Senior/Staff Technical Program Manager - Autonomous Test Fleet Data Strategy & Mileage Accumulation

In this role, you will:

• Own the fleet validation operational strategy: Lead the end-to-end strategy and execution of mileage accumulation for both the physical test fleet and simulation assets, to enable Zoox’s geofence expansion across all cities. Partner closely with upstream teams (e.g. Autonomy, Systems Design & Mission Assurance, Places & Build) and downstream teams (e.g. Data Science, Fleet Operations) to ensure critical inputs are available, and results are delivered; you will ultimately "own the outcome" of test fleet data collection. This is a high leverage, high impact role.

   

• Usher in a simulation-first methodology: Act as the cross-functional catalyst for scaling simulated mileage accumulation. Drive alignment between Autonomy, System Design & Mission Assurance, and Simulation teams to ensure clear requirements are set, and simulation platforms are resourced to meet exponentially growing data needs.

   

• Identify and resolve critical bottlenecks: Develop rigorous tracking mechanisms that model the impact of upstream dependencies (e.g., map content deliverables and safety requirements). You’ll think critically and work cross-functionally to squash inefficiencies in upstream and downstream pipelines and systems. Partner collaboratively with program leads and executive leadership across orgs to reshape deliverables, timelines, and program scope where necessary to ensure overall program success.

   

• Relentlessly investigate and creatively resolve blockers: Treat flatlining progress metrics as immediate triggers for action. Dig deep into root causes, negotiate thoughtfully with stakeholders on complex requests, and design out-of-the-box technical workarounds when ideal solutions are unavailable. Always present concrete mitigation plans, rather than accepting the status quo.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of TPM experience, with a strong background in complex hardware/software integration, system verification and validation (V&V), or safety-critical systems.
• A naturally inquisitive, highly technical mindset. You do not accept the status quo and have the discipline to negotiate aggressively with stakeholders to protect the program's critical path.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical bottlenecks into clear, data-backed executive narratives that enable timely, critical business decisions.

Bonus Qualifications:

• Deep experience with autonomous vehicle and / or simulation platforms, virtual validation strategies, or synthetic data generation.
• Familiarity with optimization frameworks and large-scale data acquisition programs.