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Key details
Why this role is notable
Samsara is standing up a dedicated AI leadership function inside its safety products, suggesting it sees AI-driven video analysis of drivers and field workers as a core bet rather than a feature.
Job Description
Who we are
Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations™ Cloud, which is a platform that enables organizations that depend on physical operations to harness Internet of Things (IoT) data to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. At Samsara, we are helping improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of the physical operations that power our global economy. Representing more than 40% of global GDP, these industries are the infrastructure of our planet, including agriculture, construction, field services, transportation, and manufacturing — and we are excited to help digitally transform their operations at scale.
Working at Samsara means you’ll help define the future of physical operations and be on a team that’s shaping an exciting array of product solutions, including Video-Based Safety, Vehicle Telematics, Apps and Driver Workflows, and Equipment Monitoring. As part of a recently public company, you’ll have the autonomy and support to make an impact as we build for the long term.
About the role:
The Safety AI team builds end-to-end computer vision and machine learning for Samsara’s AI dash cameras – delivering real-time driver safety insights and in-cab alerts.
As a Sr. Manager of Machine Learning, you will lead teams that fuse on-device computer vision with IMU, GPS, and vehicle diagnostic data to detect, interpret, and surface actionable safety events and continuous risk signals.
You’ll own the model lifecycle across edge and cloud – data curation, training, evaluation (including shadow/online experiments), deployment, monitoring, and iteration—and develop the core AI platform that powers these capabilities at fleet scale. You’ll partner closely with firmware, full-stack, and Platform teams to ship reliable, low-latency features, grounding detections in the “rules of the road” (e.g., stop signs and speed limits) to maximize precision and customer impact.
Your success will be measured by real outcomes: safety events caught, accident rates reduced, model reliability at production scale, and the velocity at which your team can move from research idea to deployed feature on real vehicles driven by real people.
This is a remote position open to candidates residing in the United States.
This position requires travel up to 5% of the time. Relocation assistance will not be provided for this role.
You should apply if:
- You want to impact the industries that run our world: The software, firmware, and hardware you build will result in real-world impact—helping to keep the lights on, get food into grocery stores, and most importantly, ensure workers return home safely.
- You are a life-long learner: We have ambitious goals. Every Samsarian has a growth mindset as we work with a wide range of technologies, challenges, and customers that push us to learn on the go.
- You believe customers are more than a number: Samsara engineers enjoy a rare closeness to the end user and you will have the opportunity to participate in customer interviews, collaborate with customer success and product managers, and use metrics to ensure our work is translating into better customer outcomes.
- You are a team player: Working on our Samsara Engineering teams requires a mix of independent effort and collaboration. Motivated by our mission, we’re all racing toward our connected operations vision, and we intend to win—together.
In this role, you will:
Drive the Safety AI Platform Architecture
- Own the technical direction for Samsara's on-device and cloud safety AI systems — making architectural decisions about what runs on constrained edge hardware vs. cloud, how models are packaged and deployed across more than 2M dashcams, and how the data flywheel is built to drive continuous improvement.
- Lead the transition from individual model deployments to a coherent, system-level platform — one that fuses camera, IMU, GPS, and vehicle telemetry data to detect, interpret, and surface safety events with high precision and low latency.
- Evaluate and integrate emerging AI capabilities (e.g. VLMs, foundation models, multi-task architectures) and determine when they are ready to move from research to production at fleet scale.
Ship Safety AI Features with Measurable Customer Impact
- Partner with product and full-stack teams to define, scope, and ship safety features that reduce accident rates, improve driver coaching outcomes, and deliver quantifiable value to fleet operators.
- Lead experiment design, offline/online evaluation, and go/no-go decisions for new ML-powered features — grounding every launch in real safety metrics, not just model performance benchmarks.
- Own the full model lifecycle: data curation, training, evaluation (shadow and online experiments), deployment, monitoring, and iteration on a continuous improvement loop.
Build and Lead a High-Performing Team
- Lead and grow a team of applied scientists and engineers across CV, sensor fusion, edge ML, maintaining a culture of high technical standards and strong delivery.
- Hire, coach, and develop senior ICs and early-career talent; create growth paths across both technical and leadership tracks.
- Operate as a tech lead manager: setting the architectural direction while staying hands-on enough to review modeling approaches, unblock technical decisions, and maintain credibility with your most senior engineers.
- Champion, role model, and embed Samsara’s cultural principles (Focus on Customer Success, Build for the Long Term, Adopt a Growth Mindset, Be Inclusive, Win as a Team) as we scale globally and across new offices.
Minimum requirements for the role:
- 8+ years of experience in applied ML or computer vision, with a strong track record of shipping models to production in real-world systems.
- 5+ years leading technical teams of scientists and engineers, including senior ICs — with demonstrated ability to set technical direction, not just manage delivery.
- Experience shipping CV and/or sensor fusion systems that fuse multiple data streams (e.g. camera, IMU, GPS, telemetry) in production environments.
- Demonstrated ability to navigate science-engineering tension: you know when to hold the platform line and when to adapt for research velocity, and you can communicate trade-offs clearly to both sides.
- Experience building and deploying large-scale machine learning systems with feedback loops for continuous improvement.
An ideal candidate also has:
- Customer orientation and intensive focus on improving the customer experience.
- Experience building, deploying, and optimizing AI systems than span edge devices and the cloud.
- Experience with VLMs, foundation models, or multi-task architectures in production settings — particularly in constrained compute environments.
- Background in AV, robotics, or fleet telematics domains where safety and reliability are first-class requirements.
- Contributions to or deep familiarity with the academic research literature in CV and perception and the ability to evaluate what's worth bringing in from research and what isn't.
- MS or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
The compensation range shown spans approved pay zones for this role. Your primary work location determines the range applicable to you, which may be narrower than the full range displayed.
The range of annual base salary for full-time employees for this position is below. Please note that base pay offered may vary depending on factors including your city of residence, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This role is also eligible for an initial RSU grant with no vesting cliff, and ongoing refresh opportunities tied to performance, subject to plan terms and conditions. Learn more about our total rewards and benefits below.
Total Rewards
At Samsara, we build for the people who keep the global economy moving. We want owners, not passengers, which is why our rewards are designed to fuel high-impact builders. Our compensation program delivers above-market total compensation through a combination of base salary, performance-based bonus/variable pay, and equity (for eligible roles) in a high-growth public company. We meaningfully differentiate pay for our top performers, who have the opportunity to earn above-market compensation that can outpace the broader market over time.
Beyond compensation, we provide the foundations that enable long-term success: a flexible, employee-led remote model, a professional development stipend, comprehensive health and parental leave plans, and more. If you’re ready to build for the long term and own the outcome, your journey starts here.
Flexible Working
At Samsara, we embrace a flexible working model that caters to the diverse needs of our teams. Our offices are open for those who prefer to work in-person and we also support remote work where it aligns with our operational requirements. For certain positions, being close to one of our offices or within a specific geographic area is important to facilitate collaboration, access to resources, or alignment with our service regions. In these cases, the job description will clearly indicate any working location requirements. Our goal is to ensure that all members of our team can contribute effectively, whether they are working on-site, in a hybrid model, or fully remotely. All offers of employment are contingent upon an individual’s ability to secure and maintain the legal right to work at the company and in the specified work location, if applicable.
Belonging at Samsara
At Samsara, we welcome everyone regardless of their background. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, and other characteristics protected by law. We depend on the unique approaches of our team members to help us solve complex problems and want to ensure that Samsara is a place where people from all backgrounds can make an impact.
Accommodations
Samsara is an inclusive work environment, and we are committed to ensuring equal opportunity in employment for qualified persons with disabilities. Please email accessibleinterviewing@samsara.com or click here if you require any reasonable accommodations throughout the recruiting process.
Our Commitment to Authenticity
We use Tofu, a fraud detection tool, to validate the authenticity of applications and protect against identity fraud. This ensures we are connecting with real people and allows us to prioritize genuine candidates. Please see Samsara’s Candidate Privacy Notice for more information.
Fraudulent Employment Offers
Samsara is aware of scams involving fake job interviews and offers. Please know we do not charge fees to applicants at any stage of the hiring process. Official communication about your application will only come from emails ending in @samsara.com, @us-greenhouse-mail.io or @mail3.guide.co. For more information regarding fraudulent employment offers, please visit our blog post here.
