Senior Software Engineer, ICX Graphics

Job Summary

The Waymo Passenger Experience team is seeking a skilled 3D visualization engineer to develop the real-time, in-car visualization systems that communicate the Waymo Driver’s perception to our riders. Reporting to an Engineering Manager, you will lead the design and implementation of the 3D rendering pipeline for the 3D Car View on the Android-based in-car system using C++ and Kotlin via JNI.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of the 3D rendering pipeline for the 3D Car View on the Android-based in-car system using C++ and Kotlin via JNI.
• Integrate next-generation visual assets for the new vehicle platform, optimize shader performance in the internal rendering engine to reduce GPU utilization, and implement new visual indicators for complex perception scenarios like construction zones.
• Write high-quality, well-tested code, resolve complex rendering bugs, and optimize performance (frame rate, CPU/GPU, memory) on resource-constrained onboard hardware.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and UX/UI designers to translate vehicle perception data into fluid animations and motion designs.

Requirements

• Graphics or game engine developer with strong experience in 3D graphics development using C++ and APIs like OpenGL ES or Vulkan.
• Experience with mobile/embedded platforms, custom rendering engines, mobile game development, VR/AR, or high-performance Android graphics.
• Strong foundation in 3D mathematics (linear algebra, coordinate spaces, transformations) and shader programming (GLSL).
• 5+ years of total software development experience, with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong sense of ownership and the ability to independently design, optimize, and implement complex software components.

Preferred

• Experience with Android graphics architecture (SurfaceFlinger, HWUI) and custom Android builds (AOSP).
• Experience developing with Kotlin/Java and integrating with C++ via JNI.
• Background in real-time visualization of perception data (e.g., point clouds, object detection) or game engine rendering.

Benefits

We offer a competitive salary range of $213,000—$263,000 USD, plus a discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.