Application Guide

How to Apply for Safety Standards Compliance Lead

at Waymo

🏢 About Waymo

Waymo is a pioneer in autonomous vehicle technology, operating the world's first fully autonomous ride-hailing service. Working here means contributing to cutting-edge technology that's redefining transportation safety and accessibility. The company's mission-driven culture focuses on building the world's most experienced driver to improve mobility for everyone.

About This Role

As Safety Standards Compliance Lead, you'll be responsible for ensuring Waymo's autonomous vehicles meet rigorous safety and regulatory standards across all operations. This role directly impacts public trust and operational legality by creating and enforcing compliance frameworks that keep pace with evolving autonomous vehicle regulations. You'll bridge technical safety systems with regulatory requirements in a rapidly developing industry.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves reviewing new regulatory developments affecting autonomous vehicles, collaborating with engineering teams to ensure new features meet compliance requirements, and analyzing audit findings to identify process improvements. You might spend the morning updating risk registers based on recent operational data, then join cross-functional meetings to align safety protocols with upcoming software deployments, followed by preparing compliance effectiveness reports for leadership review.

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🎯 Who Waymo Is Looking For

  • 10+ years of compliance program experience with specific expertise in automotive OEM type approval and homologation processes
  • Proven track record of operationalizing compliance processes within safety-critical technical environments, preferably in autonomous systems or advanced automotive
  • Strong communicator who can translate complex regulatory requirements into actionable policies for engineering and operations teams
  • Experience conducting gap analyses and implementing corrective actions in fast-paced, innovative technology environments

📝 Tips for Applying to Waymo

1

Quantify your compliance program achievements with metrics (e.g., 'reduced audit findings by 40%' or 'implemented 15 new compliance processes') rather than listing responsibilities

2

Explicitly mention experience with NHTSA regulations, FMVSS standards, and state-level autonomous vehicle regulations in your resume

3

Highlight any experience with safety-critical systems beyond automotive (aviation, medical devices, etc.) if you lack direct autonomous vehicle experience

4

Reference Waymo's specific safety reports and public documentation in your application to show you understand their current compliance landscape

5

Emphasize your ability to work remotely while coordinating with distributed engineering teams across time zones

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with automotive type approval processes and how they apply to autonomous systems', "Examples of how you've operationalized compliance requirements in technical environments with safety-critical components", 'Your approach to staying current with evolving autonomous vehicle regulations across different states and jurisdictions', "Why you're specifically interested in compliance within the autonomous vehicle space rather than traditional automotive"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Waymo's Safety Methodology and published safety reports to understand their current compliance approach
  • → Recent NHTSA rulings and investigations involving autonomous vehicles, particularly those affecting Waymo or competitors
  • → State-by-state autonomous vehicle regulations where Waymo operates (California, Arizona, Texas, etc.)
  • → Waymo's partnerships with traditional automotive companies and how those might impact compliance requirements

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach creating a compliance framework for a new autonomous vehicle feature being deployed in multiple states with different regulations?
2 Describe your experience conducting gap analyses between technical safety systems and regulatory requirements
3 How do you balance the need for rigorous compliance with the fast-paced innovation environment of autonomous vehicle development?
4 What specific metrics would you track to demonstrate compliance program effectiveness to Waymo leadership?
5 How have you handled situations where engineering priorities conflicted with compliance requirements in previous roles?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using generic compliance language without specific automotive or safety-critical system examples
  • Focusing only on policy creation without demonstrating experience in operational implementation and enforcement
  • Showing unfamiliarity with the unique regulatory challenges of autonomous vehicles versus traditional automotive

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

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Good luck with your application to Waymo!

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