R&D Technician II

Uber; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Equity award

401(k) plan

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Uber is seeking an hands-on R&D Technician for its AV Labs in Sunnyvale, CA. You will work with hardware and systems engineers to build, modify, test, and troubleshoot prototype data collection vehicles and related hardware for autonomous driving programs.

You'll install sensors and compute systems, build harnesses, and perform rapid prototyping and problem solving in a fast-paced, safety-minded environment. Prior automotive or robotics fabrication experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of hands-on technical experience in automotive repair or related fields.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with hand and power tools.
• Experience disassembling and reassembling vehicles and electromechanical systems.
• Ability to read mechanical drawings and wiring diagrams.
• Experience with basic wiring, connectors, crimping, or soldering.

Responsibilities

• Build and modify prototype data collection vehicles and test hardware.
• Install cameras, LiDAR, radar, compute systems, and networking equipment.
• Route and assemble automotive wire harnesses and cable assemblies.
• Perform basic electrical troubleshooting with DMMs and power supplies.
• Assist with CAN, wiring, power, and sensor integration issues.
• Remove and reinstall vehicle interiors and body panels for prototype work.
• Perform vehicle modifications including drilling, cutting, and fitting components.
• Document builds and test results for engineering records.
• Collaborate with engineers to resolve mechanical and electrical problems.

Skills

Hands-on mechanical experience

Automotive repair

Mechanical fabrication

Electrical troubleshooting

Reading mechanical drawings

Tools

Digital multimeter

Soldering

Crimping

CAN bus diagnostics

Vehicle wiring

Job description

About the Role

Uber is launching AV Labs to accelerate the autonomous technology ecosystem. We're building out a high-velocity team of multi-disciplinary experts to turn real-world operations into high-quality data for our autonomous partners. This team is focused on the hardest problem in AV today: unlocking real-world, long-tail driving data. Autonomy is now a data race—and Uber has an edge: We collect rare, real-world driving data at a scale and capital efficiency no one else can match.

As an R&D Technician, you will work alongside hardware and systems engineers to build, modify, test, and troubleshoot prototype data collection vehicles and hardware systems.

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys working on vehicles, building things, solving mechanical and electrical problems, and learning new technologies. You will help turn engineering concepts into working hardware through vehicle integration, fabrication, wiring, troubleshooting, and rapid prototyping.

What You'll Do

• Build and modify prototype data collection vehicles and test hardware.
• Install cameras, radar, LiDAR, compute systems, networking equipment, wiring, brackets, and other AV hardware.
• Build, modify, repair, and route automotive wire harnesses and cable assemblies.
• Perform basic electrical troubleshooting using DMMs, power supplies, continuity testing, and other diagnostic tools.
• Assist with troubleshooting CAN, wiring, power, sensor, and vehicle integration issues.
• Remove and reinstall vehicle interiors, bumpers, trim, body panels, doors, fenders, and other components as required for prototype integration.
• Perform vehicle modifications including drilling, cutting, tapping, trimming, and fitting components.
• Perform basic bodywork and modifications to vehicle panels and structures to support prototype hardware installations.
• Build and modify brackets, mounts, fixtures, and other prototype hardware.
• Use 3D printers and other rapid-prototyping tools to create functional prototype parts.
• Follow mechanical drawings, wiring diagrams, engineering instructions, and build documentation.
• Support prototype vehicle bring-up, testing, hardware upgrades, and engineering experiments.
• Document builds, modifications, issues, and test results.
• Work with engineers and senior technicians to identify and resolve mechanical and electrical problems.
• Maintain tools, equipment, parts, and a safe and organized R&D workspace.

Basic Qualifications

• 3-5 years of hands-on technical experience in automotive repair, automotive body shop/bodywork, collision repair, vehicle upfitting, motorsports, robotics, manufacturing, aerospace, mechanical fabrication, or a similar hands-on environment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and extensive experience working with hand tools and power tools.
• Experience disassembling and reassembling vehicles, mechanical systems, or complex electromechanical equipment.
• Experience removing, modifying, fitting, and reinstalling vehicle interior and exterior components.
• Basic understanding of automotive mechanical and low-voltage electrical systems.
• Experience using a digital multimeter for basic voltage, resistance, and continuity measurements.
• Ability to read and follow mechanical drawings, wiring diagrams, technical instructions, and build documentation.
• Experience with basic wiring, connectors, crimping, soldering, or electrical assembly.
• Comfortable performing vehicle modifications including drilling, cutting, trimming, fastening, and fitting prototype components.
• Strong troubleshooting mindset and willingness to learn unfamiliar systems.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-moving R&D environment where designs and processes may change frequently.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality and safety.

Preferred Qualifications

• Automotive dealership, independent repair shop, body shop, collision repair, vehicle upfitting, motorsports, EV, ADAS or robotics experience.
• Experience performing automotive bodywork, panel removal/replacement, bumper modifications, or fabrication.
• Familiarity with CAN bus and automotive diagnostic tools.
• Experience installing or replacing LiDAR, radar, cameras, GNSS, compute hardware, or other vehicle electronics.
• Experience building or modifying automotive wire harnesses.
• Experience with 3D printing.
• Basic machining, welding, sheet-metal, or fabrication experience.
• Computer hardware troubleshooting experience.
• Experience building custom vehicles, prototype vehicles, race cars, robots, or other electromechanical systems.

This isn't the kind of place where you follow a playbook — it's where you help write one. If you're driven by impact, energized by challenge, and ready to shape how the world moves — we'd love to hear from you.

Explore our benefits.

Offices remain key to collaboration and Uber's culture. Unless approved for full remote work, employees must spend at least 50% of their time in-office. Some roles, like those at greenlight hubs, require full-time in-office presence. Ask your Recruiter for details about this role's requirements.

Uber is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing this form.

For Sunnyvale, CA-based roles: The base salary range for this role is USD $135,000 per year - USD $150,000 per year.

You will be eligible to participate in Uber's bonus program, and may be offered an equity award & other types of comp. All full-time employees are eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan. You will also be eligible for various benefits.