Staff Technical Program Manager (Automotive)

TL;DR

Staff Technical Program Manager (Automotive): Leading the vehicle program from concept to production across Powertrain and Thermal domains with an accent on technical direction, supply chain quality, and cross-functional execution. Focus on optimizing system designs for performance, cost, and manufacturability while managing complex NPI cycles.

Location: On-site in Foster City, CA

Salary: $214,000 - $257,000

Company

Zoox is developing autonomous vehicle technology to transform urban transportation.

What you will do

• Lead the vehicle program across powertrain and thermal systems, including HV batteries, cooling systems, and cabin climate.
• Oversee BOM integrity and drive quality and cost engineering initiatives throughout the supply chain.
• Develop program schedules and coordinate with internal engineering, procurement, and external supplier teams.
• Identify technical risks and develop strategic mitigation plans across the organization.
• Perform root-cause analysis for critical build and design issues impacting performance and production readiness.
• Influence system designs through top-level design reviews, DFMEAs, and validation programs.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 12+ years of automotive engineering experience with a focus on powertrain or thermal system design.
• Proficiency with CATIA V5/V6, PLM/BOM management, FMEA/FTA, and project management tools (JIRA, Confluence).
• Experience with end-to-end New Product Introduction (NPI) and managing external design suppliers.
• Must be based in or able to work on-site in Foster City, CA.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with hardware/firmware product development.
• Experience with vehicle CAN/Firmware.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive base salary with Amazon RSUs and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, long-term care, and life insurance.
• Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, bereavement).
• Potential sign-on bonus.