Senior Manager, R&D Vehicle Production

ResumeXrays LLC; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Zoox in Fremont, CA seeks a Senior Manager of R&D Vehicle Production to run prototype vehicle lines, own diagnostics and EOL, and drive through production readiness for next-generation vehicles. You will lead cross-functional teams across hardware, software, and manufacturing engineering to resolve issues quickly and meet ambitious timelines.

Responsibilities include budgeting, staffing, and ensuring traceability and safety across high-voltage pre-production builds, with collaboration across

Qualifications

• Lead hardware and software engineers to resolve build issues under schedule pressure.
• Experience overseeing prototype, pilot, or NPI builds.
• Familiar with MES, ERP, and QMS systems and structured problem solving (8D).

Responsibilities

• Own diagnostics, testing, and EOL validation to deliver complete vehicles on time.
• Set priorities, hold owners accountable, and escalate blockers.
• Manage the line's OPEX, CAPEX, and headcount budgets.
• Ensure MES and QMS support prototype builds and traceability.
• Hire, train, and develop technicians and supervisors.
• Promote a safety-first culture with EHS for high-voltage systems.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving under pressure

Vehicle systems knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Management or related field

Tools

MES

QMS

ERP

Job description

As Senior Manager of R&D Vehicle Production, you will run the prototype vehicle lines at our factory in Fremont, CA. Your team is responsible for building and testing R&D vehicles for mileage collection and software validation, plus early builds of our next-generation ground-up vehicles. You will own assembly, diagnostics, testing, and End-of-Line (EOL), and help carry new vehicles into serial production.

Prototype builds surface new hardware and software issues every day. Success in this role depends on working closely with hardware and software engineering teams to resolve them fast, so you can meet production goals. You will set priorities, hold owners accountable, and elevate decisively when an issue blocks the build.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Manufacturing Engineering and General Assembly, you will be a key leader in Zoox Manufacturing Operations. You will partner closely with Vehicle Development, Software, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and the teams operating our test fleet.

In this role, you will:

• Own diagnostics, functional testing, and EOL validation. Deliver vehicles to fleet and engineering teams safely, complete, and on time.

• Implement repeatable build processes and keep accurate hardware and software configuration records for every vehicle. Ensure each vehicle meets quality and product specifications.

• Prepare and manage the line's OPEX, CAPEX, and headcount budgets. Identify investments that improve throughput, quality, and flexibility.

• Ensure MES and QMS support prototype builds, including traceability and issue tracking. Drive continuous improvement through the Zoox Production System.

• Hire, train, and develop technicians, leads, and supervisors. Set clear expectations and evaluate performance.

• Build a culture that puts employee and product safety first, in partnership with EHS. Enforce safe practices for high-voltage systems and pre-production vehicles.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Management, or a related field.

• 15+ years of experience in vehicle or complex electromechanical assembly manufacturing (e.g., automotive, aerospace, robotics), including prototype, pilot, or NPI builds.

• 5+ years of experience leading production teams, including supervisors or managers.

• Proven ability to lead hardware and software engineers to resolve build issues under schedule pressure, often without direct authority.

• Working knowledge of vehicle systems (mechanical, electrical, high-voltage, embedded software) and how they are built, diagnosed, and tested.

• Experience transitioning new products from prototype into serial production.

• Familiarity with MES, ERP, and QMS, and with structured problem-solving (e.g., 8D, root cause analysis).

• Clear communicator who can present build status, risks, and trade-offs to executives.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with autonomous, electric, or other software-defined vehicles.

• Experience building or retrofitting R&D or test-fleet vehicles.

• Experience applying lean principles in low-volume, high-mix production.