✦ Partner Program
LA-Tech.org

Waymo Career Institute & AV Experience

Multi-week paid career readiness and AV-focused project experience with Waymo professionals, embedded in LA Tech Rising Internship.

12405 Venice Blvd. #125, Los Angeles, CA 90066

🎯 Workforce Development Program
💸 altAid Eligible
Hybrid
Part-time
Program at a glance
Paid TrainingTotal cost
3 weeksProgram length
*Completion rate
~$85KMedian grad salary
* This program doesn't collect and report this data. The median salary is a Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate for Business Operation Specialist

Fall cohort. Fall applications open in February; the application deadline is typically in June; the start date is typically in August. Apply via Rising Internship application; AV Experience is a selective add-on for current Rising interns.

No experience required

Program Philosophy

Autonomous vehicles are one of the fastest-growing sectors in tech, but access to the people and pathways inside that industry is rarely available to early-career talent. The Waymo Career Institute was built to close that gap — pairing a high-impact professional skills bootcamp with embedded career readiness throughout LA Tech Rising, culminating in a selective paid AV Experience. Through direct mentorship from Waymo professionals, project-based learning on real AV challenges, and exposure to careers across technical, business, and operations roles, the program prepares LA's untapped talent for opportunities in one of tech's most innovative industries.

Started in 2022

Visit program website

Best For

Rising interns 18–24 in LA County interested in autonomous vehicles and emerging tech

Time Commitment

Integrated with the LA Tech Rising Internship (live virtual sessions plus in-person events) in the fall only. Begins with a Professional Skills Bootcamp, continues with embedded career readiness, and culminates in a selective in-person AV Experience with final presentations with Waymo.

What You'll Gain

Waymo mentorship, autonomous vehicle industry exposure, paid project experience, and tech career readiness

Cost & Outcomes

🙌🏽 Paid Training
💵 Hourly Wage
program cost

This program is completely free for all participants. It's integrated with the LA Tech Rising Internship, where participants are paid $17.87/hour.

💸 Financial Assistance
how altAid funding can helpTransportation to Waymo in-person events and final presentations; laptop or reliable internet for virtual sessions; professional attire for industry events and panels; food during long session days
Learn more about altAid
*Completion rate (most recent cohort)
*Employment rate within 1 year
~$85KThe median salary for Business Operation Specialist
240+Total graduates since founding
* This program doesn't collect and report this data. The median salary is a Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate for Business Operation Specialist.

Who This Program is Built For

This program was specifically designed with these communities in mind. If you see yourself, you belong here.

Opportunity Youth
BIPOC
Low-income
System Impacted
Foster Youth
First-Gen College Students

What Sets This Program Apart

Direct mentorship from Waymo professionals

Selective paid AV Experience with project-based learning on real autonomous vehicle challenges

Professional Skills Bootcamp with conference-style panel and speed networking

Mock interviews and resume feedback embedded in LA Tech Rising

In-person final presentations at Waymo

Exposure to AV industry across technical, business, operations, safety, and policy roles

Day in the Life

Daily Structure
  • Professional Skills Bootcamp with live interactive training on networking and industry navigation
  • Conference-style panel and speed networking with Waymo professionals
  • Embedded career readiness: resume feedback, mock interviews, career pathway exploration
  • Project-based work on real AV challenge areas (marketing, urban mobility, safety, policy, fleet ops, competitive positioning)
  • 1:1 and team mentorship from Waymo teams
  • Final in-person presentations at Waymo
📄 Instructor Credentials

Industry mentorship and project advising delivered by Waymo professionals across technical, business, operations, safety, and policy teams.

Skills Gained

Soft and technical skills you'll gain by program completion.

AV and AI industry fluency
Understanding of the Waymo Driver and AV ecosystem
Project-based problem solving
Market research and competitive analysis
Professional networking and personal branding
Mock interviewing
Resume development
Presentation and storytelling
Cross-functional collaboration
Communication of technical concepts to non-technical audiences
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Highs & Lows

hardest part

Balancing 10–15 hrs/week with school, work, or family obligations — especially for community college students with irregular schedules. Limited accessibility to AI tools may also be a challenge.

most rewarding part

Direct access to Waymo volunteers who serve as project advisors. Interns work on real-world hypothetical challenges (competitive strategy, market expansion, safety & trust) that mirror actual industry problems. This is embedded within the Rising Internship, so it amplifies an already structured experience.

Possible Career Outcomes
Business Operation Specialist

Improve and streamline business processes for better efficiency and productivity.

💰 $85K Median Salary
📈 3% Job Growth
Logistician

Coordinate logistics to ensure efficient product life cycle management.

💰 $90K Median Salary
📈 17% Job Growth
Marketing Specialist

Analyze market trends to boost sales and plan effective marketing campaigns.

💰 $95K Median Salary
📈 7% Job Growth
Project Management Specialist

Coordinate projects by managing schedules, budgets, and team responsibilities.

💰 $110K Median Salary
📈 6% Job Growth
Public Relations Specialist

Shape public perception through media and social content strategies.

💰 $80K Median Salary
📈 5% Job Growth
Graduates can progress from associate and coordinator roles in AV operations, policy, marketing, or fleet management into specialist and manager roles at AV companies, mobility startups, and policy organizations within 5–10 years.

Employment Support

Direct mentorship from Waymo professionals

Mock interviews and resume feedback

Professional Skills Bootcamp and conference-style panel

Speed networking with Waymo teams

Final presentations creating direct exposure to Waymo and partner employers

Pathway connections into LA Tech Rising employer network of 80+ partners

partner Employers
Waymo

Hear From the Program

W
Waymo Staff
"Partnering with LA-Tech.org has been incredibly rewarding. It proves that investing in people strengthens the future of our field."

How It Works

1

Apply to the LA Tech Rising Internship Program at LA-Tech.org

2

Selected Rising interns are considered for the Waymo Career Institute and AV Experience

3

Selective application/selection for the paid AV Experience phase

4

Participants engage in Professional Skills Bootcamp and embedded career readiness

Selected participants advance into the in-person AV Experience and final presentations at Waymo