Senior / Staff Systems Engineer, AI Validation

Wayve • Sunnyvale, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Wayve is hiring a Senior / Staff Systems Engineer for its AI Validation team, which is responsible for demonstrating that the AI Driver behaves safely and effectively. The role owns end-to-end, simulation-led validation of one or more driving-behaviour competencies, from strategy through execution. It develops metrics, automated tests, scenario coverage, and acceptance criteria that connect product requirements to measurable driving performance. The engineer runs simulation-based evaluations, analyses results, investigates failure modes, and communicates findings to release and autonomy engineering stakeholders. The role collaborates with Product, Safety, AV Engineering, data, simulation, and evaluation teams to scale automated validation and produce evidence that informs release decisions. The work includes general-purpose on-road and simulated driving metrics, automated test frameworks for learned driving systems, and validation strategies for complex scenarios and multiple autonomy products. The position is based in Sunnyvale, California, with a hybrid working model combining in-person collaboration and remote work. The role offers substantial ownership in a growing team and an evolving organization.

Requirements

• Hands-on experience with behaviour validation in autonomous driving, robotics, or a related product domain.
• Experience beyond basic lane-keeping or conventional ADAS, with understanding of L2+, L3, or L4 validation challenges.
• Professional Python skills and experience implementing metrics, tests, or evaluation tooling.
• Systems-thinking ability and an interest in turning ambiguous requirements into practical, automated tests.
• Ability to adapt to evolving simulation paradigms and communicate findings clearly.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with SQL.
• Experience working with large datasets.
• Experience with AI tooling or agentic workflows.

Responsibilities

• Own validation for one or more driving-behaviour competencies, from strategy through execution.
• Develop metrics and automated tests that connect product requirements to measurable driving performance.
• Run simulation-based evaluations, analyse results, and investigate failure modes.
• Define coverage requirements, test suites, and acceptance criteria with Product, Safety, and AV Engineering.
• Report clear findings to Release and Autonomy Engineering stakeholders.
• Work with data, simulation, and evaluation teams to remove dependencies and scale automated validation.
• Develop general-purpose metrics for on-road and simulated driving behaviour.
• Build automated test frameworks for end-to-end learned driving systems.
• Establish scenario coverage for complex behaviour areas, including unprotected intersections, crosswalks, and lane changes.
• Develop validation strategies that work across multiple autonomy products.
• Provide evidence that informs release decisions and supports delivery of the Wayve AI Driver to customers globally.

Benefits

• Meaningful equity.
• Relocation support and visa sponsorship where applicable.
• Hybrid working and access to vehicle workshops and labs.
• Learning and development support.
• Comprehensive health, family, retirement, and wellbeing benefits, depending on location.
• Salaries benchmarked against the market annually.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed