Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
10+ years of experience in process or manufacturing engineering in the automotive sector, specifically with sensors and ECUs.
Deep understanding of 'build to print' manufacturing and automated assembly processes.
Proven ability to manage Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers to meet launch deadlines and quality metrics.
Hands-on experience with technical contracts, SOWs, and capital equipment agreements.
Strong project management skills; PMP certification is a plus.
Responsibilities
Lead the deployment of automotive autonomous sensors and ECUs at supplier facilities.
Ensure manufacturing processes comply with engineering standards and automotive quality requirements.
Act as the primary technical project manager for supplier launches, tracking timelines and milestones.
Collaborate with Procurement and Legal to develop technical specifications and manage contracts.
Serve as the technical liaison between internal teams and external manufacturing partners.
Identify and resolve manufacturing bottlenecks and implement corrective actions for efficiency.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives based on past project learnings.
Benefits
Participation in Waymo's discretionary annual bonus program.
Eligibility for equity incentive plan.
Access to a generous company benefits program.
Full Job Description
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
About Waymo
Waymo LLC is a self-driving technology development company. It is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google. Waymo develops autonomous driving technology and provides ride-hailing services through its Waymo One program. The company has been testing its self-driving technology on public roads since 2009 and has logged millions of miles of autonomous driving. Waymo has partnerships with several automakers and has been working on developing autonomous trucks for use in logistics.
