Robot Software Platform Engineer - Rapid Prototyping at Wayve

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Robot Software Platform Engineer - Rapid Prototyping
Company: Wayve
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Job Type: Hybrid (Core working hours, with a balance of remote and on-site work)
Category: DevOps Engineer, Software Engineer
Date Posted: 2025-08-08
Experience Level: Mid-level (2-5 years of experience)
Remote Status: Hybrid (London-based with flexible remote work)

🚀 Role Summary

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on rapid prototyping and experimentation, enabling other teams to iterate quickly on new ideas. The successful candidate will have a significant impact on Wayve's innovation engine and overall platform development.
As a Robot Software Platform Engineer on the Rapid Prototyping Team, you'll play a critical role in formalizing Wayve's "move-fast" innovation engine. You'll build the scaffolding that enables every other team to experiment at speed, whether that means proving out a new perception service, validating a control idea on real hardware, or authoring the next-generation orchestration framework. Your prototypes will often feed back into Wayve's mainline platform, amplifying your impact across the entire organization.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong technical background in software development, with a focus on rapid prototyping and experimentation. The ideal candidate will have experience in building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines and working with various onboard platform components.
Prototype platform features from scratch and deliver working demos in 2-4 weeks, supporting high-risk, high-upside experiments.
Own and evolve Wayve's software architecture to support rapid experimentation, with a focus on architecture-agnostic design and familiarity with ROS 2, iceoryx, CAN, networking, and inference.
Expose and maintain Python bindings (pybind11, pyo3/maturin) or other glue layers to help cross-team collaboration and rapid scripting.
Champion experimental workflows, codify best practices, and build developer-facing tools that accelerate iteration across the company.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience: Proven experience in software development, with a focus on rapid prototyping, CI/CD pipelines, and onboard platform components.

Required Skills:

Strong Rust proficiency with solid C++ and Python skills.
Deep understanding of onboard platform components, including drivers, data loggers, config systems, process orchestration, and inference engines.
Hands-on experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines (Bazel, Docker) and HIL test setups.
“Can-do” mindset, comfortable working in uncharted territory and happy to experiment and iterate quickly on ideas that may never ship.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a focus on teamwork and achieving outcomes.

Preferred Skills:

Familiarity with ROS 2, iceoryx, CAN bus, and networking protocols.
Experience creating Python bindings for C++ or Rust libraries (pybind11, pyo3/maturin) with a focus on user experience and performance.
Prior background in rapid prototyping or skunkworks teams, balancing speed, quality, and learnings.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate your ability to prototype platform features from scratch and deliver working demos in a short timeframe.
Showcase your experience with CI/CD pipelines, onboard platform components, and rapid experimentation workflows.
Highlight your proficiency in Rust, C++, and Python, as well as your understanding of architecture-agnostic design and networking protocols.

Technical Documentation:

Provide clear and concise documentation for your projects, including code quality, commenting, and version control strategies.
Explain your approach to process orchestration, data pipelines, and inference engines, as well as your experience with HIL testing and developer-facing tools.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £55,000 - £75,000 per year (Based on market research for mid-level software engineers in London with relevant experience)

Benefits:

Competitive salary and equity compensation package.
Flexible working hours with a hybrid work arrangement (core working hours with remote and on-site options).
Generous holiday allowance and flexible time off.
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
Pension scheme with employer contributions.
Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and mentorship programs.
A dynamic, innovative, and collaborative work environment focused on driving autonomous vehicle technology forward.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with core working hours and flexible remote work options.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is based on market research for mid-level software engineers in London with relevant experience. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as skills, experience, and qualifications.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Wayve operates in the autonomous vehicle technology industry, focusing on developing advanced AI software and foundation models for vehicles to perceive, understand, and navigate complex environments.

Company Size: Wayve is a growing startup with a team of over 100 employees, providing a dynamic and innovative work environment.

Founded: Wayve was founded in 2017, with a mission to create autonomy that propels the world forward.

Team Structure:

Rapid Prototyping Team: A small, agile team responsible for enabling rapid experimentation across the organization by building and maintaining the software infrastructure that supports high-risk, high-upside experiments.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Wayve encourages collaboration between teams, including developers, designers, and stakeholders, to ensure user-focused and innovative solutions.

Development Methodology:

Agile/Scrum methodologies with sprint planning to facilitate rapid prototyping and experimentation.
Code review, testing, and quality assurance practices to ensure code quality and maintainability.
Deployment strategies, CI/CD pipelines, and server management to support the continuous integration and deployment of platform features.

Company Website: Wayve

📝 Enhancement Note: Wayve's company culture values innovation, collaboration, and user-focused design. The company encourages experimentation and learning, providing a supportive environment for professional growth and development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is at the mid-level (2-5 years of experience) and offers opportunities for growth and development in the software engineering and DevOps fields.

Reporting Structure: The Robot Software Platform Engineer will report to the Head of Rapid Prototyping and work closely with other teams, including software engineering, hardware engineering, and product management.

Technical Impact: This role has a significant impact on Wayve's overall platform development and innovation engine. The successful candidate will enable rapid experimentation across teams, contributing to the mainline platform and driving the company's mission forward.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical growth through working on cutting-edge projects and learning from experienced team members.
Leadership opportunities as the team and company expand, with potential roles in technical leadership, team management, or architecture decision-making.
Career progression within Wayve or the broader autonomous vehicle technology industry, with opportunities to specialize in specific areas or take on more senior roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wayve's focus on rapid prototyping and experimentation provides ample opportunities for professional growth and development. The company values learning and encourages employees to explore new technologies and approaches to problem-solving.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Wayve's office is a collaborative workspace designed to facilitate innovation, culture, relationships, and learning. The company operates core working hours to accommodate both on-site and remote work arrangements.

Office Location(s): Wayve's main office is located in London, United Kingdom.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative workspace with dedicated areas for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and social events.
State-of-the-art development tools and equipment, including multiple monitors, testing devices, and high-speed internet access.
Cross-functional collaboration opportunities with developers, designers, and stakeholders to ensure user-focused and innovative solutions.

Work Schedule: Wayve operates core working hours, allowing employees to determine the schedule that works best for them and their team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wayve's hybrid work arrangement combines the best of both worlds, offering a collaborative office environment for innovation and culture, along with the flexibility of remote work.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Technical assessment focused on Rust, C++, and Python proficiency, as well as experience with CI/CD pipelines and onboard platform components.
System design discussion to evaluate your understanding of architecture-agnostic design, process orchestration, and data pipelines.
Behavioral and cultural fit assessment to ensure alignment with Wayve's values and work environment.
Final evaluation based on technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your experience with rapid prototyping, CI/CD pipelines, and onboard platform components.
Demonstrate your ability to deliver working demos in a short timeframe and showcase your understanding of architecture-agnostic design and networking protocols.
Explain your approach to process orchestration, data pipelines, and inference engines, as well as your experience with HIL testing and developer-facing tools.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your Rust, C++, and Python skills, with a focus on architecture-agnostic design, process orchestration, and data pipelines.
Practice solving problems related to CI/CD pipelines, HIL testing, and rapid experimentation workflows.
Prepare for system design discussions by studying architecture-agnostic design principles and networking protocols.

ATS Keywords: (Organized by category)

Programming Languages: Rust, C++, Python, JavaScript, Go, Bash
Web Frameworks: ROS 2, iceoryx, CAN bus, networking protocols
Server Technologies: Docker, Bazel, CI/CD pipelines, HIL testing
Databases: (Not specified for this role)
Tools: Git, JIRA, Confluence, Slack, Google Workspace
Methodologies: Agile/Scrum, code review, testing, quality assurance
Soft Skills: Communication, collaboration, problem-solving, adaptability, learning agility
Industry Terms: Rapid prototyping, experimentation, architecture-agnostic design, process orchestration, data pipelines, inference engines

📝 Enhancement Note: Wayve's interview process focuses on evaluating technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. The company values candidates who can thrive in a dynamic, innovative, and collaborative work environment.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Frontend Technologies: (Not specified for this role)

Backend & Server Technologies:

Rust: Strong proficiency required for platform feature prototyping and architecture evolution.
C++: Solid proficiency required for working with onboard platform components and process orchestration.
Python: Solid proficiency required for scripting, glue layers, and developer-facing tools.
ROS 2: Familiarity with ROS 2 is desirable for working with Wayve's software architecture and rapid experimentation workflows.
iceoryx: Familiarity with iceoryx is desirable for working with Wayve's software architecture and high-performance, real-time communication.
CAN bus: Familiarity with CAN bus is desirable for working with onboard platform components and vehicle communication.
Networking protocols: Familiarity with networking protocols is desirable for working with Wayve's software architecture and high-performance communication.

Development & DevOps Tools:

Bazel: Proficiency required for building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines and working with Wayve's software architecture.
Docker: Proficiency required for containerization and deployment automation.
Git: Proficiency required for version control and collaborative development.
JIRA & Confluence: Familiarity with these tools is desirable for project management and documentation.
Slack: Familiarity with Slack is desirable for communication and collaboration within the team and across the organization.
Google Workspace: Familiarity with Google Workspace is desirable for collaboration and productivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wayve's technology stack focuses on rapid prototyping, architecture evolution, and high-performance communication. The company values candidates with strong Rust proficiency and experience with relevant backend and server technologies.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Innovation: Wayve values innovation and encourages experimentation to drive the company's mission forward.
Collaboration: Wayve fosters a collaborative work environment, with a focus on cross-functional teamwork and user-focused design.
Learning: Wayve encourages continuous learning and professional development, providing opportunities for growth and development.
User-focused design: Wayve prioritizes user experience and ensures that its products meet the needs of its customers.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional integration between developers, designers, and stakeholders to ensure user-focused and innovative solutions.
Code review culture and peer programming practices to maintain code quality and share knowledge across the team.
Knowledge sharing, technical mentoring, and continuous learning to support the growth and development of team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wayve's team culture values innovation, collaboration, and user-focused design. The company encourages continuous learning and provides opportunities for professional growth and development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Rapid prototyping and experimentation workflows to enable high-risk, high-upside experiments across the organization.
Architecture evolution to support rapid experimentation and maintain architecture-agnostic design principles.
High-performance communication and real-time processing to ensure efficient and reliable vehicle communication.
User experience design and optimization to ensure that Wayve's products meet the needs of its customers.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical skill advancement through working on cutting-edge projects and learning from experienced team members.
Conference attendance, certification, and community involvement to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in autonomous vehicle technology.
Technical mentorship, leadership development, and architecture decision-making opportunities as the team and company expand.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wayve's focus on rapid prototyping and experimentation provides ample opportunities for professional growth and development. The company values learning and encourages employees to explore new technologies and approaches to problem-solving.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Rust, C++, and Python proficiency with a focus on architecture-agnostic design, process orchestration, and data pipelines.
CI/CD pipelines and HIL testing experience, with an understanding of deployment automation and server management.
System design and architecture evolution principles, with a focus on high-risk, high-upside experiments and user experience optimization.

Company & Culture Questions:

Wayve's mission and values with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and user-focused design.
Rapid prototyping and experimentation workflows with an understanding of Wayve's software architecture and high-performance communication.
Cross-functional teamwork and collaboration with developers, designers, and stakeholders to ensure user-focused and innovative solutions.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Highlight your experience with rapid prototyping, CI/CD pipelines, and onboard platform components.
Demonstrate your ability to deliver working demos in a short timeframe and showcase your understanding of architecture-agnostic design and networking protocols.
Explain your approach to process orchestration, data pipelines, and inference engines, as well as your experience with HIL testing and developer-facing tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wayve's interview process focuses on evaluating technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. The company values candidates who can thrive in a dynamic, innovative, and collaborative work environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Robot Software Platform Engineer - Rapid Prototyping position at Wayve:

Submit your application through the application link provided in the job listing.
Customize your portfolio to highlight your experience with rapid prototyping, CI/CD pipelines, and onboard platform components, with a focus on architecture-agnostic design and networking protocols.
Optimize your resume for web technology roles, with a focus on project highlighting and technical skills emphasis.
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your Rust, C++, and Python skills, practicing problem-solving, and studying system design principles.
Research Wayve's company culture and values, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and user-focused design.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web technology industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Wayve before making application decisions.

Robot Software Platform Engineer - Rapid Prototyping