Automotive Testing Lead, Japan

Waymo; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Waymo is seeking a test engineering leader to partner across technical domains, guiding the shift to automated, data-driven testing and coordinating with OEM stakeholders.

The role emphasizes hands-on vehicle testing, cross-team collaboration, and ensuring traceability for SDS-Ready software releases, with travel to partner sites as needed.

Qualifications

• Strong background in systems engineering, test engineering, or automotive validation.
• Demonstrated leadership coordinating and leading vendor teams.
• Experience transitioning teams from manual to automated, data-driven testing approaches.
• Proficiency in Python or SQL for test automation; fluent Japanese (N1) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Act as Waymo's test engineering representative across multiple technical domains to help partners develop test strategies, plans, scripts, and criteria.
• Guide partners in transitioning to automated, data-driven testing with internal infrastructure teams to accelerate feedback loops.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration between Waymo and OEM partners, identifying gaps and mentoring engineers in cross-system validation.
• Define and manage early vehicle smoke test campaigns with clear entry/exit criteria for SDS-Ready software releases.

Skills

Systems engineering

Test engineering

Automotive validation

Vendor leadership

Hands-on vehicle testing

Python

SQL

Japanese (N1)

Tools

Jama

DOORS

Jira

Job description

• Waymo's Systems Engineering team works together to blend software and hardware systems in groundbreaking new ways. We set the high performance standards that ensure our vehicles run smoothly and keep passengers safe, then design and perform the tests that validate that performance


• This role follows a hybrid work schedule and reports to Systems Test Engineering Lead


• Act as Waymo's test engineering representative across a number of technical domains, helping partners develop test strategies for requirements, detailed test plans, scripts, and clear judgement criteria


• Guide partners in the transition from manual testing methodologies to automated, data-driven approaches, partnering with internal infrastructure teams to build solutions that accelerate the test-to-reporting feedback loop


• Spearhead cross-functional collaboration between Waymo and OEM stakeholders, identifying operational gaps, mentoring partner engineers, and building their expertise in complex, cross-system validation


• Define, execute, and manage early vehicle smoke test campaigns, establishing strict entry/exit criteria to validate "SDS-Ready" software releases before upstream integration


• Scale and lead in-territory vehicle-level testing operations, actively managing daily physical test execution alongside embedded vendor teams


• Ensure strict traceability and logging standards are met across all external test executions to guarantee seamless integration into Waymo's central data repositories

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents


• Employee assistance programs focused on mental health


• Personalized workplace adjustments for diverse needs and abilities, including physical, mental, and neurodivergent considerations


• Access to mental health apps


• Onsite wellness centers


• Second medical opinion for you and your loved ones


• Counseling services


• Medical advocacy program for transgender employees


• Support programs including menopause benefit


• Competitive compensation


• Regular bonus and equity performance grant opportunities


• Generous 401(k) and regional retirement plans


• 1-on-1 financial coaching


• Annual cross-company compensation review and pay equity analysis


• Fertility and growing family assistance


• Parental leave and baby bonding leave


• Survivor income benefit


• Elder care and support


• Backup childcare


• Caregiver leave


• Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, sick leave, parental leave, disability, and holidays


• Jury duty leave


• Military leave


• Hybrid work model with remote work opportunities also available


• Educational reimbursement


• Peer learning and coaching platform


• Donation matching programs


• Employee resource groups


• Volunteer hours


• Internal community groups and local culture clubs


• Inspiring spaces to work, recharge, and collaborate with fellow Waymonauts


• On-site meals and snacks


• Fitness centers, massage programs, and ergonomic support


• On-demand fitness, wellbeing, and cooking classes


• Commuter benefits

We're looking for talented teammates who'll help us maintain strong teamwork and are passionate about driving resultsStrong background in systems engineering, test engineering, or automotive validationDemonstrated leadership experience with a track record of coordinating with and leading vendor teamsAbility to navigate ambiguity and drive technical consensus across different organizational culturesExperience with physical hands-on testing of vehicles (ADAS, vehicle dynamics, low-voltage systems, system integration)Professional fluency in Japanese (N1 level or equivalent)Experience with requirements management tools (e.g., Jama, DOORS) and issue tracking (e.g., Jira)Willingness to travel to Japan up to 50% of the timeExperience managing external partners or suppliers in a technical capacityStrong knowledge of Systems Engineering principles and experience developing verification coverage plans from system level requirementsProficiency in Python or SQL for test automation