Principal Vehicle Integration Lead

Wayve • Sunnyvale, CA

2d • $314,700 - $408,100 • Hybrid

About The Position

As a Vehicle Integration Lead at Wayve, you’ll provide technical leadership for the electrical architecture, integration, validation and delivery of our autonomous driving systems across vehicle platforms. This role sits at the intersection of electrical and mechanical engineering, vehicle systems, autonomous driving hardware, software and integration. You’ll lead the integration of compute, sensing, power, communications and supporting hardware into development and production-intent vehicles, ensuring systems perform reliably and safely in real-world environments. You’ll work closely with Systems Engineering, Embedded Software, Autonomy, Safety, Vehicle Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, OEM partners and external suppliers. You’ll provide technical direction while remaining close to the engineering—leading design decisions, troubleshooting complex integration issues and driving programs through validation and vehicle readiness. You’ll own vehicle integration from early architecture and requirements through prototype builds, bring-up, validation, production readiness and deployment. You’ll define system requirements, interfaces, architecture and integration strategies while ensuring hardware, software and base-vehicle systems operate together as one cohesive system. You’ll lead architecture and design reviews, make technical trade-offs across performance, reliability, safety, packaging, manufacturability, cost and schedule, and work hands-on during critical vehicle integration and testing. You’ll also partner directly with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, contract manufacturers, upfitters and integration partners to resolve technical challenges and move programs toward production readiness.

Requirements

• Significant experience in electrical and mechanical engineering, vehicle integration, autonomous vehicles, ADAS, robotics or advanced mobility.
• Deep understanding of vehicle electrical and electronic architectures.
• Demonstrated experience integrating complex electrical systems into development or production vehicles and taking vehicle hardware from requirements and architecture through prototype integration, validation and production readiness.
• Strong knowledge of vehicle power distribution and power management; automotive compute and ECUs; camera and perception sensor integration; CAN, LIN and Automotive Ethernet; wiring harnesses, connectors and electrical interfaces; PCBAs and electronic hardware; EMC/EMI; signal and power integrity; grounding and shielding; and electrical verification and validation.
• Strong hands-on debugging, bring-up and root-cause analysis experience and can diagnose issues spanning electrical hardware, embedded software, mechanical systems and vehicle networks.
• Experience working with vehicle schematics, wiring diagrams, interface control documents, requirements and diagnostic tools.
• Experience working with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, upfitters, contract manufacturers or vehicle integration partners.
• Understanding of automotive product development, engineering change management, configuration management and release processes.
• Experience with structured engineering methods including DFMEA, DVP&R, requirements management and design reviews.
• Strong systems thinking and can balance technical requirements with program timelines and business objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical work across multiple teams without relying solely on organisational authority.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and can work effectively with engineers, suppliers, program leaders and senior stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience developing autonomous driving or ADAS vehicle platforms is a plus.
• Experience integrating high-performance AI compute into vehicles is a plus.
• Experience integrating cameras, radar, lidar, GNSS, IMUs or other perception systems is a plus.
• Knowledge of automotive functional safety, including ISO 26262, is a plus.
• Familiarity with automotive cybersecurity and secure vehicle architectures is a plus.
• Experience with vehicle diagnostics, CAN tools, logging, telemetry and automated validation is a plus.
• Experience with automotive EMC/EMI and environmental qualification is a plus.
• Experience transitioning vehicle systems from engineering prototypes into repeatable production builds is a plus.
• Experience supporting vehicle fleets and diagnosing issues observed during real-world operation is a plus.
• Experience working across multiple OEM vehicle architectures or adapting a common autonomous driving system to multiple vehicle platforms is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Leading the electrical architecture, mechanical design and vehicle integration of Wayve’s autonomous driving hardware across multiple development vehicle platforms.
• Owning integration from early vehicle architecture and requirements through prototype builds, validation, production readiness and deployment.
• Leading integration of high-performance compute platforms; cameras, radar, lidar, GNSS, IMUs and other perception and supporting sensors; power distribution and management systems; ECUs and embedded electronics; CAN, LIN, Automotive Ethernet and other vehicle networks; wiring harnesses and connectors; and custom electronics and PCBAs.
• Defining system requirements, interfaces, architecture and integration strategies for new vehicle platforms.
• Partnering with Software, Systems, Autonomy, OEMs and assembly partners to ensure hardware and software interfaces are clearly defined and validated.
• Leading architecture and design reviews and making technical trade-offs across performance, reliability, safety, packaging, manufacturability, cost and schedule.
• Driving vehicle-level integration, bring-up, commissioning and validation.
• Leading troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of complex integration issues spanning vehicles, hardware and software.
• Developing verification and validation strategies to ensure systems meet performance, reliability, environmental and safety requirements.
• Identifying technical risks early and driving mitigation plans through development and vehicle launch.
• Partnering with Functional Safety and Systems Engineering to ensure the electrical architecture supports applicable safety requirements.
• Working directly with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, contract manufacturers, upfitters and integration partners to establish technical requirements and resolve integration challenges.
• Partnering with Supply Chain and Manufacturing on component selection, supplier technical evaluations, production readiness and engineering changes.
• Supporting prototype and vehicle builds, including issue triage and resolution during critical integration and test activities.
• Establishing and continuously improving electrical engineering standards, design practices, documentation and vehicle integration processes.
• Mentoring electrical engineers and providing technical guidance across programs.

Benefits

• Competitive equity package
• Salaries benchmarked against the market annually
• Relocation support and visa sponsorship where applicable
• Hybrid working, core hours and the chance to work hands on in vehicle workshops and labs
• Learning and development budgets with support for training, conferences and growth
• Comprehensive benefits including health insurance, dental, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, retirement or pension where applicable, access to therapists, wellbeing partnerships, team socials and more

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal