Lyft Expands Tech Hiring, Raises Salaries to $300K Amid AV Push

Lyft is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting from a traditional ride-hailing service to a diversified, data-driven mobility platform with a strong focus on elder mobility via Lyft Silver and autonomous vehicle technology. The company has ramped up hiring, particularly for specialized technical roles, sponsoring 114 H-1B visa workers in a recent period—a 63% increase from the previous year—to support its expansion and innovation efforts. Lyft offers highly competitive compensation, with base salaries reaching up to $300,000 for software engineers and substantial pay for data scientists and product managers, surpassing some rivals like Uber. CEO David Risher emphasized Lyft's record-setting gross bookings, free cash flow, and momentum during recent earnings calls, highlighting the company’s commitment to customer obsession and operational growth. Despite minor layoffs earlier in the year, Lyft maintains a strong hiring pipeline, especially in data analytics, data science, and software engineering, reflecting its strategic pivot towards technology and profitability. This approach positions Lyft as a platform orchestrator in the autonomous vehicle ecosystem, leveraging data and partnerships rather than direct hardware development.