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Senior Mechanical Engineer

Sunnyvale, California USA

hardware & supply chain

At Wayve we're committed to creating a diverse, fair and respectful culture that is inclusive of everyone based on their unique skills and perspectives, and regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy or related condition  (including breastfeeding) or any other basis as protected by applicable law.  

About us   

Founded in 2017, Wayve is the leading developer of Embodied AI technology.  Our advanced AI software and foundation models enable vehicles to perceive, understand, and navigate any complex environment, enhancing the usability and safety of automated driving systems.

Our vision is to create autonomy that propels the world forward.  Our intelligent, mapless, and hardware-agnostic AI products are designed for automakers, accelerating the transition from assisted to automated driving. 

In our fast-paced environment big problems ignite us—we embrace uncertainty, leaning into complex challenges to unlock groundbreaking solutions. We aim high and stay humble in our pursuit of excellence, constantly learning and evolving as we pave the way for a smarter, safer future.

At Wayve, your contributions matter.  We value diversity, embrace new perspectives, and foster an inclusive work environment; we back each other to deliver impact.  

Make Wayve the experience that defines your career!  

The role 

We’re seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer with the Hardware team to lead the integration of complex mechanical systems across on next‑generation vehicle platforms. This role is primarily focused on new architecture and core technology development and sits at the intersection of mechanical design and autonomous vehicle systems integration.

You’ll bring deep mechanical engineering expertise and a pragmatic integration mindset, working closely with Electrical, Software, Manufacturing, Test, and Operations teams to ensure mechanical subsystems come together cleanly at the vehicle level. You’ll also provide technical leadership and mentorship, helping shape both the systems and the engineers who build them.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead mechanical design and systems integration across multiple vehicle platforms, from early architecture through prototype builds and deployment.
• Working closely with sensing and autonomy teams to deliver mounting and closures meeting advanced autonomy requirements.
• Own mechanical integration strategy, including interfaces, tolerances, packaging, serviceability, and assembly sequence.
• Drive cross‑functional alignment between Mechanical Design, Electrical, Software, Manufacturing, Test, and Operations to resolve integration risks early.
• Mentor and guide engineers, fostering strong ownership, systems thinking, and a collaborative team culture.

About you  

In order to set you up for success as a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Wayve, we’re looking for the following skills and experience.  

Essential 

• 10+ years of experience in mechanical engineering or vehicle integration, with demonstrated ownership of complex assemblies.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Deep understanding of mechanical fundamentals: structures, mechanisms, materials, tolerancing, fasteners, thermal effects, and vibration.
• Familiarity with CAD and PLM tools (e.g., CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, Enovia, Arena).
• Proven experience leading or acting as the technical authority for mechanical system integration on multi‑disciplinary programs.
• Strong systems-oriented mindset with the ability to decompose complex problems and manage interfaces across a multitude of stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience supporting prototype builds, vehicle assembly, and test activities.

Desirable 

• Experience with autonomous vehicles, robotics, aerospace, or other high‑complexity electromechanical systems.
• Experience defining mechanical architectures, packaging studies, and interface ownership at the system level.
• Ability to collaborate with OEM partners, suppliers, and contract manufacturers on mechanical components, assemblies, and integration strategies.
• Clear, confident communication skills and ability to drive alignment in fast‑moving, ambiguous environments.
• Experience supporting environmental, durability, or reliability testing.

This is a full-time role based in our office in Sunnyvale, CA.  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.  

Wayve is committed to creating an inclusive interview experience. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to participate fully in our interview process, please let us know

We understand that everyone has a unique set of skills and experiences and that not everyone will meet all of the requirements listed above. If you’re passionate about self-driving cars and think you have what it takes to make a positive impact on the world, we encourage you to apply.

For more information visit Careers at Wayve. 

To learn more about what drives us, visit Values at Wayve 

DISCLAIMER: We will not ask about marriage or pregnancy, care responsibilities or disabilities in any of our job adverts or interviews. However, we do look to capture information about care responsibilities, and disabilities among other diversity information as part of an optional DEI Monitoring form to help us identify areas of improvement in our hiring process and ensure that the process is inclusive and non-discriminatory.