Self Driving Trucking PgM Opportunities

Waymo
bampf

Go to company page Waymo

bampf
Dec 7, 2021 10 Comments

Severely burned out after working in Operations at Waymo for the past 6 years. Looking to move solidly into Technical Program Management at another self driving company. Would prefer to stay in trucking since it's what I've been working on the past 4 years and I'm still very excited about the technology. I'd love to stay with Waymo but I just don't see opportunities for growth or advancement and I'm not being challenged in the ways I'd like to be.

Tell me which self driving companies you think would be good to move to. I really miss the start up R&D aspect of Waymo's early days so looking for a similar culture at my next company. I'm already interviewing at Embark and have also applied at Aurora. I'm looking for good work life balance and an environment where I'm challenged and excited to show up to work and solve issues. I've already supported the scaling of one trucking operation and the bring up of 2 new platforms along with multiple hardware and software feature rollouts so I have a lot of insight into how to set up another company to successfully do the same.

Appreciative of any info and insight others may have 🙏🏼

TC: $120k
YOE: 6

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 TOP 10 Comments
  • Google
    Ten Chars

    Go to company page Google

    Ten Chars
    You don't see opportunities at Waymo. Does that mean you've tried to find them? Have you talked to any TPMs or your manager about this?
    Dec 8, 2021 2
    • Waymo
      bampf

      Go to company page Waymo

      bampf
      OP
      I've been very vocal with my manager about this and the issue is that trucking isn't the priority of the company so we're not getting the headcount we need which means I'm getting held back in this position because they aren't getting approval to hire anyone else that would free me up to be able to move up and work on higher level things. I even had a talk with HR who told me that I'm currently capped out level wise in my current role so to continue leveling up I'd need to move into a different role but they're not creating those roles yet. They might in 2-3 years but I've already been waiting far too long for other things like training and coaching they've been promising would happen as well and still hasn't. I've talked to a few co-workers I'm close to who have been around longer than me and they agree that leaving would be best for my future growth. I plan on talking to my skip level manager more directly about this but his hands are tied a bit since the company won't give us the headcount or resources they've been asking for. Everyone is overworked and has too much on their plate due to this and it's just not an environment where I'm learning new things. I'm just getting more work and more responsibility piled onto me with no incentive to keep outperforming. I constantly work at a level above what I'm at and out of my job scope. They've been giving me spot bonuses and my last raise a year ago was a 20% bump but it's not even about the money to me. I want to be challenged and not just overworked.
      Dec 8, 2021
    • Google
      a qasdcf

      Go to company page Google

      a qasdcf
      This👆is what my experience working at Waymo is also like. I’m not on the ops side.

      Mounting responsibility without incentives, no headcount to actually help you level up/backfill/lead/grow/whatever. The current scope of your work doesn’t change while more shit gets piled on.

      The reality is that if you’re not contributing to the short term goals at Waymo (we all know what they are) then you’re just not a priority. All while they tell you “oh it’s a long term bet” when it’s convenient for them. It’s just a symptom of the company trying to have their cake and eat it too.
      Dec 9, 2021
  • Aurora / Eng
    vpblic

    Go to company page Aurora Eng

    PRE
    Uber
     vpblic
    Definitely recommend Aurora as the strongest other trucking player.

    Locomotive in pgh might be interesting to look at as well.
    Dec 8, 2021 1
  • Google
    GabaYaGool

    Go to company page Google

    GabaYaGool
    Wouldn’t Rivian be a good place to look into? Or Lucid?
    Dec 7, 2021 0
  • Google
    Umlp01

    Go to company page Google

    Umlp01
    Are you in a more hands on role, or behind the computer?
    Dec 7, 2021 1
    • Waymo
      bampf

      Go to company page Waymo

      bampf
      OP
      Mostly behind a computer since COVID but I occasionally will visit sites when needed for more hands on support.
      Dec 7, 2021
  • Aurora
    ohchpc

    Go to company page Aurora

    ohchpc
    Aurora PgM roles have good visibility and growth.. definitely talk to HR. Dm me for referral
    Dec 12, 2021 0