Wayve is a UK self-driving technology startup that develops end-to-end neural network driving software for assisted and fully automated driving.
THE ROLE We're looking for an exceptional leader to spearhead our new Application Engineering team, a self-sufficient and high-impact group focused on localising and advancing our autonomous driving technology for the US market. This is a unique opportunity to shape Wayve’s AV capabilities in the US from the ground up. As a founding manager, you’ll lead a small but mighty team of engineers working across robotics, machine learning, and systems integration. You'll drive development of autonomy features tailored for US's road infrastructure, cultural driving behaviours, and regulatory landscape, ensuring our AV stack performs safely and effectively in this highly distinctive environment. We’re looking for someone who thrives in self-directed, startup-like conditions, capable of setting a vision, executing fast, and making robust decisions independently — while staying aligned with global engineering efforts. This role requires breadth: strong experience across AV systems, including robotics and autonomy, is essential. If you also bring deep expertise in machine learning, that's a major plus. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: - Build and lead a self-sufficient AV development team in the US, hiring and mentoring top talent across Robotics and ML. - Deliver autonomy capabilities tailored to road conditions and driving norms, in close collaboration with central Autonomy teams. - Drive full-cycle development: from identifying local autonomy needs, to designing, implementing, testing, and deploying features into production. - Ensure the team upholds Wayve’s high engineering standards, while operating with agility and independence. - Work closely with OEM partners in the US — representing Wayve’s autonomy team in technical discussions, capturing product requirements, and shaping joint development plans. - Establish close working relationships with our product and vehicle operations teams in the US. ABOUT YOU To be successful in this role, you'll bring strong technical expertise, proven leadership skills, and a passion for building robust autonomous systems that can adapt to diverse real-world challenges. ESSENTIAL - A strong background in robotics and autonomy, with experience building and deploying systems that operate in real-world environments. - Demonstrated ability to lead and grow high-performing engineering teams, ideally in geographically distributed or independent settings. - Comfortable with ambiguity: you can define goals, carve out roadmaps, and deliver high-impact work with minimal supervision. - Broad technical fluency: capable of reviewing and guiding work across software engineering, ML, controls, and systems integration. - Excellent communication skills: you’re able to clearly convey technical context and strategic vision across cultures and time zones. - Strong product sense and stakeholder management skills: you’re comfortable interfacing directly with OEM customers and representing engineering in external-facing conversations. DESIRABLE - Prior experience in autonomous vehicles or robotic systems operating at scale. - Familiarity with US's road environment, driving behaviour, or AV regulatory landscape. - A strong foundation in machine learning and its application to real-time decision-making or perception systems. This role is a full-time role based in Sunnyvale, CA or Detroit (hybrid) and the reasonably estimated salary for this role ranges from $336,400 to $381,600, plus a competitive equity package. Actual compensation is based on the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. At Wayve we want the best of all worlds so we operate a hybrid working policy that combines time together in our offices and workshops to fuel innovation, culture, relationships and learning, and time spent working from home. We operate core working hours so you can determine the schedule that works best for you and your team. #LI-KM1