Staff Product Development Mechanical Engineer, Sensors

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

Job summary

Waymo is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer in Hardware Engineering to own sensor systems from architecture and prototyping through tooling and mass production. You will apply first-principles thinking to navigate optical, thermal, and structural tradeoffs in harsh environments while collaborating with electrical, manufacturing, vehicle, and industrial design teams.

The role emphasizes robust design practices, scaling production, and working within a hybrid work model with competitive

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering with 7+ years of industry experience in consumer electronics, automotive sensors, or related complex product design.
• CAD Mastery: Highly proficient in 3D CAD tools with Catia V6 and/or Solidworks preferred.
• Technical Breadth: Deep experience designing metal, plastic, and elastomer parts with tolerance analysis and GD&T.
• First-Principles Thinker: Apply foundational physics to design problems including structural, thermal, and optical constraints.

Responsibilities

• Own the Hardware: Take complete end-to-end ownership of critical sensor systems, from initial architecture and prototyping through tooling and mass production.
• Design for Reality: Navigate complex optical, thermal, and structural tradeoffs in harsh real-world environments using first-principles thinking.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Work with electrical, manufacturing, vehicle, and industrial design teams to develop modular solutions.
• Design for Scale: Create robust parts using various materials while managing tolerance analysis, GD&T, BOMs, and PLM release processes.

Skills

Catia V6

Solidworks

Tolerance analysis

GD&T

First-principles thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Catia V6

Solidworks

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. We're seeking curious and talented teammates to keep us moving in the right direction.

This hybrid role will report to a Staff Mechanical Engineer.

You will:

• Own the Hardware: Take complete end-to-end ownership of critical sensor systems, driving the product lifecycle from initial architecture and prototyping through tooling and mass production

• Design for Reality: Apply first-principles engineering to navigate complex optical, thermal, and structural tradeoffs in harsh real-world environments

• Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Partnering closely with electrical, manufacturing, vehicle, and industrial design teams to develop modules that meet the needs of our business

• Design for Scale: Create robust parts using a variety of materials while rigorously managing tolerance analysis, GD&T, BOMs, and PLM release processes

You have:

• Experience: BS in Mechanical Engineering with 7+ years of industry experience in consumer electronics, automotive sensors, or related complex product design

• CAD Mastery: Highly proficient in 3D CAD tools (Catia V6 and/or Solidworks preferred)

• Technical Breadth: Deep experience designing metal, plastic, and elastomer parts, backed by a strong grasp of tolerance analysis and GD&T

• First-Principles Thinker: A demonstrated ability to apply foundational physics to design problems that may include: structural, thermal, and optical constraints

We prefer:

• 10+ years of experience in opto-mechanical design, complex consumer electronics, or automotive sensors

• Hands-on experience architecting or integrating LiDAR, radar, cameras, displays, actuators, and/or motors

• Proven track record of integrating optomechanical components into tightly constrained product designs

• Experience managing, auditing, and visiting international manufacturing vendors to scale production

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