Machine Learning Research Prediction and Planning Intern - Spring 2027

Location(s): Santa Clara, CA

Job Schedule: 12-week program

Degree Level: Master's - PhD Level Students

Preferred Degree: Computer Science, Robotics, Engineering, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or related field

Shape the Future of Mobility at Nissan: Launch Your Career, Drive Innovation

We are currently looking for a Machine Learning Research 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.

This internship focuses on developing scene reconstruction technologies for autonomous driving applications. The project will center on converting multimodal sensor data collected from research vehicles into structured scene representations suitable for simulation, machine learning, and large-scale data generation. Your work will help enable the development and evaluation of next-generation end-to-end and Vision-Language-Action (VLA) driving systems while collaborating with world-class researchers working on advanced vehicle technologies.

A day in the life

• Develop software pipelines for processing large-scale autonomous vehicle datasets.
• Fuse and synchronize data from cameras, localization systems, and vehicle-state measurements.
• Reconstruct road geometry, ego vehicle motion, and dynamic traffic participants.
• Design scene representations suitable for simulation, machine learning, and training workflows.
• Develop tools and metrics to assess reconstruction quality, consistency, and performance.
• Collaborate with researchers across perception, mapping, prediction, and planning teams.

Who we’re looking for

Required

• Must be currently enrolled in a Master's or PhD degree program in Computer Science, Robotics, Engineering, or a related field.
• Students returning to their degree program following completion of the internship.
• Strong Python programming skills; familiarity with C++ is a plus.
• Familiarity with computer vision, machine learning, robotics, or autonomous systems.
• Experience with ROS, robotics data processing, or sensor-based systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently on complex research projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• GPA of 3.0 or above (Candidates will be required to provide an official or unofficial transcript during the application process for verification.)
• Ability to perform work onsite in Santa Clara, CA

Preferred

• Experience with neural scene representations, Gaussian Splatting, or related techniques.
• Experience with simulation environments or synthetic data generation.
• Experience working with multimodal sensor data, including cameras and lidar.
• Familiarity with end-to-end driving models, foundation models, or Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models.

What You’ll Look Forward to at Nissan:

Connection and Collaboration: 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.

Professional Training and Development: Expand your knowledge and skills through Nissan’s rich innovation offerings, seminars, learning platforms, and leadership trainings.

Nissan is committed to a drug-free workplace. All employment is contingent upon the successful completion of drug and background screenings in accordance with Nissan policies and in compliance with federal, state, and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance. Nissan will consider qualified candidates with arrest or conviction records for employment in a manner consistent with these laws.

It is Nissan’s policy to provide Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, gender, military status, disability, or any other status protected by law. Candidates for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire; Nissan uses E-Verify to validate employment eligibility.

NISSAN for everyone

People are our most valuable assets, and Nissan seeks to maximize the power of each individual member of our team. When everyone belongs, the power of NISSAN is undeniable. Nissan aims to improve business results through a workplace and business that meets the needs of our employees and customer base.

Nissan is committed to creating a culture where everyone belongs and employees, customers, and partners feel respected, valued, and heard. We have Business Synergy Teams (BSTs) across the Americas that are open to all employees and seek to connect employees through common interests and foster a company culture where all employees feel supported and included.

Nissan also values inclusion in our business as we respect and recognize the diversity of our customer base and the communities where we do business. We are committed to procuring innovative goods and services, retailing our products, and communicating from a position that will help us continue to offer our customers competitively designed, market-driven products.

Join us as we carry our commitment to our employees and customers into the future.

Santa Clara California United States of America