Sr. Software Engineer, Backend

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.

The platforms team is seeking a senior software engineer to mature the infrastructure supporting one of Waymo’s driving simulation technologies. This simulation system runs in a configuration as similar as possible to the real vehicle, on the same compute hardware as the vehicle. Incorporating the vehicle’s compute system enables high-fidelity simulations that can find performance and reliability issues, and can accurately simulate fault responses and system mode transitions.

In this role, you will:

• Improve backend web services that support simulations. This includes quota management, integration with systems that perform simulation preprocessing and postprocessing, and integration points with teams that rely on simulation results.


• Improve tools used by data center technicians to provision new systems and to manage systems that require maintenance. Improve visibility into onsite systems.


• Improve tools to manage colocated machines that control power and cooling for embedded hardware systems.


• Track and drive improvements to simulation efficiency.

You have

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or equivalent practical experience.


• 5+ years of experience delivering complex, production-quality web services.


• Proficiency in C++ and a scripting language like Python.


• Experience managing Linux systems.

We prefer:

• Master’s degree in computer science or equivalent practical experience.


• Experience driving change in very large codebases.


• Experience with software that interfaces with embedded systems.


• Familiarity with ansible or a similar fleet orchestration tool.


• Familiarity with operating systems concepts like networking and filesystems.

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

$204,000—$259,000 USD