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Principal Engineer, Data & Compute

wayveSunnyvale, California USAAI Platform
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Salary
$407,330 – $460,020
Job type
Full-time
Work mode
Remote
Experience
Senior · 10+ yrs
Posted
5 Oct 2026
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

Wayve is hiring a Principal Engineer for Data & Compute in Sunnyvale, California, to design core compute and storage systems for autonomous driving technology. This role suits an experienced distributed systems expert who wants to lead AI infrastructure strategy and mentor technical teams.

Role Overview

The Principal Engineer, Data & Compute will guide how core compute and storage systems evolve at Wayve. Operating in Sunnyvale, California, the position involves working across AI, systems, and cloud infrastructure to accelerate AI research and model deployment. The professional in this role will advise leadership on compute investments and mentor engineers on architecture and technical execution.

Key Responsibilities

Defining and evolving global compute strategy for training and inference workloads across thousands of GPUs and multiple data centers.
Designing petabyte-scale data federation systems for fast access to sensor and simulation data.
Building foundations for large-scale cross-region GPU job execution across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
Advising leadership on cloud infrastructure, aligning investments with company growth and performance goals.
Providing technical leadership and mentorship by coaching engineers and leading technical deep dives.

Requirements

10+ years designing and building large-scale distributed systems, with at least 4 years focused on GPU-based cloud infrastructure.
Experience enabling large-scale AI training, inference, or computer vision workloads in GPU clusters.
Deep understanding of petabyte-scale data architecture, storage federation, and high-throughput access.
Track record of defining architectural strategy and balancing long-term vision with delivery needs.
Natural mentoring ability with a history of developing engineers and influencing technical direction.
Advanced degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.

Nice to Have

Experience with multi-cloud orchestration for latency- or cost-sensitive pipelines.
Familiarity with Ray, Kubernetes, Airflow, or Flyte, along with fluency in AI/ML job scheduling and infrastructure-as-code.
Background supporting safety-critical or real-time inference use cases such as robotics or autonomous vehicles.
Interest in building infrastructure as a product for research and product teams.

Skills and Tools

GPUs
Ray
Kubernetes
Airflow
Flyte
Cloud Infrastructure
Distributed Systems

Salary and Benefits

Annual salary ranging from $407,330 to $460,020
Meaningful equity offering ownership in the company
Relocation support and visa sponsorship where applicable
Hybrid working model with flexible hours
Comprehensive benefits including health insurance, dental, retirement plans, and wellbeing partnerships
Learning and development budgets for training and conferences

About the Company

Wayve builds the leading AI platform for autonomous driving, using end-to-end neural networks that learn directly from real-world experience rather than hand-coded rules. The company integrates its hardware-agnostic platform with global OEM partners to scale vehicle automation from L2 plus through to L4. Wayve operates main hubs in London, Sunnyvale, Yokohama, Herzliya, Vancouver, and Leonberg.

How to Apply

Apply directly on the official company careers page.

Skills and tech stack

GPUsRayKubernetesAirflowFlyteComputer VisionDistributed Systems

Questions candidates ask

What is the salary for the Principal Engineer, Data & Compute role?

The salary ranges from $407,330 to $460,020, and the position includes equity.

Where is the position located?

The position is located in Sunnyvale, California USA, with Wayve operating a hybrid working model.

How many years of experience are required?

Candidates must have 10+ years designing and building large-scale distributed systems, including at least 4 years focused on GPU-based cloud infrastructure.

Is visa sponsorship available?

Yes, relocation support and visa sponsorship are available where applicable.

What tools and frameworks are mentioned as nice to have?

Familiarity with Ray, Kubernetes, Airflow, or Flyte is listed as a nice-to-have qualification.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official wayve careers page.

Apply on company site