Senior Data Scientist - Verification & Validation
About the job
- An MS or PhD in Statistics, Computer Science, Machine Learning, Applied Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
- Proficiency in Python and SQL with experience writing production-quality code.
- Expertise in statistical methodologies including hypothesis testing, power analysis, spatiotemporal modeling, Bayesian inference, and multivariate analysis.
- Experience with large-scale data analysis and statistical modeling.
- Proficiency with Git, unit testing, and collaborative development practices.
- Architect statistical methodologies for safety-critical artificial intelligence systems to form objective, rigorous conclusions about their performance and reliability.
- Deliver validation evidence to support increasingly complex operations and identify potential edge-case failures.
- Deliver clear, data-driven insights to development teams to guide system improvement and to executive leadership to inform milestone-level go/no-go decisions.
- Drive alignment across engineering teams on performance metrics and data extraction strategies.
- Manage all phases of evaluation, including prototyping, requirements capture, design, implementation, and validation.
- Partner with engineers to build and maintain scalable data processing and simulation pipelines, applying distributed computing to analyze petabytes of driving data.
- Hands-on experience with production machine learning pipelines, including dataset creation, training frameworks, and metrics pipelines.
- Experience with modern data processing technologies such as Apache Spark, Spark SQL, and Databricks.
- Experience designing metrics and delivering actionable insights that drive business decisions.
About the company
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
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Acquired
Total Funding
$1.2B
Headquarters
Menlo Park, California
Founded
2014
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Zoox opened Harry Reid airport rides on September 6, 2026.
- Zoox expanded testing to Houston and San Diego on September 1, 2026.
- NHTSA’s July 30 exemption unlocked up to 2,500 vehicles yearly.
What critics are saying
- NHTSA recall 26E044 on July 16, 2026 shows smoke detection still fails.
- Waymo and Tesla now compete in Houston, San Diego, and Las Vegas.
- California permits still block paid San Francisco service; a stalled rollout kills momentum.
What makes Zoox unique
- Zoox launched paid, driverless Las Vegas rides on August 10, 2026.
- Zoox’s purpose-built robotaxi has no steering wheel or pedals, unlike retrofits.
- Amazon ownership finances Zoox’s long buildout without near-term fundraising pressure.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Maternity & Paternity Leave
Vacation & Paid Time Off
Sick Days
Free Lunch or Snacks
Employee Assitance Program
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -3%1 year growth
↓ -3%2 year growth
↓ -2%US robotaxi competition intensifies as Zoox and Waymo expand. US robotaxi competition is intensifying as Zoox expands testing to Houston and San Diego while Waymo adds Denver, San Diego and Tampa. US robotaxi competition is entering a more intense phase as Amazon's Zoox and Alphabet's Waymo announce plans to expand autonomous ride-hailing services to more American cities. Zoox is extending its testing program to Houston and San Diego, while Waymo is preparing to offer public robotaxi service in Denver, San Diego and Tampa. Zoox expands robotaxi testing to Houston and San Diego. Zoox will expand its robotaxi testing program to Houston and San Diego, bringing the company's total number of operating locations in the United States to 12 cities. The source does not specify how the 12 locations are divided between testing and commercial operations. The company will use test vehicles converted from existing models for manual mapping and system checks. Zoox plans to follow those tests with purpose-built electric vehicles developed for fully autonomous operation. Before it began charging passengers, Zoox provided free rides in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Austin and Miami as part of its testing program. In August 2026, the company officially began offering paid rides in Las Vegas. The start of commercial service has added momentum to US robotaxi competition, as Waymo and Tesla also increase investment in efforts to expand autonomous ride-hailing operations. Waymo adds three US cities. Waymo says its first passengers in Denver, San Diego and Tampa will soon be able to use its public robotaxi service. The expansion will bring the number of US cities where Waymo provides fully autonomous ride-hailing to 14. Waymo will introduce the service in stages, gradually expanding passenger access across all three new locations. The company already has experience operating paid, driverless robotaxi services in multiple US cities. Waymo is also expanding internationally. The company plans to begin testing autonomous vehicles in Munich, Germany, before pursuing a goal of launching commercial service in the country by the end of 2027. Robotaxi companies focus on commercial scale. The simultaneous expansion by Zoox and Waymo suggests that the commercialization of autonomous-vehicle technology in the United States is entering a new stage. Companies must not only improve their technology but also expand their city networks and passenger base quickly enough to demonstrate that their services can operate at scale. Zoox is seeking to use its connection with Amazon to develop a robotaxi service designed from the outset for autonomous operation. Waymo, meanwhile, has an advantage in commercial operating experience across multiple US markets. Tesla is also pursuing its own autonomous ride-hailing service. As more companies expand robotaxi operations, the trend could support wider adoption of autonomous vehicles while increasing pressure on competitors to move from testing to large-scale commercial service. The latest moves by Zoox and Waymo show that US robotaxi competition is intensifying as companies expand beyond testing and pursue wider commercial operations. Their ability to extend services safely across more cities and build reliable passenger networks will shape the next stage of autonomous ride-hailing in the United States.
Lyft gets exclusive pickup zone as Sphere's rideshare partner. The Sphere is seen reflected in a rearview mirror along Twain Avenue on Monday, March 3, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto Las Vegas Review-Journal September 16, 2026 - 9:55 am Gift this article Sphere has inked a multiyear marketing deal with ride-hailing giant Lyft, naming it the official rideshare partner of the immersive arena. The deal, announced Wednesday, includes adding Lyft signage inside and outside of Sphere and a creating a dedicated pickup and drop-off zone in the arena's rideshare lot. "At Sphere, we welcome guests from around the world, offering brands unparalleled opportunities to connect with a global audience," Marcus Ellington, executive vice president, ad sales and sponsorships at Sphere, said in a statement. "Lyft has built one of the most widely used rideshare platforms, connecting people to the places and experiences that matter most to them," he said. "This partnership provides Lyft meaningful visibility across Sphere's global platform while extending best-in-class services to our guests." As part of the deal, Lyft will also receive brand exposure at events at Sphere, including during musical act residencies held at the more than $2 billion facility. "Sphere is redefining what live entertainment can be, and we want getting there to feel just as extraordinary and joyful to our customers," Jordan Glassberg, vice president of Partnerships for Lyft, said in a statement. "This partnership puts Lyft at the center of that journey from the moment someone requests a ride to the moment they walk through Sphere's doors, we're focused on making it seamless, safe, and genuinely exciting." Sphere also has a deal with autonomous vehicle company Zoox and named it the official autonomous ride-hail partner of the arena. LOCAL NEWS YOUR WAY
Amazon's Zoox and Alphabet's Waymo are expanding their robotaxi operations to more US cities. Zoox will begin mapping and testing in Houston and San Diego, bringing its presence to 12 locations. The company launched paid rides in Las Vegas in August after previously offering free testing rides. Waymo is introducing public rides in Denver, San Diego and Tampa, expanding its service to 14 cities. Both companies are targeting San Diego, though Zoox remains in testing whilst Waymo begins commercial operations. Waymo also plans to test autonomous vehicles in Munich before a proposed commercial launch in Germany by late 2027. Neither company disclosed potential revenue from the new markets. The expansion allows both firms to test technology under varied conditions and reach more customers.
Amazon's EV robotaxi service Zook is set to arrive in Houston. Sep 7, 2026, 8:49 am Amazon-owned electric robotaxi ride-hailing service Zoox is zooming into Houston in September. Initially, self-driving retrofitted SUVs with safety drivers on board will serve downtown Houston, centrally located tourist hotspots, and certain residential neighborhoods. The SUVs will test Houston roads before Zoox rolls out autonomous robotaxis, the company says. Zoox takes Houston for a test drive. At the outset, Zoox says, a limited number of vehicles will be driven by people to gather data about Houston roads. "This helps create a detailed picture of each street, from road geometry to traffic lights," the company says. "Once we have mapped out an area, we will test autonomous driving capabilities. Safety and operational readiness govern the pace of our rollout." Zoox says its robotaxi differs from vehicles operated by other ride-hailing services. The all-electric robotaxi "is purpose-built for autonomous ride-hailing and designed for riders from day one," the company says. "It has no traditional driving controls and instead has carriage-style seating, sliding glass doors, and features that let the rider personalize their journey." To help manage the fleet, Zoox plans to open a depot in Houston for vehicle charging and maintenance, a representative says via email. Along with Houston, Zoox is launching this month in San Diego. The ride-hailing service already operates in Austin, Dallas, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Zoox breaks into "sprawling" Houston market. Zoox describes Houston as its "most sprawling market to date." "Driving here means navigating complex service-road networks, unique merging scenarios, and challenging environmental conditions, including severe heat, heavy rain, and urban flooding," the company says. "It's a rigorous test of our technology across geography and terrain." Zoox will join two other autonomous ride-hailing services in Houston: * Waymo began rolling in Houston in February. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, owns Waymo. * Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla began offering robotaxi services earlier this year. A third Zoox competitor is arriving within the next year. A partnership comprising rideshare provider Uber, EV manufacturer Lucid, and autonomous technology company Nuro plans to launch a robotaxi service in Houston by mid-2027. fresh funding Must-attend meetings EnergyCapitalHTX emails are awesome. A View from HETI. The View from HETI coming soon Sep 4, 2026, 9:00 am Crews have broken ground on the forthcoming 347-megawatt direct-current SunRoper Solar project in Wharton County, Texas, that will add capacity to the ERCOT grid. The solar project, which is slated to begin operations in December 2027, will provide electricity to an undisclosed Fortune 100 company under a long-term power purchase agreement, according to a news release. San Antonio's OCI Energy and Israel's Arava Power are developing the project. It's being financed by ING Capital and constructed by Louisiana-based WHC Inc. The project received $394 million in construction financing in February. "SunRoper demonstrates how strategic partnerships can help meet Texas' growing demand for electricity through investments in critical energy infrastructure," Sabah Bayatli, president of OCI Energy, said in the release. Project partners, landowners and company executives attended a groundbreaking event for SunRoper on Sept. 1 at the site outside of the Houston metro area. The companies say they are advancing this energy project to strengthen grid reliability and to help deliver affordable power to one of the highest-demand areas in the state. "WHC is proud to serve as EPC contractor on the SunRoper Solar project, bringing our construction expertise to bear on a facility that will deliver meaningful power to the Houston region," Randel Badeaux, president of power North America for WHC, added in the news release. "This groundbreaking reflects months of careful planning and coordination with OCI Energy, Arava Power and our project partners, and we look forward to executing a safe, high-quality build through to completion in 2027." OCI Energy currently operates several utility-scale solar and battery energy storage system projects outside of the San Antonio area, and has five other projects under construction outside of San Antonio and Waco, with more than 30 under development in Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, Colorado and Alberta, Canada. The company also has existing projects in New Jersey and Georgia.
Zoox launches first airport robotaxi service in major milestone. Published September 6, 2026 9:57 AM EDT The brief. * * Zoox is launching its first airport transportation service, offering driverless rides between Harry Reid International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip. * The four-passenger robotaxis feature carriage-style seating, luggage space and lights and audio signals to help riders locate them. * The service follows a temporary federal exemption for Zoox vehicles, which do not have traditional controls such as steering wheels and pedals. Zoox announced Thursday that its driverless robotaxis will begin carrying passengers to and from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, launching the company's first airport transportation service. What they're saying: The Amazon-owned company told FOX Business that passengers can book rides between Harry Reid International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip starting Thursday. "Bringing autonomous transportation to one of the country's busiest airports requires true partnership, and we are grateful to the Clark County Department of Aviation and the state of Nevada for their continued support as we help shape the future of mobility," said Ron Thaniel, Zoox's senior director of policy and regulatory affairs. Waymo temporarily halted its service in San Francisco on Saturday, December 20, after a widespread power outage hit the city and caused the self-driving taxis to stall. Video @brahmsstan via Storyful Dig deeper: Zoox will collect and drop off passengers at designated curbside locations. The pickup and drop-off areas will differ between the airport's two passenger terminals. The robotaxis use lights and audio signals to help passengers find them in crowded pickup zones. Riders can also connect their devices through Bluetooth to play their own music during the trip. Each vehicle can accommodate four passengers and has carriage-style seating, with two rows positioned across from each other. Zoox said a fully occupied vehicle can hold approximately one piece of luggage per passenger. The backstory: On July 31, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted Zoox a temporary exemption from certain federal motor vehicle safety standards. The decision removed a key regulatory obstacle that had prevented the company from charging passengers for rides. The exemption was required because Zoox vehicles do not have conventional driving controls, such as a steering wheel or pedals, that federal safety rules typically require. After receiving approval from the federal government, Zoox began offering paid robotaxi rides in Las Vegas on Aug. 10. The company also operates in San Francisco, where its service is still being tested. Available destinations listed in the app include the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Sphere, T-Mobile Arena and several major resorts along the Strip. Zoox's website says the company plans to expand paid rides to 10 additional cities, including Seattle, Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Diego and Los Angeles. The Source: FOX Business contributed to this report. The information in this story came from Zoox, which provided details about its new airport robotaxi service to FOX Business and published additional information on its website. This story was reported from Los Angeles.