot perception, computer vision, robot learning, deep learning, or related fields.
- Proficiency in at least one of the following: Python, C++, ROS(2), Pytorch, CUDA, JAX.
- Familiarity in one of the following areas: semantic mapping, SLAM, and foundation models.
- Experience in deploying algorithms on real-world platforms.
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills.
- Strong interest in pushing the limits of robot autonomy.
- Strong publication records in top conferences and journals, including RSS, CVPR, ECCV, ICCV, ICRA, RA-L, NeurIPS, ICLR, etc.
Bonus Qualifications
- Publications related to semantic mapping, neural distance fields, Gaussian Splatting.
- Publications related to SLAM, Lidar/Visual Odometry, and Structure from Motion.
- Publications related to foundational models.
Please add a link to Google Scholar to include a full list of publications when submitting your CV for this position.
The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $45 and $65/hour for California-based roles. Base pay offered will depend on multiple individualized factors, including, but not limited to, business or organizational needs, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. TRI offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, and paid time off benefits (including holiday pay and sick time). Additional details regarding these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
Please reference this Candidate Privacy Notice to inform you of the categories of personal information that we collect from individuals who inquire about and/or apply to work for Toyota Research Institute, Inc. or its subsidiaries, including Toyota A.I. Ventures GP, L.P., and the purposes for which we use such personal information.
TRI is fueled by a diverse and inclusive community of people with unique backgrounds, education and life experiences. We are dedicated to fostering an innovative and collaborative environment by living the values that are an essential part of our culture. We believe diversity makes us stronger and are proud to provide Equal Employment Opportunity for all, without regard to an applicant’s race, color, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, religion, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state or local laws.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.
Top Skills
C++
Cuda
Jax
Python
PyTorch
Ros(2)
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The Company
What We Do
Toyota Research Institute (TRI) envisions a future where Toyota products, enabled by TRI technology, dramatically improve quality of life for individuals and society. To achieve its Vision, TRI’s Mission is to create new tools and capabilities focused on improving the human condition through research in Energy & Materials, Human-centered AI, Human Interactive Driving, and Robotics.
We’re on a mission to improve the quality of human life. To lead this transformative shift, we are looking for the world's best talent -- people who enjoy solving tough problems while having fun doing it.
Why Work With Us
TRI is fueled by a diverse and inclusive community of people with unique backgrounds, education and life experiences. We are dedicated to fostering an innovative and collaborative environment by living the values that are an essential part of our culture.
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