Principal Systems Engineer, Safety

About the role

Zoox is developing a full-stack autonomous mobility solution for cities and safely deploying a robotaxi service. The System Design and Mission Assurance (SDMA) team is responsible for constructing the safety case and fail-operational design for our autonomous driving robots before public road deployment. As Principal Systems Engineer, you will lead the design and assurance efforts for overall safety and fail-operational initiatives in a highly visible position. You will lead technical programs with cross-functional teams, define and refine methodologies for measuring and optimizing safety and fail-operational metrics, and serve as a trusted technical partner to the Vice President of System Design and Mission Assurance. This role offers opportunities for career growth through demonstrated achievement within a transparent, respectful culture.

Responsibilities

• Define and refine the strategy and architecture for Systems Engineering efforts that guide Zoox’s approach to safety and fail-operational initiatives
• Lead and oversee the definition, development, and evolution of safety and fail-operational metrics that measure the robotaxi’s ability to safely complete customers’ journeys
• Review and approve mission assurance clearance documents
• Communicate complex metric concepts, data analyses, and actionable insights to diverse stakeholders and executives
• Coach and mentor SDMA systems engineers, fostering their career growth and strengthening SDMA’s technical bench

Qualifications

• M.S. or higher degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in systems engineering, data analysis, performance tracking, or risk quantification for complex systems
• Demonstrated experience in defining, implementing, and managing quantitative metrics and data-driven approaches for the design and development of complex software or hardware systems
• Proficiency in statistics and probability
• Hands-on experience working with complex software systems, preferably in robotics, autonomous driving, or aerospace
• Collaborative team player with strong written and in-person communication skills, capable of influencing, driving consensus, and presenting complex data to varied audiences including senior executives

Bonus Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• Systems engineering experience with large complex safety-critical systems
• Metrics development experience
• Experience in the automotive industry
• Experience with autonomous driving or robotics
• Familiarity with industry safety standards such as ISO 26262, ISO 21448, MIL-STD-882, etc.

Pay

Base salary range: $313,000 - $376,000 per year. Compensation includes three major components: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. A sign-on bonus may also be offered. The listed range applies only to the base salary and will vary based on geographic location and level, which is determined by factors such as relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance.

Benefits

• 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
• 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.