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# Engineering & Hardware Category Manager

- **Company:** Waymo LLC
- **Location:** Tempe, AZ, United States
- **Experience:** Experienced
- **Salary:** $159,000.0 - $196,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Hardware Design, Peer-To-Peer (P2P), SAP Ariba
- **Published:** June 12, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=209e358cadbff4ef

## About the Role

Do you have experience in Workforce management?, * 7+ years of strategic procurement experience, with at least 4+ years dedicated to Engineering Services, R&D, or Hardware sourcing.

 * Deep expertise in outsourced engineering models (managed services, staff augmentation, fixed-bid) and experience negotiating with Tier 1 engineering service providers.
 * Proven ability to draft and negotiate complex commercial contracts, including MSAs, NREs, JDM/ODM agreements, and highly technical Professional Services SOWs.
 * Experience managing R&D hardware lifecycles (EVT, DVT, PVT) and negotiating with custom component manufacturers and prototyping houses.
 * Strong financial acumen with the ability to present TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) analysis to Finance and Hardware Engineering leadership.
 * Ability to operate in a high-velocity environment, managing multiple concurrent high-priority sourcing events for unreleased technologies.

We prefer:

 * Experience in a hyper-growth Tech, Autonomous Vehicle (AV), or automotive manufacturing environment.
 * Engineering background or profound understanding of hardware development and systems engineering principles.
 * Experience using Ariba P2P, e-sourcing, and Spend Analysis tools.

## Description

* Develop and execute a comprehensive procurement strategy for Engineering Services and R&D Hardware, balancing cost optimization with speed-to-market for prototypes and technical development.
 * Proactively manage a high-volume pipeline of outsourced engineering workforce contracts; lead negotiations for mission-critical engineering design firms to secure favorable long-term commercial and IP terms.
 * Structure and negotiate complex Statements of Work (SOWs) and Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) agreements for hardware development to ensure successful project delivery and ROI.
 * Optimize Joint Design Manufacturing (JDM) and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) relationships for R&D components, ensuring competitive pricing and seamless fulfillment logistics for hardware iterations.
 * Act as the trusted advisor to Engineering and Hardware leadership; lead complex "make vs. buy" analyses and influence technical requirements to drive commercial value and mitigate supply chain risk.
 * Partner with Legal (IP/Security) to ensure all engineering services and hardware agreements meet Waymo's rigorous intellectual property protection and cybersecurity standards., * Estimated 10-15% (Vendor QBRs, supplier audits, & HQ visits as needed).


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