Senior / Staff Program Manager, Verification and Validation Operations

About the role

Zoox's Fleet Operations Program Management team delivers cross-functional programs critical to the growth, expansion, and efficient operation of our commercial autonomous vehicle service. We partner closely with Fleet Operations and cross-functional stakeholders to verify, validate, and launch new software on our fleet — while continuously maturing our operational processes to deliver a premium customer experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate large-scale, highly cross-functional programs spanning Autonomy, Product, Infrastructure, Engineering, and Safety teams to drive measurable improvements in fleet efficiency and software quality
• Own and drive operational efficiency initiatives that span multiple engineering, field service, and operations teams — identifying bottlenecks, aligning stakeholders, and unblocking downstream execution
• Partner with System Design & Mission Assurance and other safety teams to gather and pressure-test requirements — bringing a critical lens to ensure what's being asked for is the right thing to build or prioritize
• Champion the adoption of AI and data-driven tools within operations — including building centralized, multi-source reporting systems that surface actionable intelligence from the field and feed into leadership decision-making
• Run monthly business reviews (MBRs) with a broad set of stakeholders — synthesizing ground-level signals from market leads and operational locations into clear recommendations on resources, partnerships, and priorities for leadership
• Define and track the right operational metrics — not just reporting on what exists, but actively shaping what should be measured and why
• Partner with Finance to support operational and financial planning cycles (OP1, OP2, quarterly R&O), ensuring budgets reflect operational needs accurately and efficiently
• Lead key efficiency initiatives across our L3 and robotaxi R&D fleets, including improvements in fleet utilization, time-in-autonomy, troubleshooting cycle times, and operational infrastructure
• Manage program timelines, resources, and deliverables; proactively identify and mitigate operational and programmatic risks
• Create and maintain program documentation and progress reports for senior leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Research, Operations Management, or a STEM field
• 10+ years of program management experience, with a strong preference for backgrounds that blend technical depth with operational execution
• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale, highly cross-functional programs with significant organizational impact
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity — able to structure undefined problems, build frameworks from scratch, and drive toward clarity
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills across engineering, product, and operations audiences
• Deeply data-driven — not just tracking metrics but validating them, questioning outputs that don't add up, and pushing back when the data tells the wrong story
• Proficient with modern AI tools and workflows (e.g., Gemini, Claude, MCP APIs, cloud-based coding environments) and actively applies them to drive operational efficiency and better decision-making

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience in autonomous vehicles, aerospace, ride-hail, robotics, or fleet management
• Background in systems engineering, software development, or technical operations
• MBA or Master's degree in a STEM field
• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification
• Experience with vehicle testing, validation, or disengagement analysis

Pay

$183,000 - $251,000 a year Base Salary Range

Schedule

Full-time