Industrialization Engineer

Waymo LLC; Novi (MI); On-site; USD 230,000 - 284,000; Full time

Job summary

Waymo LLC is seeking a senior Hardware Engineer to lead supplier-driven manufacturing for autonomous sensors and ECUs. You will manage industrialization, ensure quality compliance, and coordinate cross-functional teams across R&D, Quality, and Purchasing.

This role emphasizes program management, supplier oversight, and continuous improvement in automotive tech manufacturing, with a focus on ISO/TS and APQP/PPAP processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in process or manufacturing engineering within the automotive industry, with direct experience handling automotive sensors, ECUs or complex electronic assemblies.
• Deep understanding of build to print manufacturing models, automated assembly processes, testing/calibration of sensors, and automotive core tools (APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, SPC, MSA).
• Proven ability to drive Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers and equipment integrators to meet strict launch deadlines and quality metrics.
• Hands-on experience reviewing, negotiating, and executing technical contracts, SOWs, and capital equipment agreements.
• Strong project management skills. PMP certification is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Supplier Assembly Line Deployment: Lead the industrialization of build to print automotive autonomous sensors & ECUs at external supplier partner facilities.
• Process Engineering & Quality: Ensure supplier manufacturing processes adhere to engineering drawings and automotive quality standards.
• Program Management: Act as the primary technical project manager for supplier launches and manage SOP.
• Contract & Commercial Management: Develop SOWs, technical specifications, and contracts; negotiate terms.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Liaise between Internal R&D, Quality, Purchasing and external manufacturing partners.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify bottlenecks, drive corrective actions and ensure changes are implemented.

Skills

Build-to-print

Industrial engineering

Automotive sensors

APQP

PPAP

PFMEA

MSA

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Electrical/Industrial Engineering

Tools

CATIA

SolidWorks

ISO/TS standards

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 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.

You Will

• Supplier Assembly Line Deployment: Lead the industrialization of "build to print" automotive autonomous sensors & ECUs (cameras, radars, lidars, compute) at external supplier partner facilities. Oversee the design, installation, and validation of automated and semi-automated assembly lines. Track production line readiness (PCBA and FATP) for all NPI builds and early production builds. Drive the resolution of open technical questions from external suppliers.
• Process Engineering & Quality: Ensure supplier manufacturing processes strictly adhere to engineering drawings, tolerances, and automotive quality standards. Drive the completion of DFxs, PFMEAs, Control Plans, MSA and capability studies (Cp/Cpk). Enforce structured equipment/station development with FMEA approach. Support ILQC audits and drive implementation of Preventative & Detective controls at external suppliers.
• Program Management: Act as the primary technical project manager for supplier launches. Establish realistic timelines, track milestones, manage equipment buy-offs (FAT/SAT), and ensure flawless execution through PPAP and Start of Production (SOP). Coordinate material supply to ensure the manufacturing development schedule stays on track. Ensure CMs have the latest BOMs and corresponding component specifications. Drive the mitigation of all process development / qualification risks that pose a threat to meeting the product performance and quality requirements.
• Contract & Commercial Management: Collaborate with Procurement and Legal to develop Statements of Work (SOW), technical specifications, and equipment contracts. Negotiate technical terms, manage change orders, and hold suppliers accountable to contractual obligations. Track suppliers Capex spend.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Serve as the technical liaison between Internal R&D, Quality, Purchasing, and External manufacturing partners. Coordinate with Waymo cross-functional technical teams for support in debugging & resolving issues that impact manufacturing line qualification. Ensure compliance to defined requirements and manage any changes proposed by Waymo or external suppliers. Provide clear updates to Waymo management on the manufacturing process & test development & qualification status.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify manufacturing bottlenecks, yield issues, and cycle time constraints on supplier lines. Drive root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to optimize production efficiency and product quality. Identify key learnings from past projects and ensure target action items are fully executed. Ensure all proposed product or component changes are properly evaluated and appropriately implemented while mitigating associated risks for the production / equipment processes.

You Have

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 10+ years of experience in process or manufacturing engineering within the automotive industry, with direct experience handling automotive sensors, ECUs or complex electronic assemblies.
• Technical Skills: Deep understanding of "build to print" manufacturing models, automated assembly processes, testing/calibration of sensors, and automotive core tools (APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, SPC, MSA).
• Supplier Management: Proven ability to drive Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers and equipment integrators to meet strict launch deadlines and quality metrics.
• Commercial Acumen: Hands-on experience reviewing, negotiating, and executing technical contracts, SOWs, and capital equipment agreements.
• Program Management: Strong project management skills. PMP certification is a strong plus.

We Prefer

• Advanced Manufacturing Experience: Hands-on experience with automation, active alignment (AA) of optical lenses, precision automated adhesive/TIM dispensing, UV curing, wire bonding, or cleanroom manufacturing (ISO Class 5-7).
• Specialized Testing Knowledge: Familiarity with end-of-line (EOL) functional testing for ECUs, optical target rooms for cameras/LiDAR, or RF testing in anechoic chambers for radar.
• Certifications: Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Software Proficiency: Experience using statistical analysis software (e.g., Minitab, JMP) to analyze supplier yield data, and basic proficiency in CAD (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks) to review engineering prints and supplier DFM feedback.
• Industry Standards: Deep working knowledge of TS16949, ISO 26262 (Functional Safety) and ASPICE, specifically how they dictate manufacturing traceability, serialization, and line-side controls.

Travel Requirements

• 30% to travel domestically and internationally to supplier manufacturing sites as required during critical launch phases.

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