Depot Robotics Program Manager

Waymo Operations exists to deliver the Waymo Driver to the world. We are a global team building and scaling the world's first and leading autonomous fleet and operations platform. From component sourcing to end customer management, we enable and create value for Waymo through scaled and orchestrated deployment of the Waymo Driver. At Waymo, we are dedicated to building a culture that promotes collaboration and celebration. We value our team members' unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences and support and encourage all team members to share their ideas to help Waymo better serve the communities in which we operate.

In this hybrid role, you will report to a Program Manager- RO Operations and Vendor Performance

You will:

• Lead robotics initiatives end-to-end, defining the timeline and strategy from early-stage concept through prototype, pilot, and scaled deployment.
• Partner with Product Management, Hardware Engineering, and Finance to inform cost and performance targets using operational data like time studies and staffing plans.
• Act as the operations lead for vendor selection, technical architecture validation, and TCO/ROI models to unlock fleet efficiency.
• Engineer universal robotic operating standards, deployment playbooks, and performance monitoring telemetry for central teams and external partners.
• Translate operational requirements into physical facility setups to launch critical pilots, establishing robust failover protocols.

You have:

• 5+ years of experience managing complex hardware, robotics, or automation programs through physical launch.
• Strong data acumen, with experience using time studies and operational metrics to build financial cost models.
• Proven track record of managing vendor validation programs and hardware reliability testing.
• Experience scaling systems to eliminate manual labor touchpoints and optimize vehicle-to-human (V2H) ratios.
• Exceptional cross-functional leadership skills and the ability to drive clarity in highly ambiguous environments.

We prefer:

• Background in the Autonomous Vehicle (AV) industry, advanced robotics, or hyper-scale fulfillment logistics.
• Deep financial and technical acumen, specifically in building complex TCO and ROI models.
• Experience architecture-scale playbooks or telemetry monitoring frameworks for global market partners.

You will:

• Lead robotics initiatives end-to-end, defining the timeline and strategy from early-stage concept through prototype, pilot, and scaled deployment.
• Partner with Product Management, Hardware Engineering, and Finance to inform cost and performance targets using operational data like time studies and staffing plans.
• Act as the operations lead for vendor selection, technical architecture validation, and TCO/ROI models to unlock fleet efficiency.
• Engineer universal robotic operating standards, deployment playbooks, and performance monitoring telemetry for central teams and external partners.
• Translate operational requirements into physical facility setups to launch critical pilots, establishing robust failover protocols.

You have:

• 5+ years of experience managing complex hardware, robotics, or automation programs through physical launch.
• Strong data acumen, with experience using time studies and operational metrics to build financial cost models.
• Proven track record of managing vendor validation programs and hardware reliability testing.
• Experience scaling systems to eliminate manual labor touchpoints and optimize vehicle-to-human (V2H) ratios.
• Exceptional cross-functional leadership skills and the ability to drive clarity in highly ambiguous environments.

Travel:

• 10-20% of time to support validation testing