Senior Software Engineering Jobs at Waymo with Visa Sponsorship
Senior Software Engineering jobs at Waymo involve building the systems behind autonomous vehicles, spanning perception, motion planning, simulation, and infrastructure. The company sponsors work visas for engineering talent, making it a realistic target if you're on an H-1B visa, E-3 visa, or similar status and have the technical depth this work demands.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
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 Perception team at Waymo builds technology that powers the Waymo Driver. Our software allows the Waymo Driver to perceive the world around it, make the right decision for every situation, and deliver people safely to their destinations. We conduct research to address real-world problems and collaborate with research teams at Alphabet. We have access to millions of miles of driving data from a diverse set of sensors, enabling software engineers like you to develop multi-modal models and techniques at scale.
Our mission is to build a stable foundation for a high-level Perception pipeline and the overall self-driving system. We act as the crucial interface between Waymo's hardware teams and the rest of the self-driving engineering organization, defining sensor requirements, providing critical feedback to hardware teams, and abstracting away system complexities.
The Multi-Platform Team's purpose is to abstract away superfluous differences between various sensor hardware and encapsulate hardware-specific logic so that downstream Perception is as portable as possible. Our work allows a single parameterized Perception software stack to run on all sensor hardware platforms, to remain easily maintainable across N platforms with much less than N times the effort, and to rapidly adapt to new platforms. We bring up the overall Perception software stack on new sensor and vehicle platforms.
This role follows a hybrid work schedule and reports to a Technical Lead Manager.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
You will:
- Work with a creative team of people who are responsible for the bring-up of Perception SW on new hardware platforms (vehicles, sensors, compute).
- Evolve existing SW to abstract away superfluous differences between various sensor hardware and encapsulate hardware-specific logic, by writing design docs, gathering feedback, implementing the change and testing it and monitoring its continued health and maintaining it during its lifespan.
- Rapidly prototype and run de-risking experiments for the next-generation Perception SW stack that is designed to be more portable to the new sensor HW.
- Maintain and run evaluations of existing or hypothetical new sensor hardware to help make decisions on sensor HW options. Write up analyses that summarize high-level recommendations using the evidence from these evaluations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
You have:
- BS in Computer Science, Robotics, similar technical field of study, or equivalent practical experience
- Strong experience programming in C++ with robust and efficient code
- Strong software architecture skills
- Experience with sensor data processing (Lidar, camera, or Radar)
- Experience with building, integrating, debugging and evaluating ML-based systems
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
We prefer:
- MS or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, similar technical field of study, or equivalent practical experience
- Experience with autonomous vehicles (L4) or ADAS systems (L2/L3)
- Experience with bring-up of new sensors or vehicle platforms
COMPENSATION
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.
- Salary Range: $213,000—$263,000 USD
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.
INTRODUCTION
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 Perception team at Waymo builds technology that powers the Waymo Driver. Our software allows the Waymo Driver to perceive the world around it, make the right decision for every situation, and deliver people safely to their destinations. We conduct research to address real-world problems and collaborate with research teams at Alphabet. We have access to millions of miles of driving data from a diverse set of sensors, enabling software engineers like you to develop multi-modal models and techniques at scale.
Our mission is to build a stable foundation for a high-level Perception pipeline and the overall self-driving system. We act as the crucial interface between Waymo's hardware teams and the rest of the self-driving engineering organization, defining sensor requirements, providing critical feedback to hardware teams, and abstracting away system complexities.
The Multi-Platform Team's purpose is to abstract away superfluous differences between various sensor hardware and encapsulate hardware-specific logic so that downstream Perception is as portable as possible. Our work allows a single parameterized Perception software stack to run on all sensor hardware platforms, to remain easily maintainable across N platforms with much less than N times the effort, and to rapidly adapt to new platforms. We bring up the overall Perception software stack on new sensor and vehicle platforms.
This role follows a hybrid work schedule and reports to a Technical Lead Manager.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
You will:
- Work with a creative team of people who are responsible for the bring-up of Perception SW on new hardware platforms (vehicles, sensors, compute).
- Evolve existing SW to abstract away superfluous differences between various sensor hardware and encapsulate hardware-specific logic, by writing design docs, gathering feedback, implementing the change and testing it and monitoring its continued health and maintaining it during its lifespan.
- Rapidly prototype and run de-risking experiments for the next-generation Perception SW stack that is designed to be more portable to the new sensor HW.
- Maintain and run evaluations of existing or hypothetical new sensor hardware to help make decisions on sensor HW options. Write up analyses that summarize high-level recommendations using the evidence from these evaluations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
You have:
- BS in Computer Science, Robotics, similar technical field of study, or equivalent practical experience
- Strong experience programming in C++ with robust and efficient code
- Strong software architecture skills
- Experience with sensor data processing (Lidar, camera, or Radar)
- Experience with building, integrating, debugging and evaluating ML-based systems
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
We prefer:
- MS or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, similar technical field of study, or equivalent practical experience
- Experience with autonomous vehicles (L4) or ADAS systems (L2/L3)
- Experience with bring-up of new sensors or vehicle platforms
COMPENSATION
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.
- Salary Range: $213,000—$263,000 USD
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.
See all Senior Software Engineering Jobs at Waymo
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Senior Software Engineering Jobs at Waymo.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Senior Software Engineering Jobs at Waymo
Align your resume to Waymo's technical stack
Waymo's Senior Software Engineering roles emphasize systems programming, large-scale distributed infrastructure, and ML pipelines. Frame your experience around C++, Python, and real-time systems rather than generic software development to clear their technical screens.
Target teams where your visa type fits
Waymo sponsors H-1B, H-1B1 visa, and E-3 visas. If you hold an E-3 as an Australian citizen, your renewals are simpler and faster than H-1B extensions, which can be a practical advantage when negotiating start dates with a hiring team on a deadline.
Prepare your specialty occupation documentation early
For H-1B sponsorship, USCIS requires evidence that Senior Software Engineering is a specialty occupation tied to your specific degree field. Gather transcripts, credential evaluations, and a detailed offer letter describing technical duties before the filing window opens.
Use Migrate Mate to identify open Senior Software Engineering roles
Waymo posts Senior Software Engineering openings across multiple teams simultaneously. Use Migrate Mate to filter for Waymo roles that explicitly support visa sponsorship so you're applying to positions already cleared for international candidates.
Understand Waymo's LCA filing process and timing
Before your H-1B petition is filed with USCIS, Waymo's legal team must certify a Labor Condition Application with the DOL confirming the offered wage meets the prevailing rate. This typically takes seven business days and must complete before USCIS receives your petition.
Build a project portfolio around autonomous systems
Waymo's interview panels for senior roles assess depth in robotics, sensor fusion, or large-scale simulation. Documenting open-source contributions or research tied to autonomous vehicle systems gives interviewers concrete evidence of specialized expertise before the offer stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Waymo sponsor H-1B visas for Senior Software Engineers?
Yes, Waymo sponsors H-1B visas for Senior Software Engineering roles. The process involves Waymo's legal team filing a Labor Condition Application with the DOL, followed by an I-129 petition with USCIS. If you're subject to the H-1B cap, timing your application to the April filing window is essential. Waymo also sponsors H-1B1 visa and E-3 visas for eligible nationals.
How do I apply for Senior Software Engineering jobs at Waymo?
Applications go through Waymo's careers portal, where roles are organized by team and technical domain. Before applying, confirm the job listing states that visa sponsorship is available, since not every open role qualifies. Migrate Mate filters Waymo's Senior Software Engineering postings specifically for sponsorship-eligible positions, so you can target the right openings from the start.
Which visa types does Waymo commonly use for Senior Software Engineering roles?
Waymo sponsors H-1B, H-1B1 visa, E-3, EB-2, and EB-3 visas for Senior Software Engineering positions. H-1B is the most common nonimmigrant pathway. E-3 is available exclusively to Australian citizens and bypasses the H-1B lottery. EB-2 and EB-3 are immigrant visa categories Waymo files for longer-tenured engineers pursuing permanent residence through employer-sponsored Green Card processes including PERM labor certification.
What qualifications does Waymo expect for Senior Software Engineering candidates?
Waymo's Senior Software Engineering roles typically require a bachelor's degree or higher in computer science, electrical engineering, or a closely related field, alongside substantial industry experience in systems software, distributed computing, or machine learning infrastructure. For visa sponsorship purposes, the degree field must align with the role's core duties, which USCIS evaluates as part of the specialty occupation determination.
How long does the visa sponsorship process take at Waymo for a Senior Software Engineer?
The timeline depends on visa type. For H-1B transfers from an existing status, the process runs roughly two to four months with standard USCIS processing, or two to three weeks with premium processing. E-3 applicants can often complete consular processing in Australia within two to four weeks of receiving a certified LCA from Waymo's legal team. Green Card sponsorship through PERM takes significantly longer, often one to three years depending on priority date backlogs.