Director of Engineering (AI)

TL;DR

Director of Engineering (AI/Simulation): Leading the London site and Sim Realism team to build state-of-the-art simulations for autonomous driving with an accent on generative foundation models and sensor-level simulation. Focus on scaling a high-tier engineering organization, aligning technical roadmaps with AI-first objectives, and accelerating R&D through partnerships with Google DeepMind.

Location: London, England (Hybrid/Onsite)

Salary: £230,000—£242,000 GBP

Company

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company building the World's Most Experienced Driver to improve mobility and save lives through autonomous ride-hailing services.

What you will do

• Lead the London office and Sim Realism team, fostering a cohesive "One Waymo" culture across multiple functions.
• Serve as the primary executive link between Waymo's Foundation Model initiatives and Google DeepMind teams in the UK.
• Define and drive the technical roadmap for the London Sim Realism team, aligning with overarching AI-first objectives.
• Direct the research and engineering of cutting-edge generative models for sensor-level and semantic-level simulation.
• Recruit, manage, and mentor a top-tier engineering organization specializing in machine learning and generative AI.
• Partner with Real Estate & Workplace Services to execute a site strategy accommodating aggressive team growth.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a related field.
• Proven track record of leading and scaling large engineering organizations in fast-paced, research-driven environments.
• Deep foundational knowledge and applied expertise in machine learning and generative foundation models.
• Ability to drive complex, multi-year, cross-functional projects from conception to global impact.
• Extensive experience managing senior engineers, staff engineers, and technical leads.
• Must be based in or able to work from London, England.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with autonomous vehicle technology, robotics, or complex embodied AI systems.
• Exceptional executive communication skills and ability to influence stakeholders across reporting lines.
• Capability to translate ambiguous, long-term strategic goals into actionable engineering roadmaps.

Culture & Benefits

• Discretionary annual bonus program.
• Equity incentive plan.
• Generous comprehensive company benefits program.
• Opportunity to work at the forefront of autonomous driving and Generative AI.
• Collaborative environment involving ML engineers, software engineers, and data scientists.