Machine Learning Manager, Application Software

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.

🛠️ About our Engineering Teams

We’re looking for an exceptional technical leader to spearhead our new Japan-based Application Engineer team, a self-sufficient and high-impact group focused on localising and advancing our autonomous driving technology for the Japanese market. This is a unique opportunity to shape Wayve’s AV capabilities in Japan from the ground up.

🧠 Your day-to-day

As the founding manager, you’ll lead a small but mighty team of engineers working across robotics, machine learning and systems integration. You’ll drive development of autonomy features tailored to Japan’s road infrastructure, cultural driving behaviours and regulatory landscape, so that our AV stack performs safely and effectively in this distinctive environment. Given the distance and time zone difference from our London HQ, your team will operate with significant autonomy, so we’re looking for someone who thrives in self-directed, startup-like conditions: able to set a vision, execute fast and make robust decisions independently, while staying aligned with global engineering efforts. This role requires breadth. Strong experience across AV systems, including robotics and autonomy, is essential, and deep expertise in machine learning is a major plus.

🧩 What you’ll be working on:

Essential

• A strong background in robotics and autonomy, with experience building and deploying systems that operate in real-world environments.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and grow high-performing engineering teams, ideally in geographically distributed or independent settings.

• Comfortable with ambiguity: you can define goals, carve out roadmaps, and deliver high-impact work with minimal supervision.

• Broad technical fluency: capable of reviewing and guiding work across software engineering, ML, controls, and systems integration.

• Excellent communication skills: you’re able to clearly convey technical context and strategic vision across cultures and time zones.

• Strong product sense and stakeholder management skills: you’re comfortable interfacing directly with OEM customers and representing engineering in external-facing conversations.
  

Desirable

• Prior experience in autonomous vehicles or robotic systems operating at scale.

• Familiarity with Japan’s road environment, driving behaviour, or AV regulatory landscape.

• A strong foundation in machine learning and its application to real-time decision-making or perception systems.

• Japanese language proficiency (not required, but useful for day-to-day coordination).
  

🙌 You should apply if:

Essential

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