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 technical leader to spearhead our new Japan-based Application Engineer team, a self-sufficient and high-impact group focused on localising and advancing our autonomous driving technology for the Japanese market. This is a unique opportunity to shape Wayve’s AV capabilities in Japan from the ground up. Here 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 Japan’s road infrastructure, cultural driving behaviours, and regulatory landscape, ensuring our AV stack performs safely and effectively in this highly distinctive environment. Given the geographical and time zone distance from our London HQ, your team will operate with significant autonomy. 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 Japan, hiring and mentoring top talent across robotics and ML. - Deliver autonomy capabilities tailored to Japanese road conditions and driving norms, in close collaboration with central Autonomy teams. - Act as the primary technical and operational bridge between the Japan office and HQ, aligning roadmaps and communicating local insights. - 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 Japan — 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 Japan. ABOUT YOU In order to set you up for success as a ML Engineering Manager at Wayve, we’re looking for the following skills and experience. 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 Japan’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 - Japanese language proficiency (not required, but useful for day-to-day coordination). This is a full-time role based in our office. 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