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Waymo Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted ... Experience with engineering artifacts, reliability monitoring and alerting, security and privacy ...

In this hybrid role, you will report to an Engineering Manager. You will: * Develop business logic software to evolve driving performance of the Waymo Driver * Work cross-functionally on safety, road ...

Define and drive the technical vision, strategy, and roadmap for the Data Engineering team, aligning with Waymo's goals. * Oversee the design, development, and operation of scalable and reliable data ...

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Waymo Engineering information

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$32.1K

$62.2K

$94.2K

How much do waymo engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for waymo engineering in California is $62,152.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46,400.00 and $71,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much do Waymo engineers make?

Waymo engineers typically earn between $100,000 and $160,000 annually, depending on experience, role, and location. Salaries for software and autonomous vehicle engineers often include additional benefits such as stock options and bonuses, and require skills in programming, robotics, or machine learning.

What are some common challenges faced by engineers working at Waymo, and how are they addressed within the team?

Engineers at Waymo often encounter complex technical challenges related to developing and refining autonomous vehicle systems, such as ensuring safety, reliability, and scalability of self-driving technology. These challenges are addressed through a collaborative, cross-functional team environment where engineers work closely with specialists in hardware, software, machine learning, and testing. Regular code reviews, simulation testing, and open communication help identify and solve issues efficiently. Additionally, Waymo encourages ongoing learning and knowledge sharing to stay at the forefront of innovation in autonomous driving.

What is the difference between Waymo Engineering vs Waymo Software Developer?

AspectWaymo EngineeringWaymo Software Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; experience in autonomous vehicle systemsBachelor's or higher in Computer Science or related field; programming skills in C++, Python
Work EnvironmentResearch and development, testing autonomous vehicle hardware and systemsSoftware development, coding, debugging, and deployment of autonomous vehicle software
Employer & Industry UsageUsed within Waymo's autonomous vehicle projects, often in cross-disciplinary teamsPrimarily within Waymo's software teams, focusing on application and system development

Waymo Engineering roles focus on hardware integration, system testing, and research in autonomous vehicle technology, while Waymo Software Developers concentrate on coding, software design, and implementation of autonomous driving systems. Both roles require technical expertise but differ in their focus areas within the autonomous vehicle industry.

What is Waymo Engineering?

Waymo Engineering refers to the team and roles involved in designing, developing, and maintaining the technology behind Waymo's self-driving vehicles. Engineers at Waymo work on areas such as software development, artificial intelligence, robotics, sensor integration, and vehicle systems. Their primary goal is to create safe, reliable, and efficient autonomous driving technology by solving complex technical challenges. The engineering team collaborates across disciplines to ensure the vehicles can understand and navigate the world safely.

Is it hard to get a job at Waymo?

Getting a job at Waymo as an engineer can be competitive, often requiring a strong background in software development, robotics, or related fields, along with relevant experience and skills in autonomous vehicle technology. Candidates typically go through multiple interview rounds assessing technical expertise, problem-solving ability, and cultural fit.

What engineer works on the Waymo cars?

Engineers working on Waymo cars include software engineers, hardware engineers, and robotics engineers who develop autonomous driving systems, sensors, and algorithms. These roles often require expertise in areas such as machine learning, computer vision, and embedded systems, and involve collaboration across multidisciplinary teams to ensure safety and reliability.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior engineers at leading technology companies, including those working on autonomous vehicle systems like Waymo, can earn $500,000 or more annually through base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Such compensation typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills in software development, and contributions to high-impact projects in the field of autonomous driving or AI engineering.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Waymo Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Waymo Engineer, you need expertise in computer science, robotics, or a related engineering field, with strong proficiency in programming languages such as C++ or Python. Familiarity with autonomous vehicle systems, machine learning frameworks, and tools like ROS or TensorFlow is typically required, along with relevant certifications or advanced degrees. Excellent problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help engineers innovate and collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams. These skills are crucial for developing safe, reliable autonomous driving technology that meets rigorous industry standards.
What are the most commonly searched types of Waymo Engineering jobs in California? The most popular types of Waymo Engineering jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Waymo Engineering jobs in California? For Waymo Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in California are hiring for Waymo Engineering jobs? Cities in California with the most Waymo Engineering job openings:
Software Engineer, Strategic SWE Reserve

Software Engineer, Strategic SWE Reserve

Waymo

Mountain View, CA โ€ข On-site, Remote

$170K - $259K/yr

Other

Posted 28 days ago


Job description

Software Engineer, Strategic SWE Reserve

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 Driverโ€”The World's Most Experienced Driverโ„ขโ€”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.

The Strategic SWE Reserve (SSR) is a versatile task force designed to bridge the gaps in Waymo's most critical scaling efforts. We operate as internal generalists, jumping into any part of the stackโ€”from onboard software that drives the car to offboard infrastructure that directs our fleet of thousands of carsโ€”to fix problems & unblock high-priority goals. This role requires an engineer who is "breadth first" and loves working in new codebases. If you are a doer who prefers delivering high-leverage solutions, SSR offers the broadest possible view of how we build and scale the World's Most Experienced Driver.

In this hybrid role, you will report to a Technical Lead Manager

You will:

  • Work across all of Waymo's codebase to fix time-sensitive scaling bottlenecks for our Ride Hailing product
  • Build tools to allow Waymo to monitor & improve our driving behavior
  • Identify problems & pain points that fall between teams/organizations and work with stakeholders to solve them
  • Quickly ramp and contribute in many parts of the Waymo stack

You have:

  • BS/MS/PHD in Computer Science, similar technical field of study, or equivalent practical experience
  • General software engineering experience programming in C++ with robust and efficient code
  • A "Breadth-First" mindset โ€“ you love learning about new things & thinking about how to make them better
  • Ability to collaborate within and across teams
  • Ability to rapidly ramp up on new codebases/projects

We prefer:

  • 3+ years of Software Engineering experience
  • Experience using SQL to collect & analyze data

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 $170,000โ€”$259,000 USD