Waymo has hired a senior Tesla engineer to lead its in-car audio and infotainment experience, marking the latest move in a growing competition between the two companies for top engineering talent in the autonomous driving sector.
Nikhil Satish, a veteran audio engineer who helped design the praised sound system in Tesla’s Cybertruck, announced his move on LinkedIn last week. “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Technical Leader of Audio Systems at Waymo,” Satish wrote.
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Before joining Tesla in 2021, Satish held audio engineering roles at NVIDIA and Amazon. During his time at Tesla, he oversaw audio systems for the Cybertruck, as well as programs for the company’s Semi truck and humanoid robot projects, according to his LinkedIn profile.
At Waymo, Satish will lead development of in-car audio and infotainment systems designed to enhance passenger comfort and entertainment in the company’s autonomous ride-hailing vehicles. As self-driving technology advances, passenger-focused features such as immersive sound and interactive media are expected to play a growing role in differentiating vehicle experiences.
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Waymo and Tesla have long been seen as rivals in the race to commercialize autonomous driving. Earlier this year, both companies sparred over claims of having the largest service area in Austin, Texas, though Waymo currently operates a true Level 4 autonomous service while Tesla’s Robotaxi system remains under driver supervision.
Waymo has steadily expanded its autonomous fleet and continues to attract talent from across the automotive and tech industries. The company previously hired Tesla’s head of vehicle programs in 2023 and has since added several engineers and technicians from the electric vehicle maker.
