Full Vehicle Platform Architect

Waymo; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 230,000 - 284,000; Full time

Job summary

Waymo is seeking a senior automotive engineering leader to drive vehicle concepts and layouts for next‑gen platforms. You will collaborate with product, design, systems, and OEM partners to align targets and deliver innovative configurations for AV and TaaS programs.

Applicants should have 10+ years in automotive engineering and 5+ years in vehicle architecture, with strong CAD (CATIA) skills and executive communication abilities. Travel is required for OEM engagements.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of Automotive Engineering and Product Development.
• 5+ years experience in vehicle architecture and complete vehicle layout.
• Proven ability to create and negotiate targets with OEMs and partner companies/suppliers.
• Experience communicating with Directors and VPs.
• Ability to work in an ambiguous world and find a path forward to resolve conflicts.

Responsibilities

• Develop package targets and vehicle layouts for new platforms centered around AV and TaaS.
• Create platform concepts enabling multiple layouts on a common platform.
• Resolve conflicting requirements with Systems and Attribute Teams using CAD geometry.
• Communicate layouts and targets to OEM partners using 3D CAD sections and presentations.
• Drive ELT alignment on new concepts through compelling presentations and mockups.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional teamwork

OEM negotiation

Executive communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

CATIA

Job description

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 a diverse, 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. This role is to take us further into the future of custom vehicle development for optimized customer experiences.

This role follows a hybrid work scheduling and you will report to a Director, Concepts and Pre Program Development.

You will:

• Work with Waymo’s Product, Design, Systems, and Attribute Teams to develop package targets and vehicle layouts for new vehicle platforms centered around AV and TaaS
• Develop platform concepts and solutions that enable multiple vehicle layouts to be delivered on a common platform
• Partner with Systems and Attribute Teams to resolve conflicting technical requirements, leveraging CAD geometry and section analysis to propose balanced sub-system solutions
• Communicate layouts and targets to external OEM partners using 3D geometry and CAD sections, pushing them to deliver innovative solutions tailored to Waymo's needs
• Drive Executive Leadership Team (ELT) alignment on new vehicle concepts through compelling presentations and physical mockups

You have:

• 10+ years of experience in Automotive Engineering and Product Development
• 5+ years experience working in vehicle architecture and complete vehicle layout
• Proven ability to create and negotiate targets and requirements with OEMs and partner companies/suppliers
• Experience communicating with clarity and capability when interfacing with Directors and VPs
• Ability to work in an ambiguous world and find a path forward to resolve seemingly conflicting requirements
• Proficiency in using Catia or similar 3D CAD to develop concepts and build models

We prefer:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (Master’s degree preferred)
• Experience in non-traditional mobility sectors outside the personal car ownership model (e.g., TaaS, shared mobility
• Background working across multiple OEMs, bringing a broad perspective on diverse Product Development methodologies
• Experience in occupant package and vehicle layouts tailored specifically to electric vehicles (EV's)
• Knowledge of the Autonomous Vehicle sector and how it is shaping future mobility

Travel requirements

• Global travel required for on-site OEM engagements (10%)
• Occasional travel to other Waymo locations, suppliers, and service providers on an as-needed basis (10%)

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

$230,000—$284,000 USD