Senior Data Scientist

Ever imagined saying, “I helped launch the future of transportation”?

We’re rewriting the rules of urban mobility. At Vay, customers tap a button and a car arrives - with no one inside - powered by our world-first Remote Driving technology on real public streets.

We’re live in Las Vegas and scaling fast, powered by a strategic investment of up to $410 million from Grab. Our mission is simple: replace private car ownership with a faster, cleaner, door-to-door mobility model. If you want to build something real, visible, and genuinely transformative, you’ll feel right at home here.

What’s happening at Vay

• First to roll out vehicles in both Europe and the USA on public roads without a human being inside & currently the 2nd largest commercial, driverless car fleet in the Western World.
• We've partnered with Kodiak to bring remote-driving technology to autonomous trucks in the US, showcasing our ability to integrate our system into heavy-duty commercial vehicles and expand the applications of our tech across the US.
• We’ve completed 10’s of thousands of trips so far and are busy multiplying our Las Vegas fleet just to meet demand!
• ...And soon we’ll be expanding across the US & Europe 🚀

Why this role is exciting

This is a high-impact role at the intersection of data science, mapping, and real-world mobility systems. You’ll work on the data and algorithms that define how Vay’s vehicles navigate cities safely and efficiently within our Operational Design Domain (ODD). Your work will directly unlock our ability to scale to new cities, improve routing performance, and solve complex real-world challenges in a rapidly evolving mobility environment.

What you’ll be driving

In this role, you will play a critical part in advancing Vay’s mapping and routing capabilities using data science and machine learning approaches.

• Develop automated approaches to map augmentation using video, connectivity, trip data, and open datasets such as OpenStreetMap.

• Build data science solutions that accelerate map creation and updates for new cities where Vay launches.

• Design and develop routing simulation tools to discover optimal strategies for improving ETA and ATA accuracy.

• Lead and contribute to initiatives within the Operational Design Domain (ODD) data science pod.

• Identify and automate inefficiencies in map generation workflows to enable faster and more frequent updates.

• Work cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and product teams to implement and deploy production-grade solutions.

• Help scale the impact of the data science team by driving key initiatives and reducing knowledge concentration on critical ODD topics.

What are we looking for

We’re looking for a data scientist who enjoys solving complex real-world problems and turning experimental ideas into production systems that power next-generation mobility.

• Strong experience applying data science or machine learning techniques to real-world problems.

• Ability to write high-quality, production-grade code.

• Experience building and deploying applied data science solutions across the full lifecycle—from concept to implementation and rollout.

• Strong Python experience and familiarity with modern data science workflows (e.g., Jupyter, GitHub, cloud compute environments).

• Experience working with geospatial data, routing systems, or map-based datasets is highly valuable.

• Comfortable working cross-functionally and owning complex initiatives in a fast-moving environment.

Nice to have

• Prior engineering experience or strong software engineering foundations.

• Experience with technologies such as Spark, TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar ML frameworks.

Why choose Vay

💪 A global team of smart, motivated people from 30+ countries who love tackling hard problems and turning bold ideas into reality

🌍 Huge scope for impact in a fast paced environment

💰 ESOP stock options: A stake in Vay’s future – not just a salary

🌴 Unlimited Paid Vacation Days

🎫 Subsidised Deutschland ticket (Berlin)

🏋️‍♂️ Subsidised Urban Sports Club or FitX Membership 

🚗 All Vay team members receive 30% off their Vay rides

🛍️ Exclusive external discounts

💼 €350 Home office budget 

✈️ Relocation financial assistance when relocating to Berlin 

📚 Fully funded German Lessons 

🎊 Regular team events throughout the year

For more information on Vay’s physical demands, working environments and safety requirements, you can review this link. We’ll also cover anything specific to this role during the first interview.

We’d love to stay connected for future opportunities, so feel free to include your LinkedIn profile when you apply.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and experiences. If you’re excited about shaping something truly groundbreaking, we’d be happy to hear from you.