Operations Manager
Wayve · Leonberg, Baden-Wurttemberg
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.
THE ROLE
The Operations Manager – Remote Operations and Feature Testing will lead our internal VSO team responsible for delivering remote operations and feature testing activities.
This role is responsible for turning testing priorities into safe, practical and executable operational plans. You will ensure that the team, vehicles, resources and processes are set up to deliver high-quality testing outputs across different locations and, where required, across different countries.
A key part of the role will be working closely with Product, Engineering, Safety, Field Engineering, Fleet Servicing and Maintenance, Training, Systems & Insights, Quality Assurance and other relevant teams to align on testing priorities, understand operational feasibility, and help shape the execution plan.
You will line manage the Remote Operations and Feature Testing VSO team, supporting their performance, development and wellbeing while creating a clear and consistent operating model for the team.
This is a role for someone who can balance people leadership, operational planning, safety, stakeholder management and delivery in a fast-moving testing environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the operational delivery of internal Remote Operations and Feature Testing activities.
- Translate testing priorities and business requirements into clear tactical plans for the VSO team.
- Plan and coordinate testing activities across different locations and countries where required.
- Work closely with internal stakeholders to align on testing priorities, operational feasibility and delivery plans.
- Support the prioritisation of testing activities based on business needs, staffing, vehicle readiness, safety requirements, local constraints and delivery risks.
- Ensure daily testing activities are delivered safely, efficiently and in line with agreed KPIs, testing goals and operational standards.
- Balance vehicle availability, staffing, shift coverage and testing requirements to maximise productive testing time.
- Identify operational blockers early and work with the relevant teams to resolve them.
- Ensure the team is prepared for new testing requirements, feature testing activities, remote support missions and changes in operational scope.
- Line manage the Remote Operations and Feature Testing VSOs, supporting performance, development, engagement and wellbeing.
- Lead team performance management by setting clear expectations, supporting development and ensuring concerns are addressed consistently and professionally.
- Ensure new processes, SOPs and operational changes are communicated clearly and applied consistently across the team.
- Act as escalation point for safety concerns, operational risks and serious incidents.
- Promote a safety-first culture where concerns are raised early and acted on appropriately.
- Use data, operational feedback and team input to improve planning, utilisation, issue resolution and testing delivery.
- Support the scaling of internal testing operations while maintaining safety, quality and consistency.
ABOUT YOU
ESSENTIAL
- Proven experience in operational management, ideally in automotive testing, fleet operations, logistics, technology operations or another fast-paced operational environment.
- Strong people leadership experience, including direct management of operational teams.
- Ability to translate high-level priorities into clear operational plans.
- Strong understanding of resource planning, shift planning and performance management.
- Experience managing operational KPIs, identifying performance gaps and driving improvements.
- Strong communication skills and confidence working with cross-functional stakeholders.
- Ability to make sound decisions under pressure and manage competing priorities.
- Strong safety mindset and experience operating in a controlled or safety-sensitive environment.
- Comfortable working in a dynamic environment where plans can change quickly.
- Ability to work across teams and influence priorities by providing clear operational input.
DESIRABLE
- Experience with ADAS, autonomous vehicle testing, automotive development or remote operations.
- Understanding of vehicle testing, data collection, feature testing or safety driver operations.
- Experience working with VSOs, technicians, field engineers or similar operational teams.
- Experience planning operational activities across different countries or markets.
- German language skills or experience working within German operational environments.
- Experience with tools such as Fleetio, Jira, Slack, planning systems or KPI dashboards.
LOCATION AND WORKING PATTERN
This is a full-time role with the primary workplace based in Leonberg, Germany.
The standard working pattern is generally Monday to Friday. Some flexibility may be required during remote support periods, feature testing activities, incidents or cross-country testing programmes.
Occasional travel within Germany and to other European testing locations may be required to support test execution, team coordination, stakeholder alignment and operational readiness.
A quick, honest note before you apply.
Wayve is not a mature, fully-structured place with the playbook already written. Much of how we work is still being written, and if you join, you’ll help write it. That suits people who want real ownership more than people who need a settled structure from day one.
If that sounds like the kind of problem you want to spend your time on, we’d really like to hear from you.