7+ years in safety-critical systems development, particularly in steering systems
Proven ownership of system-level requirements and architecture for automotive steering
Strong understanding of steering hardware and vehicle dynamics
Solid foundation in systems engineering principles and testing methodologies
Proficient in Python or MATLAB for data analysis; able to read C/C++
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience
Responsibilities
Own steering system requirements for the Waymo Driver throughout their lifecycle
Drive fault-tolerance trade studies for steering architecture
Define and review steering fault monitors and system responses in collaboration with Functional Safety
Serve as technical lead with steering suppliers and OEM partners
Lead root-cause investigations of steering issues using vehicle logs and data analysis tools
Define verification strategy and sign off steering for driverless operation
Benefits
Participation in Waymo's discretionary annual bonus program
Equity incentive plan eligibility
Generous company benefits program
Hybrid work schedule
Travel opportunities for requirement implementation and verification
Full Job Description
This role follows a hybrid work schedule and you will report to a Vehicle Systems Architecture Lead.
You will:
Own steering system requirements (EPS and steer-by-wire) for the Waymo Driver through their full lifecycle, covering steering tracking performance, redundancy and safe behavior under faults
Drive steering architecture and fault-tolerance trade studies, such as dual-wound motors, dual ECUs and leader/follower arbitration, redundant sensing, power and communication, degraded-assist levels and thermal derating, to deliver fail-operational steering
Define and review steering fault monitors and the self-driving system's response to each fault (detection thresholds, debounce, latching and minimal-risk maneuvers), partnering with Functional Safety on ISO 26262 (ASIL D) safety concepts
Serve as the technical lead with steering suppliers and vehicle OEM partners: review specifications, firmware release content and CAN/CAN-FD interface definitions, and drive supplier defects to closure across sample phases
Lead root-cause investigations of steering issues found in HIL, on the test track and in the fleet, analyzing vehicle logs and CAN traces and building Python tools that automate analysis of fleet data
Define verification strategy and sign off steering for driverless operation, covering steering performance (latency, bandwidth, rack speed, tracking error, tire-limit behavior), thermal and endurance cases, and evidence from HIL, track and fleet testing
You have:
7+ years of experience developing and integrating safety-critical systems in the automotive, autonomous vehicle, aerospace, robotics, or related industries, with at least part of that time focused on steering systems
Demonstrated ownership of system-level requirements, architecture or control strategy for an automotive steering system (EPS, steer-by-wire or rear-wheel steering) at an OEM, Tier 1 supplier or AV company
Working knowledge of steering hardware and physics: rack, column and pinion EPS layouts, BLDC/PMSM motors and inverters, torque and angle sensing, rack force, and tire and vehicle dynamics basics
Strong foundation in systems engineering principles such as requirements definition and traceability, verification and validation, and HIL or vehicle-level testing
Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for data and log analysis, and the ability to read C/C++
Bachelor's Degree in a relevant Engineering or a related field (including ME, EE, CS, Robotics, Controls, Aerospace, etc.) or equivalent practical experience
We prefer:
Experience with redundant or fail-operational steering (dual-channel EPS or steer-by-wire), especially on L4 self-driving platforms
Experience applying ISO 26262 to steering: ASIL D safety concepts, FMEA/FTA, and how a supplier implements microcontroller safety mechanisms (e.g., lockstep cores, built-in self-tests and runtime reset limits)
Proven experience in technical supplier management, including authoring Statements of Work (SOW) or Requirement Specifications, leading technical design reviews, and managing firmware releases for safety-critical ECUs
Hands-on experience with Vector CANoe/CANalyzer, dSPACE, and vehicle-dynamics tools such as CarSim or IPG CarMaker
Experience working within standard automotive development and production release processes for ECUs and firmware, such as APQP, phase gates and A/B/C/D samples
Proficiency in Korean or Japanese, to support technical reviews with partners
Travel requirements:
Up to 8 weeks of travel; (domestic and international) to support requirement implementation with partners or verification at test sites
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.
