Principal System Architect

Wayve•Sunnyvale, CA

2d•$347,500 - $457,900•Hybrid

About The Position

Wayve’s Product Architecture & Safety (PAS) team defines, governs, and validates the system and product architecture of Wayve AI Driver across programs, providing OEMs and partners with a unified technical voice. The role helps shape how Wayve AI Driver is deployed across automation levels L0–L4, with a near-term focus on L3 eyes-off and L4 driver-out, beginning with high-priority Robotaxi needs and expanding as the business grows. The Principal System Architect owns end-to-end system architecture, interface contracts, assumptions of use, and architecture decision records. The role translates use cases, operational design domains (ODDs), and operational constraints into reusable product, system, and integration architecture. It defines sensor and compute topology, vehicle interfaces, safety mechanisms, redundancy, fallback, and minimal-risk manoeuvre assumptions in collaboration with safety engineering. It also defines on-board and off-board architecture for connectivity, remote assistance and operation, and fleet operations, including latency, availability, and ownership across Wayve, OEMs, and operators. The position leads technical discussions with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and partners, aligning internal architecture owners around a common direction. It defines ECU and sensor requirements, guides system engineers, and supports integration planning, bring-up, triage, and system-level debugging on vehicles and HiL/ViL benches. The role distinguishes core product changes from partner-specific integration so that deployment requirements strengthen a common architecture. This is a full-time hybrid role based in Sunnyvale, US, or London, UK. Travel to customer and partner sites is expected during integration phases. The role combines in-person collaboration in office spaces with focused remote work, and includes hands-on work in vehicle workshops and labs.

Requirements

Strong experience in system architecture, systems engineering, or solution architecture for ADAS/AD, robotics, or complex safety-relevant embedded systems.
Broad understanding of system- and vehicle-level architecture, sensors, compute and hardware, embedded software, vehicle integration, and safety.
Experience defining and owning product or integration architecture for complex, cross-functional systems end-to-end.
Ability to translate high-level product or deployment goals into concrete architectural requirements and trade-offs.
Experience working across multiple technical domains and aligning different engineering stakeholders.
Experience leading technical discussions with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, or other external partners.
Working knowledge of ISO 26262 and ISO 21448 (SOTIF) and how they shape system architecture.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including writing architecture documents that others can build from.
Hands-on capability to support technical problem-solving, bring-up, and integration trade-offs in practice.

Nice To Haves

Experience with L3 eyes-off, L4, or Robotaxi systems, including fail-operational and redundancy concepts.
Experience with assisted-driving (L0–L2+) functions and their system requirements.
Experience with AI- or ML-based driving systems and their deployment on embedded platforms.
Familiarity with automotive middleware, real-time operating systems, Linux, and embedded platform integration.
Experience with vehicle connectivity, remote assistance, remote operation/teleoperation, fleet operations, HMI, or other Robotaxi application-layer integration.
Experience bridging internal product architecture and external customer integration.

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end system architecture, interface contracts, assumptions of use, and decision records.
Lead technical discussions with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and partners, aligning internal architecture owners around a common direction.
Define ECU and sensor requirements, guide system engineers, and support integration planning, bring-up, triage, and system-level debugging on vehicles and HiL/ViL benches.
Translate use cases, ODDs, and operational constraints into reusable product, system, and integration architecture.
Define sensor and compute topology, vehicle interfaces, safety mechanisms, redundancy, fallback, and minimal-risk manoeuvre assumptions with safety engineering.
Define on-board and off-board architecture for connectivity, remote assistance and operation, and fleet operations, including latency, availability, and Wayve/OEM/operator ownership.
Distinguish core product changes from partner-specific integration so deployment needs strengthen one common architecture.
Shape deployment of Wayve AI Driver across L0–L4, with near-term focus on L3 eyes-off and L4 driver-out.

Benefits

Market-benchmarked salaries, reviewed annually.
Meaningful equity.
Relocation support and visa sponsorship where applicable.
Hybrid working and core hours.
Learning and development budgets, including support for training and conferences.
Health insurance and dental benefits.
Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
Retirement or pension benefits where applicable.
Access to therapists and wellbeing partnerships.
Team socials.