Zoox
Technical Program Manager - Body & Closures
1149 Chess Dr, Foster City, CA 94404-1102
On-site · Full-time
First seen by offpeak October 3, 2026
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In this position, you will bridge the gap between high-level program milestones and technical execution with internal and external engineering partners. You are responsible for balancing performance attributes, cost, quality, and manufacturability while coordinating engineering execution across our internal team and external partners.
In this role, you will:
- Serve as the program and technical lead for the vehicle program across Body (BIW, structures) & Closures (doors, mechanisms, glazing), collaborating with internal engineers and external supplier design teams to ensure cohesive engineering execution.
- Oversee BOM integrity, approve critical build processes, and drive quality and cost engineering initiatives throughout the supply chain for your major assemblies.
- Develop program schedules and partner with suppliers, quality, procurement, service, manufacturing, and engineering teams to drive complex open issues to closure and ensure on-time delivery.
- Identify and communicate program progress, engineering challenges, and technical risks while proactively developing and leading strategic mitigation plans across the organization.
- Lead the root-cause analysis and tracking of critical build and design issues impacting vehicle performance, quality, and production readiness to drive long-term engineering solutions.
- Influence system designs to optimize performance, cost, quality, manufacturability, and serviceability by leading top-level design reviews, DFMEAs, validation programs, and manufacturing mock-builds.
- Support the team as a design engineer as needed, using first-principles engineering to develop and mature designs in Catia and 3DEXPERIENCE.
Qualifications
- B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineer, or a related technical discipline
- 6+ years of automotive engineering experience, with focus on Body and Closures, and technical project management.
- Proficiency with advanced automotive engineering tools and methodologies, including CATIA V5/V6, PLM/BOM management, FMEA/FTA, structured root-cause analysis (8D, Fishbone), project management tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence, Polarion, Gantt charts, ERP, PLM, ALM).
- Experience designing for attributes such as crash, NVH, reliability, strength, and corrosion.
- A proven track record of managing complex cross-functional projects and delivering components via external design suppliers and contract manufacturers.
- Ability to drive outsource engineering
- End-to-end New Product Introduction (NPI) experience.
- Strong collaboration and communication skills across all levels, from peers and suppliers to manufacturing and executive management.
- Ability to travel globally as required.
Bonus Qualifications
- Experience working at an automotive OEM.
- Familiarity with hardware/firmware product development and vehicle CAN/Firmware.
- A passion for electronic, autonomous mobility.
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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.