Waymo Logo

Waymo

Staff Hardware Reliability Engineer

Posted 6 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
In-Office
Mountain View, CA, USA
210K-259K Annually
Expert/Leader
In-Office
Mountain View, CA, USA
210K-259K Annually
Expert/Leader
Lead end-to-end reliability program for a Waymo hardware product (e.g., LiDAR) across development, verification, production ramp, and field deployment. Define reliability processes (DFMEA, FTA), develop test and validation programs with vendors, create roadmaps and schedules, evaluate designs and vendors, manage failure analysis and root-cause resolution, and mitigate program-level reliability risks.
The summary above was generated by AI

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.

This role will report to a Manager of Hardware Reliability Engineering. 

You will:

  • Lead the reliability program for a Waymo hardware product area (e.g. LiDAR) across its full lifecycle from early development and prototyping, through EVT - DVT - PVT - production ramp and field deployment
  • Define and improve reliability processes, including risk analyses (DFMEA, FTA), design verification, test and failure analysis, and cross-functional optimizations
  • Work closely with US-based and international CMs, ODMs and Tier-1s to develop reliability test and validation programs that meet Waymo’s standards of reliability
  • Develop, communicate, and maintain long-term reliability roadmaps and strategies for your product area. Work collaboratively with TPMs  to build reliability schedules and take responsibility for all deliverables while updating senior engineering leadership
  • Provide technical evaluations and strategic recommendations on designs, processes, materials and vendor selection to teams within the Waymo Engineering, and navigate complex vendor relationships
  • Manage program-level risks related to complex, multi-dimensional reliability issues and play a key role in mitigate those risks

You have:

  • Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Material Science, or Physics
  • 10 years of experience in end to end management of reliability programs for complex electromechanical systems
  • Experience in delivering on the reliability of 1-2 generations of products, from concept & prototyping, to production ramp and field deployment. 
  • Experience in managing the DFMEA or other risk analysis process across a product line. 
  • Extensive experience developing comprehensive reliability test plans, resolving complex failure analyses, and leading root-cause resolution across functions.
  • Strong technical background in the mechanics of materials and physics of failure for electronics and sensors.

We prefer:

  • PhD Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Material Science, or Physics
  • 15 years of experience, as a manager, directing the reliability program at CMs, ODMs or international vendors and suppliers for electronic components and sub-systems
  • Experience in OEM automotive, Tier-1 suppliers, autonomous vehicle or sensor domain reliability
  • Experience in managing a reliability test lab with thermal, vibration and environmental test equipment
  • Product development and launch experience across multiple independent, high-volume hardware product categories.
  • Strong mentorship skills with a track record of driving technical leadership within a team

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
$210,000$259,000 USD
HQ

Waymo Mountain View, California, USA Office

1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA, United States, 94043

Waymo San Francisco, California, USA Office

San Francisco, United States

Similar Jobs

8 Days Ago
In-Office
South San Francisco, CA, USA
Senior level
Senior level
Aerospace • Hardware • Logistics • Robotics • Software • Transportation
Lead reliability strategy for high-power, high-voltage power-electronics (starting with grid-connected converters/charging systems). Identify dominant failure risks, run DFMEAs, design physics-based accelerated tests, perform failure analysis, define service limits, and provide cross-functional reliability leadership and sign-off.
Top Skills: Accelerated Life TestingAltBattery SystemsBusbarsConnectorsDfmeaEv Charging SystemsFailure AnalysisGrid-Connected ConvertersHigh-Bandgap SemiconductorsHigh-Current InterconnectsHigh-Voltage Power ElectronicsInsulation SystemsInvertersPcb LayoutPhysics-Of-FailurePower ConvertersSchematic DesignThermal Management
25 Days Ago
In-Office
Mountain View, CA, USA
181K-262K Annually
Senior level
181K-262K Annually
Senior level
Automotive
Lead hardware reliability testing and validation for automotive power and compute systems. Develop and run stress, environmental, and failure-mode tests; analyze failures, drive root-cause and corrective actions, report findings, and mentor reliability engineers while collaborating with cross-functional teams to improve hardware design and meet automotive reliability standards.
Top Skills: 5-Why8DDfmeaEcuFishboneHaltHassJmpPpapPythonWeibull++
3 Days Ago
Hybrid
San Francisco, CA, USA
Expert/Leader
Expert/Leader
Robotics
Drive hardware reliability for autonomous construction machines: define reliability strategy and requirements, lead DFMEAs and FTAs, build reliability models and tests (HALT/HASS, ALT), run FRACAS and root-cause investigations, qualify suppliers, and convert field failures into design and process improvements.
Top Skills: MinitabPdmPlmPythonRRelexReliasoft BlocksimReliasoft Weibull++Windchill Quality

What you need to know about the San Francisco Tech Scene

San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area attracts more startup funding than any other region in the world. Home to Stanford University and UC Berkeley, leading VC firms and several of the world’s most valuable companies, the Bay Area is the place to go for anyone looking to make it big in the tech industry. That said, San Francisco has a lot to offer beyond technology thanks to a thriving art and music scene, excellent food and a short drive to several of the country’s most beautiful recreational areas.

Key Facts About San Francisco Tech

  • Number of Tech Workers: 365,500; 13.9% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
  • Major Tech Employers: Google, Apple, Salesforce, Meta
  • Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, consumer technology, software
  • Funding Landscape: $50.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
  • Notable Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins
  • Research Centers and Universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of San Francisco; Santa Clara University; Ames Research Center; Center for AI Safety; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account