Autonomous Vehicle Test Engineer, Waymo

About the Role

Join TRC Inc. as part of a dedicated engineering team embedded on-site with Waymo. As an AV Test Engineer, you will evaluate prototype autonomous systems from end to end. The mission focuses on intentional edge-case discovery, extreme limit testing, and fault injection validation across physical vehicles, closed-course proving grounds, and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test benches.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and Author Tests: Translate high-level system requirements into robust Design Verification Plans (DVPs) with clear parameters, boundary controls, and pass/fail criteria.
• Lead Multi-Environment Testing: Execute testing across closed-course tracks, physical prototype vehicles, and HIL test benches, collaborating closely with track dispatch, test conductors, and safety drivers.
• Manage Operational Test Modes: Guide vehicles through testing stages, from manual baseline runs (Mode 1) to supervised autonomous runs (Mode 2) and fully autonomous, high-intensity limit / fault injection testing (Mode 3).
• Integrate and Triage Vehicle Systems: Diagnose bus communication drops, firmware mismatches, and hardware anomalies using standard diagnostic protocols (UDS, DoIP) and lab equipment.
• Build Automation and Analytics: Write reusable Python scripts to parse time-series logs, automate track scenarios, and build visual dashboards (such as Webviz or Jupyter notebooks) that streamline test reporting.
• Collaborate and Report: Track defects and systemic behavior in issue tracking systems (such as Jira), avoiding subjective terminology in favor of data-backed, objective failure modes.

Where You Can Make an Impact

• Bring-Up & Flashing Operations: Standing up newly delivered prototype vehicles, managing flashing pipelines, and resolving base firmware mismatches.
• Commercialization & Offboard Operations: Validating driverless cabin comfort, thermal controls, low-power sleep modes, and Over-the-Air (OTA) fleet updates.
• Structured Scenario Testing & Benchmarking: Designing high-fidelity track scenarios (soft targets, dummy pedestrian interactions, and multi-vehicle choreography) while executing competitor benchmarking campaigns to evaluate autonomous decision-making and safety margins against industry standards.

Requirements & Tech Stack

Core Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Systems, Computer Engineering or Computer Science, Robotics, or a related discipline.
• Mindset: Strong understanding of systems engineering, requirements decomposition, and structured verification methods.
• Driving Credentials: Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record, plus the ability to pass internal closed-course safety driver training (L1/L2 certifications).
• On-Site Collaboration: Ability to be on-site during core operational hours.

Technical Toolkit Required

• Core Skills: Working knowledge or proficiency in Python (NumPy, Pandas, Pytest) for test automation, data analysis, and log parsing.
• Familiarity with in-vehicle networking (CAN, CAN-FD, Automotive Ethernet) and diagnostics (UDS, DoIP).
• Hands-on experience with lab instrumentation (multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, breakout harnesses).
• Comfort working in Linux environments, using Git version control, and managing tasks in Jira or equivalent tracking tools.

Preferred Domain Experience (Any of the following is a plus)

• Hands-on involvement in collegiate engineering design teams or engineering internships.
• Exposure to HIL and simulation platforms: dSPACE, Vector VT, MATLAB/Simulink, or CAPL.
• Familiarity with bus analysis tools: Vector CANoe, CANape, CANalyzer, or Dewesoft DAQ.
• High-accuracy GPS/INS systems (e.g., OxTS, NovAtel) or track target systems (e.g., pedestrian target platforms, soft targets).
• Exposure to vehicle telematics, OTA update frameworks, or thermal/power management testing.
• Familiarity with ECU flashing pipelines, bootloaders, or flash toolchains.
• Exposure to robotics and perception frameworks: ROS / ROS 2, OpenCV, or sensor calibration toolsets.
• Interest or experience in vehicle dynamics testing: automated steering robots, load cells, or outriggers.

Working Environment & Expectations

• A mix of offices, engineering garages, labs, and proving ground test tracks.
• Field Work: Occasional work outdoors in Arizona weather conditions.
• Mobility: Physical ability to position yourself comfortably in vehicle cabins and around sensor mounts.
• Travel & Schedule: Schedule flexibility to support critical milestone releases, with travel up to 20% to partner test sites.