---
title: 'Software Engineer - Behavior Capabilities at Zoox'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-behavior-capabilities-zoox-foster-city-h0p80k1g1r9a'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-03'
---

# Software Engineer - Behavior Capabilities at Zoox

- **Company:** Zoox
- **Location:** Foster City, CA
- **Compensation:** $199k–$270k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2024-12-02
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-03
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/zoox/b7c1a78f-43b9-4142-bd71-97022a760750

## Job description

The Behavior Capabilities opportunity falls within the Fail Operational Planning team at Zoox. This team works to ensure that the robot continues to operate effectively, even in the presence of minor compartmentalized failures or degraded capabilities. The focus of the team includes developing behavioral and motion planning algorithms to improve trip progress, vehicle uptime metrics, and correspondingly a better customer experience. This is a cutting-edge problem which requires teamwork and collaboration across a diverse group of experts including Planner, Perception, Prediction, Hardware, and more.

On this team, you will contribute to the next generation of algorithmic advancements to expand our robot’s ability to drive in some of the most complex scenarios. We are looking for an engineer who is excited to understand the interdependencies within the driving stack and takes ownership of their projects and has a holistic product focused approach towards development.

In this role, you will:

- Create principled algorithmic improvements to specific areas of driving behavior and implement those changes in our code base.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to develop strategies and intelligent behaviors to mitigate the performance degradation under various failure modes of the system.
- Architect and implement scalable solutions ensuring seamless integration with the rest of the driving stack.
- Partner with validation teams to define and execute tests for developed algorithms.

## Qualifications

- Master's degree in Computer Science or related field
- Fluency in C++
- Extensive experience with programming and algorithm design
- Understanding of vehicle kinematics
- 4+ years of experience in a related field

Bonus Qualifications

- PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
- Experience shipping products to market (commercial robotics, drones, consumer devices etc.)
- Demonstrated ability to create real-time motion planning algorithms in a cross-functional team

## 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. We’re looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.

Follow us on LinkedIn

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.

## About Zoox

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Zoox is building a fully autonomous, all-electric, purpose-built robotaxi service to give the world a better way to ride.
- **Entity Type**: Private (independent subsidiary of Amazon, acquired in 2020)
- **Headquarters**: Foster City, California, USA (with offices in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Austin, Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles)
- **Founded**: 2014
- **Founders**: Not specified in provided sources

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Autonomous ride‑hailing / Self‑driving electric vehicles
- **Target customers**: B2C – individual riders seeking safe, convenient, and sustainable urban transportation
- **Mission**: “Give the world a better way to ride” – providing safer, cleaner, autonomous ride‑hailing for everyone [zoox.com](https://zoox.com/about)

## Products & Services
- **Zoox Robotaxi**: A purpose‑built, fully autonomous electric vehicle designed from the ground up for ride‑hailing. Features bidirectional driving, four‑wheel steering, and no steering wheel or pedals. The service handles all charging, maintenance, and fleet management – riders simply get in and enjoy the ride [zoox.com](https://zoox.com).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not disclosed (Zoox is a private subsidiary of Amazon)
- **Key Metric**: Not publicly available (revenue and funding details are not reported as a stand‑alone entity)
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Amazon (parent company)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Received authorization from the Nevada DMV to operate robotaxis on public roads [zoox.com/about](https://zoox.com/about)
  - Expanded testing and operations to Las Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco, and other cities
  - Continues to scale its engineering and operations teams (multiple open roles on the careers page as of 2026)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Purpose‑built design**: Unlike retrofitted vehicles, Zoox’s robotaxi is designed from scratch for autonomous ride‑hailing (symmetrical, bidirectional, four‑wheel steering, no driver controls)
- **Amazon backing**: Deep financial resources, supply chain expertise, and cloud infrastructure (AWS) support rapid development and scaling
- **Full‑stack autonomy**: In‑house AI, computer vision, and sensing stack integrated directly into the vehicle design
- **Safety‑first approach**: Comprehensive testing, safety‑critical system design, and focus on public road validation

## Strategic Focus
- Achieving commercial launch of the Zoox ride‑hailing service in select U.S. cities
- Continuing to mature the autonomous driving system through real‑world testing and simulation
- Expanding the “Go‑to‑Market” strategy and building out operations teams (see CRM Lead, Go‑to‑Market Manager roles) [jobs.lever.co/zoox](https://jobs.lever.co/zoox)
- Scaling manufacturing and prototyping to prepare for fleet deployment

## Why Work Here
- **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](https://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](https://zoox.com/journal/landing-a-job-zoox)

## Sources
1. [Zoox official website](https://zoox.com)
2. [Zoox About page](https://zoox.com/about)
3. [Zoox Careers page](https://zoox.com/careers)
4. [Zoox job openings on Lever](https://jobs.lever.co/zoox)
5. [Zoox hiring and interview process](https://zoox.com/journal/landing-a-job-zoox)

## Other roles at Zoox

- [Team Lead, Vehicle Technicians](https://feeny.ai/job/team-lead-vehicle-technicians-zoox-san-francisco-fm78xhnkbtvc) — San Francisco, CA
- [Human Resources Generalist](https://feeny.ai/job/human-resources-generalist-zoox-foster-city-94tbpn6kg9b8) — Foster City, CA
- [Manufacturing Test Infrastructure Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-test-infrastructure-engineer-zoox-foster-city-eq18925fgss3) — Foster City, CA
- [Staff Systems Engineer, Simulation Systems Verification and Validation Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-systems-engineer-simulation-systems-verification-and-validation-lead-zoox-mtbxccfhzzjf) — Foster City, CA
- [Systems Engineer, Motion Controls Safety](https://feeny.ai/job/systems-engineer-motion-controls-safety-zoox-foster-city-r02y5xhnw15v) — Foster City, CA
- [Senior Software Engineer, C++ Vehicle Experience](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-c-vehicle-experience-zoox-foster-city-nvkjvt6wekm9) — Foster City, CA
- [Senior/Staff Technical Product Manager, Operational Design Domain (ODD) Tools](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-staff-technical-product-manager-operational-design-domain-odd-tools-zoox-ssjgcn6rpzze) — Foster City, CA
- [Head of Contingent Workforce & Travel](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-contingent-workforce-travel-zoox-foster-city-rkcgbt6b81v8) — Foster City, CA
- [Mechatronics Engineer - Closures](https://feeny.ai/job/mechatronics-engineer-closures-zoox-foster-city-68m3dz5tmx0t) — Foster City, CA
- [Contract Student Worker - Software Engineer (40 hrs/wk)](https://feeny.ai/job/contract-student-worker-software-engineer-40-hrs-wk-zoox-foster-city-3zs433c2yzqp) — Foster City, CA