Zoox

Fully electric autonomous ride-hailing service platform

Technical Program Manager - Body & Closures

Program ManagementConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeFoster City, CA, USA$169k - $203k /yr

About the Job

Requirements

A B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related technical discipline is required.
At least 6 years of automotive engineering experience, focused on Body and Closures and technical project management, is required.
Proficiency with CATIA V5/V6, PLM and BOM management, FMEA/FTA, structured root-cause analysis methods such as 8D and Fishbone, and project management tools such as JIRA, Confluence, Polarion, Gantt charts, ERP, PLM, and ALM is required.
Experience designing for crash, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), reliability, strength, and corrosion attributes is required.
A track record of managing complex cross-functional projects and delivering components through external design suppliers and contract manufacturers is required.
Ability to drive outsourced engineering is required.
End-to-end New Product Introduction (NPI) experience is required.
Ability to collaborate and communicate across levels with peers, suppliers, manufacturing, and executive management is required.
Ability to travel globally as required is required.

Responsibilities

Serve as the program and technical lead for the vehicle program across Body (BIW, structures) and Closures (doors, mechanisms, glazing), collaborating with internal engineers and external supplier design teams to ensure cohesive engineering execution.
Oversee BOM integrity, approve critical build processes, and drive quality and cost engineering initiatives throughout the supply chain for major assemblies.
Develop program schedules and partner with suppliers, quality, procurement, service, manufacturing, and engineering teams to drive complex open issues to closure and ensure on-time delivery.
Identify and communicate program progress, engineering challenges, and technical risks while proactively developing and leading strategic mitigation plans across the organization.
Lead root-cause analysis and tracking of critical build and design issues impacting vehicle performance, quality, and production readiness to drive long-term engineering solutions.
Influence system designs to optimize performance, cost, quality, manufacturability, and serviceability by leading top-level design reviews, DFMEAs, validation programs, and manufacturing mock-builds.
Support the team as a design engineer as needed, using first-principles engineering to develop and mature designs in CATIA and 3DEXPERIENCE.

Desired Qualifications

Experience working at an automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is preferred.
Familiarity with hardware and firmware product development and vehicle CAN/firmware is preferred.

Salary Range: 169000 to 203000 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)

As a Technical Program Manager for Body & Closures, you will serve as a program lead to ensure Schedule, Cost and Attribute targets are met for Body and Closures.

In this position, you will bridge the gap between high-level program milestones and technical execution with internal and external engineering partners. You are responsible for balancing performance attributes, cost, quality, and manufacturability while coordinating engineering execution across our internal team and external partners.

In this role, you will:

Serve as the program and technical lead for the vehicle program across Body (BIW, structures) & Closures (doors, mechanisms, glazing), collaborating with internal engineers and external supplier design teams to ensure cohesive engineering execution.
Oversee BOM integrity, approve critical build processes, and drive quality and cost engineering initiatives throughout the supply chain for your major assemblies.
Develop program schedules and partner with suppliers, quality, procurement, service, manufacturing, and engineering teams to drive complex open issues to closure and ensure on-time delivery.
Identify and communicate program progress, engineering challenges, and technical risks while proactively developing and leading strategic mitigation plans across the organization.
Lead the root-cause analysis and tracking of critical build and design issues impacting vehicle performance, quality, and production readiness to drive long-term engineering solutions.
Influence system designs to optimize performance, cost, quality, manufacturability, and serviceability by leading top-level design reviews, DFMEAs, validation programs, and manufacturing mock-builds.
Support the team as a design engineer as needed, using first-principles engineering to develop and mature designs in Catia and 3DEXPERIENCE.

Qualifications

B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineer, or a related technical discipline
6+ years of automotive engineering experience, with focus on Body and Closures, and technical project management.
Proficiency with advanced automotive engineering tools and methodologies, including CATIA V5/V6, PLM/BOM management, FMEA/FTA, structured root-cause analysis (8D, Fishbone), project management tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence, Polarion, Gantt charts, ERP, PLM, ALM).
Experience designing for attributes such as crash, NVH, reliability, strength, and corrosion.
A proven track record of managing complex cross-functional projects and delivering components via external design suppliers and contract manufacturers.
Ability to drive outsource engineering
End-to-end New Product Introduction (NPI) experience.
Strong collaboration and communication skills across all levels, from peers and suppliers to manufacturing and executive management.
Ability to travel globally as required.

Bonus Qualifications

Experience working at an automotive OEM.
Familiarity with hardware/firmware product development and vehicle CAN/Firmware.
A passion for electronic, autonomous mobility.

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.

About the Company

Zoox

Fully electric autonomous ride-hailing service platform

Zoox designs and operates an autonomous ride-hailing service built around a purpose-built, fully electric vehicle designed specifically for autonomous operation. The vehicle uses advanced sensors, cameras, and AI to navigate complex urban environments, offering a four-passenger interior for comfort. Unlike competitors that retrofit existing cars, Zoox engineers both the vehicle and the service from the ground up, enabling optimized safety, efficiency, and passenger experience through integrated software that optimizes routing and reduces wait times. The company emphasizes safety through extensive testing and regulatory collaboration, and sustainability via electric mobility. The ultimate goal is to provide a smarter, safer, and more efficient urban transportation system that improves city life while reducing emissions.

Company size: 5,001-10,000
Company stage: Acquired
Total funding: $1.2B
Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA
Founded: 2014

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