Mechatronics Engineer - Closures at Zoox (Foster City, CA)
Zoox· Foster City, CA· $151k–$182k·
Role details
Job description
Zoox is developing fully autonomous vehicles and the supporting ecosystem required to bring the technology to market at scale. 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. We believe the transition to self-driving vehicles requires a combination of elegant vision and uncompromising execution.
The Closures team is responsible for the design, development, and innovation of automated closures systems for our autonomous vehicle. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, innovative, a self-starter, and excited to work as an exceptional mechatronics engineer. In this role you will own the electromechanical hardware that makes our closures move, including latches, actuators, motors, and sensing. You will improve the systems running in our production fleet while serving as the responsible engineer for that hardware on new vehicle programs.
In this role, you will:
- Own closures electromechanical hardware on new programs, from requirements and concept through supplier development, validation, and launch.
- Analyze fleet data and returned hardware with Python or MATLAB to identify and prioritize issues on vehicles in service, then root cause them and drive corrective action with firmware, controls, manufacturing, and supplier partners.
- Define and improve actuation behavior with firmware partners, including control strategy, detection and fault handling, and durability of the mechanism.
- Model system dynamics to set requirements for motor and actuator selection, gear train sizing, duty cycle, and load cases, and build the benches, fixtures, and test automation to verify them.
Qualifications
- BS in mechanical engineering, robotics, mechatronics, or a related field, with a minimum of 3 years of professional experience.
- Experience developing electromechanical hardware such as latches, actuators, or other motor-driven mechanisms, including work with technical suppliers.
- Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for data analysis, visualization, and system modeling.
- Experience with 3D CAD software, preferably CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE, and working knowledge of Design for Manufacturability, including GD&T and dimensional engineering.
- Comfortable debugging across mechanical, electrical, and software boundaries.
Bonus Qualifications
- Strong passion for multi-disciplinary engineering, ideally illustrated through personal hobbies/projects.
- Experience with automotive closures: doors, liftgates, trunks, drop glass, or charge port mechanisms.
- Experience with closed loop control systems, Simulink, or similar modeling software.
- Experience taking hardware from prototype through production, including launch support.
- Solid electronics fundamentals and embedded experience (ECUs, C/C++, PCB layout), comfortable debugging hardware interfaces such as ethernet, CAN, UART, LIN, I2C, or SPI.
- Experience using vehicle fleet data, logs, or telemetry to drive issue prioritization and root cause.
- Familiarity with 8D, DFMEA, PFMEA, and formal problem-solving methodologies.
Why work at Zoox
- Culture: Diverse, supportive community with inclusion‑focused strategy. Crew‑led groups for personal and professional development. Emphasis on trust, humility, and openness zoox.com/careers
- Work environment: Hybrid? The careers page lists many roles as “On‑site” in Foster City, CA, with other office locations available. In‑office perks include a famous food program with daily changing local and sustainable dishes, plus a busy calendar of events and sports teams.
- Benefits: Comprehensive health plans (Cigna), mental health support, wellbeing program, flexible time off, generous family planning and caregiver support, and a commitment to work‑life balance.
- Growth opportunities: Work on cutting‑edge autonomous vehicle technology alongside some of the brightest minds in AI, engineering, computer vision, and more. Offers internships and re‑entry programs (via Path Forward) for career returners.
- Recruitment process: Uses AI tools to assist in reviewing applications but final decisions are human. No fees are charged at any stage – watch for recruitment scams zoox.com/journal/landing-a-job-zoox