Senior/Staff Technical Program Manager - Autonomous Test Fleet Data Strategy & Mileage Accumulation

zoox · Foster City, CA · 4 months ago

Work mode: Hybrid
Seniority: Staff
Category: Project management
Experience: 7+ years
Visa sponsorship: Yes
Company size: 501-1000

data-science machine-learning program-management

The Program Management Office (PMO) at Zoox is responsible for driving cross-functional program planning and execution at the highest level. We partner with leaders from across the company in vehicle development, system design, software engineering, manufacturing, fleet operations, and business functions to develop and deliver major corporate milestones on the path to launch, and beyond. Our program managers contribute to the end to end success of technical, integrated product milestones involving both of our vehicle platforms - the Toyota Highlander test fleet and Zoox’s purpose-built robotaxi.

In this role, you will:

Own the fleet validation operational strategy: Lead the end-to-end strategy and execution of mileage accumulation for both the physical test fleet and simulation assets, to enable Zoox’s geofence expansion across all cities. Partner closely with upstream teams (e.g. Autonomy, Systems Design & Mission Assurance, Places & Build) and downstream teams (e.g. Data Science, Fleet Operations) to ensure critical inputs are available, and results are delivered; you will ultimately "own the outcome" of test fleet data collection. This is a high leverage, high impact role.
Usher in a simulation-first methodology: Act as the cross-functional catalyst for scaling simulated mileage accumulation. Drive alignment between Autonomy, System Design & Mission Assurance, and Simulation teams to ensure clear requirements are set, and simulation platforms are resourced to meet exponentially growing data needs.
Identify and resolve critical bottlenecks: Develop rigorous tracking mechanisms that model the impact of upstream dependencies (e.g., map content deliverables and safety requirements). You’ll think critically and work cross-functionally to squash inefficiencies in upstream and downstream pipelines and systems. Partner collaboratively with program leads and executive leadership across orgs to reshape deliverables, timelines, and program scope where necessary to ensure overall program success.
Relentlessly investigate and creatively resolve blockers: Treat flatlining progress metrics as immediate triggers for action. Dig deep into root causes, negotiate thoughtfully with stakeholders on complex requests, and design out-of-the-box technical workarounds when ideal solutions are unavailable. Always present concrete mitigation plans, rather than accepting the status quo.

Qualifications

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field.
7+ years of TPM experience, with a strong background in complex hardware/software integration, system verification and validation (V&V), or safety-critical systems.
A naturally inquisitive, highly technical mindset. You do not accept the status quo and have the discipline to negotiate aggressively with stakeholders to protect the program's critical path.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical bottlenecks into clear, data-backed executive narratives that enable timely, critical business decisions.

Bonus Qualifications:

Deep experience with autonomous vehicle and / or simulation platforms, virtual validation strategies, or synthetic data generation.
Familiarity with optimization frameworks and large-scale data acquisition programs.

About Zoox

Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We’re looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.

Accommodations

If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [email protected] or your assigned recruiter.

A Final Note:

You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.

In this role, you will:

Qualifications

Bonus Qualifications:

Explore more jobs