Proving Ground Site Lead

Waymo
Phoenix, US
On-site

Who this role is best for

Aimed at senior professionals with experience in physical testing and leadership in automotive or aerospace, requiring hybrid work near Phoenix.

Best fit for

  • Senior leaders who have managed large-scale testing operations in automotive or aerospace.
    — “Lead a large proving ground and be directly responsible for the activity on site
  • Professionals experienced in strategic planning for test facilities and infrastructure.
    — “Develop and execute the strategic proving ground planning for the site
  • Individuals with a track record of managing cross-functional teams and vendor relationships.
    — “Lead the relationships with our operating partners

Things to consider

  • The role requires 10% travel to various test facilities.
    — “10% travel to support: Traveling to Waymo’s headquarters
  • The work site is located approximately 45 minutes outside of Phoenix.
    — “The location of the work site is approximately 45 min outside of Phoenix

How to stand out

  • Highlight specific instances where you improved testing methodologies or efficiency.
    — “propose the most efficient and effective testing methodologies
  • Demonstrate experience with autonomous vehicle testing and related technologies.
    — “Experience with physical hands-on testing of Autonomous Vehicles
  • Showcase your ability to manage high-visibility projects and stakeholder communications.
    — “Experience maintaining high-visibility project schedules and campaign tracking
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · CompanyLevel · Senior

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • leading a large proving ground and ensuring testing and engineering operations meet quality and project timeline requirements
Typical background
experience in physical testing in automotive, aerospace or robotics

Skills & requirements

Required

Physical Testing In Automotive, Aerospace Or RoboticsTest Equipment And Data AcquisitionDeveloping Or Operating Test TracksWorking Closely With VendorsLeading Large Cross Functional TeamsProgram Management Tools

Preferred

Experience With Automotive Testing Across A Diverse Range Of Operating ConditionsPhysical Hands-on Testing Of Autonomous VehiclesMaintaining High-visibility Project SchedulesKnowledge Of Systems Engineering Principles

Stack & domain

Physical TestingTest EquipmentData AcquisitionTest TracksMilitary Proving GroundsWind TunnelsAirportsProgram Management ToolsJiraGoogle DocsInternal Issue TrackersSystems EngineeringVerification Coverage PlansSystem Level RequirementsLeadershipCollaborationProblem-solvingCommunicationAutonomous DrivingVehicle DynamicsAdasNoise And VibrationDurabilitySensingPerceptionTest Campaigns

About the role

Original posting from Waymo

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.

Waymo's Systems Engineering team works together to blend software and hardware systems in groundbreaking new ways. We set the high performance standards that ensure our vehicles run smoothly and keep passengers safe, then design and perform the tests that validate that performance. We're looking for talented teammates who’ll help us maintain strong teamwork and are passionate about driving results.

This role follows a hybrid work schedule and reports to Systems Test Engineering Manager. 

 

You will:

Lead a large proving ground and be directly responsible for the activity on site ensuring that the testing and engineering operations are executed safely, efficiently and are meeting Waymo’s quality and project timeline requirements

Develop and execute the strategic proving ground planning for the site by proactively identifying new testing requirements and proposing the infrastructure, staffing, and tooling needed to meet those needs, and then overseeing the implementation of those projects

Lead the relationships with our operating partners to ensure that engineering and operating SLA’s are met and to continuously improve the collaboration between facilities, operations, engineering, technician, and driver staff 

Evaluate novel test plans and test campaigns to ensure that they can be executed safely and propose the most efficient and effective testing methodologies

Host and lead drive events and technical demonstrations on site for external partners and government officials

 

You have:

Experience in physical testing in automotive, aerospace or robotics, including test equipment and data acquisition

Experience in developing or operating test tracks, military proving grounds, wind tunnels or airports

Experience working closely with vendors providing engineering,  testing, or operational services

The ability to effectively lead large cross functional teams

Direct, hands on experience with a variety of program management tools, commonly used tools are Jira, Google Docs and internal issue trackers

Demonstrated experience in setting the strategy and  leading large  engineering programs or test campaigns

 

We prefer:

Experience with automotive testing across a diverse range of operating  conditions and technical domains (Vehicle Dynamics, ADAS, Noise and Vibration, Durability, Sensing, Perception, etc.) 

Experience with physical hands-on testing of Autonomous Vehicles and related technologies

Experience maintaining high-visibility project schedules and campaign tracking to ensure project clarity and stakeholder management

Strong knowledge of Systems Engineering principles and experience with verification coverage plans developed from system level requirements

 

Travel requirements:

10% travel to support: Traveling to Waymo’s headquarters as well as other test facilities and proving grounds to support test campaigns

 

*The location of the work site is approximately 45 min outside of Phoenix.

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

Source: Waymo careers

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