Senior/staff Technical Program Manager - System Safety For Cross Functional Initiatives

Zoox; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 179,000 - 246,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Long-term care insurance

Life insurance

Stock options

Job summary

A cutting-edge technology company in California is seeking a Senior Technical Program Manager to lead cross-functional initiatives focused on safety validation for autonomous systems. The role requires extensive experience in managing complex technical programs within automotive or robotics. Successful candidates will possess strong leadership skills and technical foundation, demonstrating the ability to drive initiatives across various teams. Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits are offered, reflecting the expertise and location of successful applicants.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in complex technical programs or engineering initiatives.
• Ability to lead teams through critical paths under tight timelines.
• Experience in automotive, robotics, or aerospace industries is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own strategies for verification and validation programs.
• Align validation pipelines and synchronize program execution.
• Manage risk assessments and track critical issues.

Skills

Leadership of technical programs

Project management

Risk assessment

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical acumen

Statistical analysis

Education

BS or MS degree in Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

JIRA

Job description

Zoox is on an ambitious journey to develop a full-stack autonomous mobility solution for cities and to safely deploy a purpose-built robotaxi. Our System Design and Mission Assurance (SDMA) team plays a foundational role in this mission by constructing the safety case for each critical milestone.

We are seeking a Senior Technical Program Manager to lead highly cross‑functional initiatives that substantiate the safety case for Zoox’s autonomous software, vehicle platform, and operations. Your work will span both real‑world and virtual environments, ensuring that the autonomy stack, robot platform, and the operations meet rigorous performance, reliability, and safety requirements.

This role operates horizontally across Autonomy Software, Robot Platform, and operations, aligning validation efforts, resolving cross‑domain dependencies, and ensuring cohesive execution across the system. You will be part of an organization with strong leadership and a transparent, respectful culture that empowers you to deliver at your highest potential.

In this role, you will:

• Develop, drive, and own the end‑to‑end strategy for cross‑functional Verification and Validation (V&V) programs from planning through execution and closure.
• Lead cross‑functional coordination to define comprehensive simulation‑based and structured test plans.
• Align validation pipelines and synchronize program execution across technical program managers and engineering leads.
• Manage risk assessments, track critical issues, drive cross‑team resolutions, and elevate challenges where necessary.
• Define and track resource requirements, identify critical paths, and maintain visibility into key program milestones.
• Ensure program transparency, proactively identify risks, and drive mitigation strategies to maintain schedule and quality targets.
• Debrief company executives on program‑critical topics.

Qualifications

• BS or MS degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 7+ years of experience leading complex technical programs or engineering initiatives, preferably in automotive, robotics, aerospace, or related industries.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams through critical paths and deliver programs under tight timelines.
• Proficiency with project and issue tracking tools such as JIRA, and familiarity with Gantt charting, dependency mapping, and critical path management.
• Strong technical foundation with the ability to collaborate effectively with deep engineering teams across hardware, software, and systems disciplines.
• Proven track record of driving cross‑functional programs to completion in dynamic, fast‑paced environments with multiple stakeholders.
• Proficiency with basic statistics and probability.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with validation of safety‑critical or high‑integrity systems.
• Familiarity with simulation environments, software pipelines, and/or data‑driven system modeling and analysis.
• Experience scaling validation and test strategies for complex autonomous systems.

$179,000 - $246,000 a year

Base Salary Range

There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. A sign‑on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. The listed range applies only to the base salary. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is considering for this position.

Zoox also offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including paid time off (e.g. sick leave, vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long‑term care insurance, long‑term and short‑term disability insurance, and life insurance.

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.

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Accommodations

If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [e-mail] 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.