Sensor Placement and Analysis Engineer

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 self-driving systems, and integrate those products into vehicle platforms. We're seeking curious and talented teammates to keep us moving in the right direction.

In this hybrid role, you will report to a Design Manager.

You will:

• Conduct rigorous geometric evaluations of sensor placement hypotheses, providing the thorough analysis necessary to guarantee our perception requirements are fully supported

• Evaluate and define multi-modal sensor placement strategies on existing and new vehicle platforms to maximize the field of view and operational design domain of the Waymo Driver

• Closely collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to help define, generate, and refine hardware and integration methods for our sensor suites

• Oversee the enhancement and adaptation of our analytical tools and reporting to boost operational capacity and precision as we continue to grow

• Utilize your understanding of object detection and classification to ensure that the physical placement of sensors meets the rigorous requirements of our perception software

• Leverage your knowledge of passenger vehicle geometry and integration methods to collaborate with mechanical design, packaging, industrial design, product teams to ensure optimal sensor placement, robust requirement alignment and verification of integrated sensor performance

You have:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or Physics (Required)

• Experience: 5-10 years of relevant professional industry experience in the Automotive or Aerospace & Defense sectors

• Sensor Subject Matter Expertise: Understanding of multi-modal sensing functionality, specifically how cameras, LiDARs, and radars operate as individual hardware units

• Systems Architecture: Strong grasp of how various sensing modalities complement each other and work together within an autonomous vehicle architecture

• Perception Fundamentals: A foundational understanding of how sensor data translates into perception capabilities, specifically regarding object detection and classification

• Expertise managing very large CAD (Computer Aided Design) assemblies & performing geometric layout analyses

We prefer:

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or Physics

• Experience with system engineering fundamentals: requirements definition, system design and architecture, trade studies, and verification and validation methods

• Experience working on large, complex systems and navigating ambiguity with multiple stakeholders while balancing accelerated timelines / implementation schedules

• Industrial Design / Studio sensitivity: we recognize that sensor aesthetics can be a polarizing topic, even if we appreciate their functionality

• A deep understanding of CAD tools, preferably CATIA

• Proficient at developing tasks and workflows that can be delegated to geometry creation (CAD) specialists, enabling you to focus on analysis and delivery

Domestic travel: 5% - 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 $196,000—$242,000 USD