Engineering the Future of Autonomy

Women engineers in autonomy

Engineering the Future of Autonomy highlights the self-driven women building the technology behind autonomous vehicles. Panelists share what engineering roles in the autonomy sector look like day to day, and how their work connects to the broader mobility community.

Family and career mentors from across the industry have also taken part in the wider Self-Driven Women program, from the inaugural #SelfDrivenWomen virtual event moderated by Waymo COO Tekedra Mawakwana to the mentorship panel Women in Mobility: The Power of Mentorship.

Engineering the future of autonomy is a shared effort, and the Self-Driven Women series on Waymo Events spotlights the engineers shaping that work. This discussion gathers women building autonomous driving systems, from perception and planning to multi-agent decision making, controls, and product strategy. Each participant brings a distinct path into the field, shaped by internships, lab research, graduate study, and roles across companies developing automated vehicles and core mobility platforms.

The conversation centers on the roles these engineers hold and the influence they wield, offering a candid look at how autonomy technology actually gets built. Topics range from how autonomous vehicles plan behavior around other road users, to how human-machine interaction is designed, and how teams align product roadmaps with sustainable and ethical values. Attendees hear how careers in robotics, systems engineering, and mobility operations translate complex technical problems into everyday driving experiences.

Beyond the technical substance, the session reflects the community-building intent behind Self-Driven Women, a forum dedicated to women developing the future of mobility. Conversations like this one create space for mentorship, visibility, and peer connection among engineers, operators, and leaders across the autonomy sector. Whether pursuing new roles, sharpening existing expertise, or finding inspiration, participants leave with a wider view of the field and a stronger network of colleagues.