Sr R&D Technician

Uber; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Uber is building an AV Lab to accelerate autonomous technology and collect real-world driving data at scale. As an R&D Technician, you will join a hands-on team to build, modify, test, and troubleshoot prototype data collection vehicles and hardware systems.

This role emphasizes vehicle integration, fabrication, wiring, and rapid prototyping, turning engineering concepts into working hardware while following drawings and build documentation.

Qualifications

• 5+ years hands-on experience in automotive/robotics environments.
• Proficient with hand and power tools.
• Experience disassembling and reassembling vehicles or electromechanical systems.
• Experience removing/adjusting vehicle interior/exterior components.
• Reading drawings, wiring diagrams and build documentation.
• Ability to fabricate wiring harnesses and perform electrical work.
• Comfortable modifying vehicles and prototyping hardware.
• Strong troubleshooting mindset and willingness to learn new systems.

Responsibilities

• Build and modify prototype data collection vehicles and test hardware.
• Install cameras, LiDAR, radar, compute systems, networking gear, and brackets.
• Fabricate and route automotive wire harnesses and assemblies.
• Perform basic electrical troubleshooting with DMMs and power supplies.
• Assist with CAN, wiring, power, sensor, and vehicle integration issues.
• Dismantle and reinstall vehicle interiors and exterior components as needed.
• Modify vehicles with drilling, cutting, trimming, and fitting prototype parts.
• Perform basic bodywork to support prototype hardware installations.
• Create brackets, mounts, fixtures, and other hardware; use 3D printers for parts.
• Follow drawings and documentation; support prototype bring-up and tests.
• Document builds, issues and results; work with engineers to resolve problems.
• Maintain tools and workspace in a safe, organized manner.

Skills

Hands-on mechanical experience

Electrical wiring

Tool usage – hand & power tools

Reading mechanical drawings

Troubleshooting

CAN bus familiarity

Tools

3D printing

Soldering

Multimeter (DMM)

Wire harness fabrication

Job description

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

• 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.

Ready to Ride?

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.

You may be eligible for bonuses, equity, and other compensation, as well as a range of benefits. 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.