Motion Systems Engineer, Actuators

4435
On Site

Mountain View, California

Hardware Engineering

Full-Time

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver—The World's Most Experienced Driver™—to improve access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo’s fully autonomous ride-hail service and can also be applied to a range of vehicle platforms and product use cases. The Waymo Driver has provided over ten million rider-only trips, enabled by its experience autonomously driving over 100 million miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 15+ U.S. states.

Hardware Engineering is an innovative and collaborative group of electrical, mechanical, reliability, software and vehicle engineers. We design, build, and perfect the products which are the eyes and ears of Waymo's autonomous driving technology, and integrate those products into vehicle platforms. We're seeking curious and talented teammates to keep us moving in the right direction.

This role follows a hybrid work schedule and you will report to a Vehicle Systems Architecture Lead.

You will:

Contribute to the decomposition and maintenance of technical requirements for motion control actuators, ensuring high-level Product, Safety, and Operational goals are accurately reflected in OEM specifications
Analyze architectural trade-offs for motion control performance and reliability, ensuring designs are robust and meet functional safety concepts
Review hardware specifications and internal software interfaces to identify integration gaps or requirement deviations early in the design phase
Develop and modify Python scripts/tools to automate the analysis of large-scale fleet data, validating actuator performance against specifications
Lead technical root-cause investigations for field issues using log analysis and simulation, coordinating resolutions between internal system leads, stakeholder teams, and the OEM
Evaluate verification test results provided by the test team against technical requirements, performing initial failure triage and data review to support the technical lead’s final sign-off or failure disposition

You have:

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant Engineering or a related field (including ME, EE, CS, Robotics, Controls, Aerospace, etc.) or equivalent practical experience
3+ years of experience developing and integrating complex, safety-critical systems in the automotive, autonomous vehicle, aerospace, robotics, or related industries, with a focus on vehicle motion controls, ADAS features, or the underlying electromechanical hardware
Proficiency in Python for data analysis, scripting, or tool development (must be able to write scripts to process logs/data), with the ability to read and understand C++
Experience writing and maintaining technical requirements for complex hardware/software systems, including familiarity with traceability and requirement management tools (e.g., DOORS, Jama, Polarion)
Familiarity with systems engineering processes in a regulated environment, such as the V-Model, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), or Functional Safety concepts (ISO 26262 awareness)

We prefer:

Experience developing L4 autonomous vehicle platforms, specifically understanding fail-operational architectures (e.g., redundant braking/steering) and how to validate them
Native or Bilingual proficiency (e.g., TOPIK Level 6 or equivalent) in Korean, with the ability to navigate complex technical negotiations and review engineering documentation in both English and Korean
Proficiency with automotive communication protocols and analysis tools (e.g., CAN, Ethernet, Vector CANoe/CANalyzer) for debugging hardware integration issues
Experience with fleet-scale data analysis, using statistical methods to identify edge cases, component degradation, or environmental anomalies across a large population of vehicles
Experience managing the technical interface with Tier 1 suppliers, including reviewing technical specifications, tracking defect resolution, and holding engineering reviews
Knowledge of ISO 26262 (Functional Safety) or SOTIF (ISO 21448), specifically how to interpret safety concepts and verify that technical requirements meet ASIL targets

Travel requirements:

Up to 8 weeks of travel. Typically 1 week trips. Could be international or within CA

The expected base salary range for this full-time position across US locations is listed below. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process.

Waymo employees are also eligible to participate in Waymo’s discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.

Salary Range

$158,000—$200,000 USD

We appreciate your interest in Waymo. Waymo is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a culture of belonging and maintaining a supportive workplace for all employees. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, and employment decisions are based on a candidate’s qualifications, experience, and alignment with job requirements and business needs. Waymo does not discriminate against, and prohibits harassment of, any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, disability, military status, family status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable law. Waymo will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. Waymo is committed to making sure our hiring process is accessible for all candidates. If you need assistance applying for a role or participating in the interview process due to a disability, please let the recruiting team know or email waymo-candidatesupport@google.com. (This email address is intended to be used only for requesting accommodations as part of the application process. Other inquiries will not receive a response.)

Some of our Benefits

Health and wellness

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. At Waymo, you can enjoy top-notch medical, dental and vision insurance, mental wellness support, gym membership, and special wellness programs.

Financial wellness

Your financial peace of mind is important to us. At Waymo, we offer competitive compensation, bonus opportunities, equity, employees provident fund, and lots of other perks and employee discounts.

Flexibility and time off

Take the time you need to relax and recharge. Enjoy the flexibility to work from another location for four weeks per year. We support an on-site or hybrid work model and offer remote working opportunities, paid time off, bereavement, sick, and parental leave.

Supporting families

When it comes to growing your family or caring for your loved ones, you have our full support. Enhanced leave options include 26 weeks of paid leave for birthing parents and 18 weeks of paid leave for non-birthing parents.

Community and personal development

At Waymo, you'll find a range of opportunities to grow, connect, and give back. We offer education reimbursement, personal and professional development, mentorship, and other ways to connect through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), other internal groups, and even time off to volunteer.

Cool perks

Access to Google offices, cafes, wellness centers, massages, and so much more. To support your wellbeing at home, you can enjoy at-home fitness and cooking classes, and more.