Senior/Staff Technical Program Manager - System Safety Clearance

10 months old

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 or above to lead the cross-functional Safety Clearance program for Zoox’s autonomous software and robot platform. In this role, you will oversee the integration of all safety verification and validation (V&V) pipelines, ensuring that the full autonomy stack and robot platform meet rigorous safety clearance requirements.

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 the Safety Clearance program, coordinating the integration of validation pipelines spanning Autonomy Software, Vehicle Development, Hardware, Operations, and Human Factors teams.

Lead cross-functional alignment to define and track validation closure criteria and interim deliverables throughout the development lifecycle, ensuring integration into the overall Zoox Release program roadmap.

Synchronize program execution across technical program managers and engineering leads, track system readiness across verticals, manage cross-functional risks, and proactively resolve blockers impacting clearance milestones.

Provide updates to company executives

Deep dive into technical issues across autonomy, vehicle, hardware, and operations domains as needed to diagnose blockers, drive resolutions, and maintain overall program integrity.

Define and track resource requirements, critical path items, and key handoffs, establish clear communication structures, surface risks early, and maintain visibility into key program milestones.

Drive continuous improvement of validation, clearance, and reporting processes to increase efficiency, scalability, and auditability.

Qualifications

BS or MS degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

7+ years of experience leading complex technical programs or cross-functional engineering initiatives, preferably in the automotive, robotics, aerospace, or safety-critical industries.

Proven success managing highly cross-functional, multi-domain technical programs through to execution.

Deep familiarity with project tracking tools such as JIRA, and experience managing complex schedules with dependency mapping and critical path analysis.

Strong technical foundation with the ability to engage deeply with engineering teams across software, hardware, vehicle systems, and validation organizations.

Demonstrated ability to drive cross-team alignment, resolve conflicting priorities, and deliver high-quality programs under tight timelines.

Proficiency with basic statistics and probability

Bonus Qualifications

Experience managing validation and safety clearance processes for autonomous vehicles, aerospace systems, or other safety-critical systems.

Familiarity with safety case development, simulation-based validation, and structured test planning methodologies.

Experience scaling cross-functional safety and validation programs in dynamic, high-growth environments.

Familiarity with applicable industry safety standards such as MIL-STD-882, ISO 26262, ISO 21448 PAS, etc.

Compensation

There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. The salary range for this position is $172,000 to $286,000. A sign-on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. 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.

Accommodations

If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to accommodations@zoox.com 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.

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