Staff Product Development Mechanical Engineer (Sensors)

TL;DR

Staff Product Development Mechanical Engineer (Sensors): Leading the end-to-end development of critical sensor systems for autonomous driving technology with an accent on optical, thermal, and structural optimization. Focus on architecting robust hardware for mass production and managing complex tradeoffs in harsh real-world environments.

Location: On-site or Hybrid in Mountain View, California

Salary: $230,000—$284,000 USD

Company

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company building the World's Most Experienced Driver to improve mobility and safety.

What you will do

• Own the full product lifecycle of critical sensor systems, from initial architecture and prototyping to mass production.
• Apply first-principles engineering to manage complex optical, thermal, and structural tradeoffs in real-world environments.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with electrical, manufacturing, vehicle, and industrial design teams.
• Design robust parts using various materials while managing tolerance analysis, GD&T, BOMs, and PLM release processes.

Requirements

• BS in Mechanical Engineering with 7+ years of industry experience in consumer electronics or automotive sensors.
• High proficiency in 3D CAD tools, specifically Catia V6 and/or Solidworks.
• Deep experience designing metal, plastic, and elastomer parts.
• Strong grasp of tolerance analysis and GD&T.
• Demonstrated ability to apply foundational physics to structural, thermal, and optical constraints.

Nice to have

• 10+ years of experience in opto-mechanical design or complex consumer electronics.
• Hands-on experience with LiDAR, radar, cameras, displays, actuators, and/or motors.
• Proven track record of integrating optomechanical components into tightly constrained designs.
• Experience managing and auditing international manufacturing vendors to scale production.

Culture & Benefits

• Participation in a discretionary annual bonus program.
• Equity incentive plan.
• Generous company benefits program.