About this role
Waymo builds the Waymo Driver to deliver a fully autonomous ride-hail service and improve mobility access. The Proving Ground Technician Manager scales global fleet readiness by diagnosing novel issues, enabling partners in depots, and supporting engineering peers for rapid platform enablement. Daily work involves managing complex testing programs across multiple facilities, shifting resources for accelerated vehicle programs, establishing operational SLAs, and coordinating closed course testing with engineering leads.
Operational leadership in this group requires high technical capacity, workshop management experience, and the ability to handle shifting software and hardware testing configurations. Ideal candidates possess strong analytical skills, workshop management experience, and a background in supporting technician teams within proving ground or closed course environments. This onsite role in Tempe reports to the Senior Lead, Fleet Readiness, and involves up to 20% travel.
What you will do
- Manage complex and detailed testing program requirements to develop the Waymo driver and new OEM integration platforms at scale.
- Pivot and realign resources to support shifting program needs, transitioning between mature platforms, early prototypes, and platform mules.
- Prioritize new workflows, overlapping requirements, and conflicting needs from program managers to align with active fleet counts and NPI phases.
- Establish SLAs and KPIs with extended workforce teams and vendor managers for fleet health maintenance, work order resolution, and lab asset build-up.
- Coordinate testing priorities and workflows with cross-functional engineering leads, including Systems Engineering teams running closed course missions.
- Plan, manage, and project team and resource growth relative to supported programs and engineering demand requirements.
What you need
- Demonstrate a high level of technical capacity to communicate across stakeholders, support root cause analysis, and integrate with the Systems Engineering ecosystem.
- Bring workshop management experience supporting technician teams, testing environments, tooling, and infrastructure in a proving ground or closed course setting.
- Possess experience supporting rapidly changing software firmware and hardware testing configurations across multiple platforms simultaneously.
- Show the ability to pivot resources and realign to dynamically shifting needs from mature platforms to complex, less mature assets.
- Exhibit strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills for working with cross-functional teams, external partners, and executives.
- Apply analytical skills to identify developmental opportunities and communicate them effectively.
Nice to have
- Experience with OEM and novel diagnostic tools for testing and troubleshooting in unique validation environments
- High level understanding of various self-driving vehicle systems such as sensors, compute, wiring, power, actuators, and chassis communication
- Technical hands-on experience with vehicle platforms for end-to-end vehicle test and fleet maintenance requirements
- Experience designing, improving, and deploying operational processes using change management best practices
- Familiarity with fleet operations or fleet management principles
Benefits
- Discretionary annual bonus program
- Equity incentive plan
- Company benefits program
Questions candidates ask
What are the travel requirements for this role?
The travel requirements for this position are up to 20%.
What is the salary range for this position?
The expected base salary range for this full-time position is $130,000 to $137,000 USD, with actual starting pay based on job-related factors.
Where is the job located?
This role will work onsite in the office in Tempe, AZ, USA.
Who does this position report to?
This position reports to the Senior Lead, Fleet Readiness.