Mark Stevens
Senior Staff Software Engineer at Waymo
Leading simulation efforts and distributed systems to advance autonomous vehicle technology at Waymo.
Intro
I'm Mark Stevens, a Senior Staff Software Engineer at Waymo. My career has been defined by a passion for turning science fiction into reality, particularly through robotics and AI. After a decade of technical leadership at Google and Waymo, I ventured into the startup world as the Co-founder and CTO of Wiser AI, where I secured VC funding and built a team from the ground up to empower sales teams with AI. Now back at Waymo, I lead simulation efforts to accelerate the development of the Waymo driver. I'm deeply energized by working with exceptional people on transformative technology that makes the world safer. I'm always looking to connect with fellow founders and engineers who are passionate about scaling AI and bringing a better future sooner.
Networking
What I can offer
- ›Expertise in scaling AI systems
- ›Insights on autonomous vehicle simulation
- ›Guidance on transitioning between startup founder and big-tech leadership roles
What I'm looking for
- ›expanding my professional network
- ›exploring mutual opportunities in AI and robotics
Best fit for
Focus
Current interests
Core competencies
Background
Career
Began as a Google intern and researcher, spent over a decade at Google and Waymo in technical leadership roles, co-founded and served as CTO for Wiser AI, and returned to Waymo as a Senior Staff Software Engineer.
Education
Master’s of Engineering in Computer Science, MIT (2009–2010); Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT (2005–2009).
Achievements
- ›Maintained a perfect 5.0/5.0 GPA at MIT for both undergraduate and graduate degrees
- ›Successfully secured VC funding and built the founding team for Wiser AI
- ›Led Waymo’s simulation efforts to accelerate the training of the Waymo driver
Opinions
- Working with exceptional people on transformative technology is the primary driver of professional energy.
- 2026 is a pivotal era for robotics due to recent scaling and advances in AI.
- Technology should be used to bring a better future sooner.
Personality
Communication style
Enthusiastic, professional, and mission-oriented, balancing high-level vision with technical credibility.
Formality — 7/10
Vocabulary