Vehicle Validation Engineer

About Us

Founded in 2017, Wayve is the leading developer of Embodied AI technology. Our advanced AI software and foundation models enable vehicles to perceive, understand, and navigate any complex environment, enhancing the usability and safety of automated driving systems. Our vision is to create autonomy that propels the world forward. Our intelligent, mapless, and hardware-agnostic AI products are designed for automakers, accelerating the transition from assisted to automated driving. In our fast-paced environment big problems ignite us—we embrace uncertainty, leaning into complex challenges to unlock groundbreaking solutions. We aim high and stay humble in our pursuit of excellence, constantly learning and evolving as we pave the way for a smarter, safer future. At Wayve, your contributions matter. We value diversity, embrace new perspectives, and foster an inclusive work environment; we back each other to deliver impact. Make Wayve the experience that defines your career!

The Role

As an Autonomous Vehicle Test Engineer at Wayve, you’ll play a key role in enabling the real-world deployment of our end-to-end AI driving systems. You’ll ensure our vehicles are ready for testing and that test activities deliver high-quality, reliable data to accelerate development. Joining at an early stage, you’ll help shape how we test and operate autonomous vehicles at scale—developing validation approaches, improving systems, and working closely with engineering, product, and operations teams to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Beyond test execution, you’ll contribute to how vehicle performance is evaluated and communicated, helping provide meaningful feedback on system behaviour, performance gaps, and real-world driving quality from a customer perspective.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and execute vehicle tests to support development, validation, benchmarking, and real-world deployment.
• Develop and improve vehicle validation test concepts to evaluate system performance across a range of real-world scenarios.
• Work closely with engineering, product, and operations teams to translate testing needs into effective test activities.
• Ensure vehicles are prepared, maintained, and consistently ready for safe and efficient testing.
• Deliver high-quality test data, performance reporting, and actionable insights to support rapid iteration and decision-making.
• Provide detailed feedback on vehicle behaviour, driving performance, and system gaps from both technical and customer perspectives.
• Conduct benchmarking activities to evaluate system performance and track progress over time.
• Develop and improve testing processes, documentation, and operational best practices as the team scales.
• Manage relationships with external suppliers and service partners.

About you

You’re a hands‑on engineer who thrives in fast‑moving environments and enjoys working at the intersection of hardware, software, and real‑world systems. You take ownership, focus on outcomes, and look for ways to continuously improve how things are done.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Experience with CANalyzer, CANoe, or similar tools for vehicle diagnostics, along with vehicle instrumentation and data logging tools (e.g. Vector, ETAS, Racelogic).
• Experience executing structured vehicle tests in proving ground and/or real‑world environments.
• Comfortable working across Linux, Windows, and SSH‑based environments.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements and translate them into clear test cases and validation plans.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across engineering, product, and operations teams.
• Proactive, hands‑on approach with a focus on improving processes, tools, and ways of working.
• Understanding of safe testing practices and risk assessments in safety‑critical environments.
• Ability to analyse test data and deliver clear, actionable insights to engineering teams.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience working with autonomous vehicle or ADAS systems.
• Familiarity with scripting or data tools (e.g. Python, MATLAB) for analysis or automation.
• Understanding of vehicle networks (CAN, LIN, Ethernet) and diagnostic protocols.
• Exposure to simulation or test environments (e.g. HiL, SiL).
• Awareness of automotive safety standards or regulatory frameworks (e.g. ISO 26262).

This is a full‑time role based in our office in London. At Wayve we want the best of all worlds so we operate a hybrid working policy that combines time together in our offices and workshops to fuel innovation, culture, relationships and learning, and time spent working from home. Wayve is committed to creating an inclusive interview experience. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to participate fully in our interview process, please let us know. We understand that everyone has a unique set of skills and experiences and that not everyone will meet all of the requirements listed above. If you’re passionate about self‑driving cars and think you have what it takes to make a positive impact on the world, we encourage you to apply. At Wayve we're committed to creating a diverse, fair and respectful culture that is inclusive of everyone based on their unique skills and perspectives, and regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding) or any other basis as protected by applicable law.