Mechanical Design Engineer

Before the detail, here's the challenge you'd help us solve.

We build the embodied intelligence that moves real vehicles safely, and the ecosystem a billion machines will run on in the future. Very few people in AI can say this. Every role here, whatever the team, plugs into that.

Here’s what this particular role covers.

Mechanical Design Engineer

About our Hardware Engineering Team

Wayve's Hardware Engineering team designs and integrates the physical systems that enable our AI Driver to operate on real-world vehicle platforms. The team works across mechanical, electrical and systems engineering to package compute, sensors and supporting hardware into robust, manufacturable solutions that can be built, tested, installed and scaled.

Your day-to-day

As a Mechanical Engineer at Wayve, you'll design and deliver robust integration solutions for compute and sensors on real-world vehicles, working on programmes with some of the world's leading automotive partners. You'll take ideas from concept through prototype and into manufacture, owning quality and design trade-offs along the way. This is a hands-on role with clear impact on how our systems are built, tested, installed and scaled.

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio showcasing relevant work alongside their resume. Applications without a portfolio may not be considered.

What you’ll be working on:

• Design and integrate mechanical solutions for sensors and compute across a range of vehicle platforms.
• Own mechanical design trade-offs across performance, cost, manufacturability and serviceability while maintaining a high quality bar.
• Develop and build HiLs, test rigs, jigs and fixtures to support validation and integration.
• Produce clear 2D drawings, assemblies and BOMs, applying GD&T to ensure repeatable builds.
• Partner with supply chain and external suppliers to source and manufacture parts using processes such as sheet metal, machining, vacuum casting and 3D printing.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with electronics and other engineering teams to integrate compute and sensor architectures.
• Create build instructions, inspection checklists and safety/quality documentation, and support knowledge transfer to Fleet and field teams.

You should apply if:

• You have 4+ years of experience in mechanical or design engineering, with a portfolio of relevant work.
• You are proficient in SolidWorks, and ideally SolidWorks PDM, including master model development and multi-part assemblies.
• You have experience with common manufacturing processes such as sheet metal, machining, vacuum casting and 3D printing, with strong design-for-manufacture judgement.
• You have strong experience designing and building test jigs, rigs and fixtures, and are comfortable working hands-on in a workshop environment.
• You have strong 2D drawing and assembly skills, experience managing BOMs, and a working knowledge of GD&T.
• You have experience using risk assessment methods such as FMEA or DFMEA.

Nice to have

• You have surface modelling experience.
• You are familiar with aluminium extrusion-based builds.
• You have an understanding of electronic systems, such as voltage basics, harness development and compute selection.
• You have hands-on FDM printing experience.

Not ticking every box? That’s totally okay! If you’re passionate about autonomy and keen to learn, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement.

More about Wayve:

Wayve is building the leading AI platform for autonomous driving. We are pioneering an end to end AI approach that enables vehicles to learn directly from real world experience, developing the ability to adapt, generalise and improve at scale. Instead of relying on hand coded rules or pre mapped environments, our AI Driver learns to drive by understanding the world around it. The result is technology that navigates complex urban environments with intelligence, precision and natural flow, unlocking meaningful advances in both safety and efficiency. We believe autonomy represents a once in a generation transformation in how people and goods move, comparable to the shift from horses to cars, and from human driven vehicles to intelligent machines.

Our ambition is to make autonomy universal. Wayve’s mapless and hardware agnostic AI platform integrates with global OEM partners, enabling continuous software evolution and unlocking advanced levels of automation from L2 plus through to L4 as our core AI model scales. In a race increasingly defined by intelligence and real world learning, Wayve is taking a distinct approach, building a generalisable driving intelligence that can power any vehicle, anywhere. By combining embodied AI with scalable deployment, we are creating technology that can be shaped to each OEM brand and driver experience, accelerating the transition to a safer, more intelligent future of mobility.

How we work - Locations & Flexible Working:

Our main hubs are in London, Sunnyvale, Yokohama, Herzliya, Vancouver and Leonberg. We operate a hybrid working model that combines in-person collaboration in our dedicated office spaces with focused time working remotely. This gives our teams the connection and energy of working together, alongside the flexibility to do their best work in a way that fits their lives.

The Interview Process:

Our process is clear and respectful of your time:

• Recruiter screen

• Hiring Manager interview

• Technical / Design interviews

• Deep Dive interview

• Mission & Values interview

We’ll always explain the format and work around your availability.

What’s in it for you (Location dependant):

Salaries benchmarked against the market annually

Meaningful equity, sharing in the ownership and long term success of Wayve

Relocation support and visa sponsorship where applicable

Hybrid working, core hours and the chance to work hands on in vehicle workshops and labs

Learning and development budgets with support for training, conferences and growth

Comprehensive benefits including health insurance, dental, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, retirement or pension where applicable, access to therapists, wellbeing partnerships, team socials and more

A quick, honest note before you apply.

Wayve is not a mature, fully-structured place with the playbook already written. Much of how we work is still being written, and if you join, you’ll help write it. That suits people who want real ownership more than people who need a settled structure from day one.

If that sounds like the kind of problem you want to spend your time on, we’d really like to hear from you.

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.

For more information visit Careers at Wayve. To learn more about what drives us, visit Values at Wayve

DISCLAIMER: We will not ask about marriage or pregnancy, care responsibilities or disabilities in any of our job adverts or interviews. However, we do look to capture information about care responsibilities, and disabilities among other diversity information as part of an optional DEI Monitoring form to help us identify areas of improvement in our hiring process and ensure that the process is inclusive and non-discriminatory.