Senior Manager, R&D Vehicle Production

Zoox is an American autonomous vehicle company currently headquartered in Foster City, California, United States with multiple offices of operations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The company was founded in…

Location: Fremont, CA
Company size: 2,000–5,000
Posted: Today
Via: Lever

Section II · Full ProfileFree with an account

01Comp band & equity packageLocked
02Seniority & experience requirementsLocked
03Interview process & rubricLocked
04Headcount & which departments are hiringLocked
05Growth trajectory in this roleLocked
06Offer & decision timelineLocked

Read the full brief Sign in

Free · 2 minutes · the funding and stack behind this role

Job listing · Posted 11 NOV 2026

Senior Manager, R&D Vehicle Production

Zoox· Fremont, CAView company profile

Job title: Senior Manager, R&D Vehicle Production
Job location: Fremont, CA
Job listing URL: https://jobs.lever.co/zoox/05935821-98c8-4882-8b53-6f00c48e0b64
Job description: As Senior Manager of R&D Vehicle Production, you will run the prototype vehicle lines at our factory in Fremont, CA. Your team is responsible for building and testing R&D vehicles for mileage collection and software validation, plus early builds of our next-generation ground-up vehicles. You will own assembly, diagnostics, testing, and End-of-Line (EOL), and help carry new vehicles into serial production.

Prototype builds surface new hardware and software issues every day. Success in this role depends on working closely with hardware and software engineering teams to resolve them fast, so you can meet production goals. You will set priorities, hold owners accountable, and escalate decisively when an issue blocks the build.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Manufacturing Engineering and General Assembly, you will be a key leader in Zoox Manufacturing Operations. You will partner closely with Vehicle Development, Software, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and the teams operating our test fleet.

In this role, you will:

Own diagnostics, functional testing, and EOL validation. Deliver vehicles to fleet and engineering teams safely, complete, and on time.

Implement repeatable build processes and keep accurate hardware and software configuration records for every vehicle. Ensure each vehicle meets quality and product specifications.

Prepare and manage the line's OPEX, CAPEX, and headcount budgets. Identify investments that improve throughput, quality, and flexibility.

Ensure MES and QMS support prototype builds, including traceability and issue tracking. Drive continuous improvement through the Zoox Production System.

Hire, train, and develop technicians, leads, and supervisors. Set clear expectations and evaluate performance.

Build a culture that puts employee and product safety first, in partnership with EHS. Enforce safe practices for high-voltage systems and pre-production vehicles.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Management, or a related field.

15+ years of experience in vehicle or complex electromechanical assembly manufacturing (e.g., automotive, aerospace, robotics), including prototype, pilot, or NPI builds.

5+ years of experience leading production teams, including supervisors or managers.

Proven ability to lead hardware and software engineers to resolve build issues under schedule pressure, often without direct authority.

Working knowledge of vehicle systems (mechanical, electrical, high-voltage, embedded software) and how they are built, diagnosed, and tested.

Experience transitioning new products from prototype into serial production.

Familiarity with MES, ERP, and QMS, and with structured problem-solving (e.g., 8D, root cause analysis).

Clear communicator who can present build status, risks, and trade-offs to executives.

Bonus Qualifications

Experience with autonomous, electric, or other software-defined vehicles.

Experience building or retrofitting R&D or test-fleet vehicles.

Experience applying lean principles in low-volume, high-mix production.