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Senior Software Engineer, Growth Optimization

Mountain View, California, United States. San Francisco, California, United States Full-Time Software Engineering 4564

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Senior Software Engineer, Growth Optimization

  • 4564
  • On Site
  • Mountain View, California
  • San Francisco, California
  • Software Engineering
  • Full-Time
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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.

We’re looking for a Senior Growth Optimization Engineer to design and build the intelligence layer that drives rider growth — the systems that decide who gets what, when, and why.

You’ll be hands on building the backend systems that automate targeting, experimentation, and optimization across the rider funnel. Your work will enable the company to make data-driven decisions at scale — optimizing incentives and comms to continuously improve rider acquisition, activation and retention. 

This is a highly cross-functional role at the intersection of backend engineering, data science, and product experimentation. You’ll ensure that growth decisions are measurable, repeatable, and continuously improving over time.

You will:

  • Design and implement backend services and data pipelines that power targeting, experimentation, and incentive optimization.

  • Work with data science to productionize models into various growth surfaces (e.g., churn prediction, message timing optimization, LTV scoring).

     

  • Build automation frameworks to determine which users to message, through what channel (push, email, in-app), and at what cadence — ensuring we don’t spam or over-message users.

  • Integrate with experimentation and analytics platforms to make growth initiatives measurable, testable, and repeatable.

  • Develop feedback loops and metrics systems that monitor conversion, spend efficiency, and campaign ROI.

 

You have:

  • 5 years of backend or data-platform engineering experience. Strong programming skills in C++, Java, or Python.

  • Solid grasp of data architecture concepts — ETL, streaming pipelines, data quality, and feature stores.

  • Strong SQL and analytics proficiency — comfortable exploring datasets, defining metrics, and validating hypotheses.

  • Proven experience working closely with Data Science teams to productionize models or decision systems (e.g., recommendation, targeting, budget optimization).

We prefer:

  • Experience in the ride-hailing, delivery, or marketplace domain, especially around incentives, dynamic pricing, or growth automation.

  • Exposure to campaign orchestration systems (Braze, OneSignal, Firebase, custom pipelines) and multi-channel communication logic.

  • Familiarity with causal inference, LTV modeling, or offline experimentation analysis.

  • Background integrating data science workflows into production environments with CI/CD and model lifecycle management.

#LI-Hybrid

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
$204,000—$259,000 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.

Ready to Apply?