Lead Program Manager
Waymo
Lead Program Manager
Waymo
Builds self-driving AI and runs a robotaxi service
Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver—The World's Most Experienced Driver™—to improve access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo’s fully autonomous ride-hail service and can also be applied to a range of vehicle platforms and product use cases. The Waymo Driver has provided over ten million rider-only trips, enabled by its experience autonomously driving over 100 million miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 15+ U.S. states.
Waymo Operations exists to deliver the Waymo Driver to the world. We are a global team building and scaling the world's first and leading autonomous fleet and operations platform. From component sourcing to end customer management, we enable and create value for Waymo through scaled and orchestrated deployment of the Waymo Driver. At Waymo, we are dedicated to building a culture that promotes collaboration and celebration. We value our team members' unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences and support and encourage all team members to share their ideas to help Waymo better serve the communities in which we operate.
In this hybrid role, you will report to a Head of Validation Operations
You will:
Lead NPI Platform Program Execution: Drive end-to-end program structuring for onboarding new platform variants into validation fleets, managing the critical path from arrival and upfit to testing and fleet deployment.
Hands-on Operational Problem Solving: Bridge high-level program strategy with ground-level realities, stepping directly into depot/field operations as needed to unblock issues and validate processes.
Executive Reporting & Visibility: Formulate, automate, and present executive dashboards and operating metrics, effectively communicating operational readiness, program risks, and fleet bottlenecks to senior leadership.
You have:
Operational & Program Leadership: 7–10+ years of experience leading complex technical programs or physical operations, with a proven ability to structure ambiguous initiatives from concept to execution.
Hands-on / "Scrappy" Mindset: Willingness to engage directly with ground-level depot workflows and physical hardware when technical roadblocks require operational triage.
Cross-Functional Orchestration: Proven track record aligning cross-functional teams (Engineering, Product, Supply Chain, Safety, Legal) across shifting timelines and competing priorities.
We prefer:
Hardware / NPI Testing Experience: Direct experience launching or validating automotive, autonomous vehicle, or robotics hardware platforms.
Vendor & Field Operations: Experience managing third-party vendor operations, staffing models, or depot operations.
Travel Requirements:
The expected base salary range for this full-time position across US locations is listed below. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process.
Waymo employees are also eligible to participate in Waymo’s discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.
Salary Range 190000 - 234000 USD
Waymo builds self-driving technology and uses it to run a ride-hailing service in which passengers summon electric cars with no one behind the wheel. In 2020, it became the first company to open fully driverless rides to the public, starting in metro Phoenix. Its system, the Waymo Driver, pairs cameras, radar and laser sensors called lidar with onboard computers whose AI predicts what nearby people and vehicles will do and drives the car. Riders pay per trip through the Waymo app, or through Uber in some cities, while Waymo and fleet partners keep the cars charged and maintained. Waymo began as a Google project in 2009 and became a separate Alphabet company in 2016; it is based in Mountain View, California.
Explore more opportunities at Waymo