Machine Learning Engineering Manager, App SW

About the role

We're looking for an exceptional leader to spearhead our new Application Engineering team, a self-sufficient and high-impact group focused on localising and advancing our autonomous driving technology for the US market. This is a unique opportunity to shape Wayve’s AV capabilities in the US from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and lead a self-sufficient AV development team in the US, hiring and mentoring top talent across Robotics and ML.
• Deliver autonomy capabilities tailored to road conditions and driving norms, in close collaboration with central Autonomy teams.
• Drive full-cycle development: from identifying local autonomy needs, to designing, implementing, testing, and deploying features into production.
• Ensure the team upholds Wayve’s high engineering standards, while operating with agility and independence.
• Work closely with OEM partners in the US — representing Wayve’s autonomy team in technical discussions, capturing product requirements, and shaping joint development plans.
• Establish close working relationships with our product and vehicle operations teams in the US.

About You

• Strong technical expertise, proven leadership skills, and a passion for building robust autonomous systems that can adapt to diverse real-world challenges.
• A strong background in robotics and autonomy, with experience building and deploying systems that operate in real-world environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and grow high-performing engineering teams, ideally in geographically distributed or independent settings.
• Comfortable with ambiguity: you can define goals, carve out roadmaps, and deliver high-impact work with minimal supervision.
• Broad technical fluency: capable of reviewing and guiding work across software engineering, ML, controls, and systems integration.
• Excellent communication skills: you’re able to clearly convey technical context and strategic vision across cultures and time zones.
• Strong product sense and stakeholder management skills: you’re comfortable interfacing directly with OEM customers and representing engineering in external-facing conversations.

Essential

• Prior experience in autonomous vehicles or robotic systems operating at scale.
• Familiarity with US's road environment, driving behaviour, or AV regulatory landscape.
• A strong foundation in machine learning and its application to real-time decision-making or perception systems.

Desirable

• No specific desirable criteria provided.

Pay

The reasonably estimated salary for this role ranges from $336,400 to $381,600, plus a competitive equity package. Actual compensation is based on the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.

Schedule

This role is a full-time role based in Sunnyvale, CA or Detroit (hybrid).