Senior Validation Engineer, Suspension

Zoox
Foster City, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to candidates with extensive validation experience in automotive systems, working in a collaborative, fast-moving engineering environment.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 8+ years of chassis or suspension validation experience and a strong background in DVP&R processes
    — “8+ years of test or validation experience with chassis or suspension components and systems.
  • Individuals who enjoy hands-on lab work and developing custom test equipment for suspension systems
    — “Own in-house validation of applicable components: perform test setups, design fixtures, and develop any new test equipment needed to conduct tests.
  • Engineers with strong cross-functional communication skills and the ability to lead root cause analysis initiatives
    — “Excellent communication skills: able to represent suspension clearly across functions and up to program leadership, flagging risk early and driving alignment.

Things to consider

  • The role requires managing external test houses and suppliers with a focus on accountability and responsiveness
    — “Manage supplier and third-party test-house execution, driving schedule, quality, reporting, and responsiveness, and holding partners accountable through supplier transitions.
  • Candidates should be prepared to work closely with design and vehicle dynamics teams throughout the validation lifecycle
    — “Own and execute Design Verification Plans (DVP&R) for suspension components and systems, from requirements development through report approval, by collaborating with design and vehicle dynamics.

How to stand out

  • Emphasize experience with full validation lifecycle management, including requirements and report approvals
    — “Own and execute Design Verification Plans (DVP&R) for suspension components and systems, from requirements development through report approval
  • Highlight your ability to lead root cause analysis and provide design improvement recommendations
    — “Lead root cause analysis (8D, etc.) on DV and field failures, provide mitigation and design-improvement recommendations
  • Showcase hands-on lab experience with suspension testing equipment and procedures
    — “Create and review test plans, RFQs, and procedures; execute component, rig, and vehicle-level testing such as durability, characterization, and performance tests.
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Senior

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • successful validation of suspension components
Typical background
8+ years of test or validation experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Test PlanningRoot Cause AnalysisSupplier Management

Preferred

Failure AnalysisTest Equipment Development

Stack & domain

Design Verification Plans (dvp&r)Test PlansRfqsTest ProceduresRoot Cause AnalysisDvp&rFailure AnalysisSupplier ManagementTest Equipment Development8DLeadershipCommunicationTeam ManagementProblem SolvingSuspensionVehicle DynamicsDurabilityNVHKinematicsCompliance

About the role

Original posting from Zoox via Lever

BEFORE PROCEEDING, PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADD THE CORRECT TAGS! (See tags list below)

About the Role

Tell potential applicants about the team’s core values. This will help ensure candidates who share Zoox’s values apply. Highlight the broader impact of the team and Zoox. Quality applicants are drawn to work that is meaningful. How will a candidate be contributing and making a difference? Communicate that there are opportunities for learning and growth. Great candidates seek out companies that support growth and learning.

Remember: Candidates are looking for cues about whether or not they will fit in at Zoox, so make sure your  language is balanced and inclusive.

Example:

The Autonomous Driving Software Integration team at Zoox is responsible for bringing together the computer science world with the automotive world in order to create an amazing product for everyone. Our team has a collaborative culture marked by openness and supportive risk-taking. You’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to making cities safer, smarter and more sustainable. 

Together with the team, you will define the driving experience of the robot by engineering application software responsible for decision making, trajectory planning, and controls. We are looking for an engineer who is excited to traverse the autonomous driving compute stack, loves to learn new things, and likes to take ownership of major software components. If you like to work close to the robot platform and enjoy experiencing your developed software in the robot, we would like to hear from you.

TAGS

  • Data Science
  • Communications
  • Design and Product
  • Operations
  • Finance
  • Procurement
  • Hardware Engineering
  • Product Security
  • Human Resources
  • Program Management
  • Information Technology
  • Quality
  • Legal and Policy
  • Software Engineering
  • Manufacturing Operations
  • Supply Chain
  • Systems and Safety

In this role, you will::

-

Own and execute Design Verification Plans (DVP&R) for suspension components and systems, from requirements development through report approval, by collaborating with design and vehicle dynamics to ensure requirements (ride and handling, durability, NVH, kinematics, and compliance) are captured in the plan.

-

Create and review test plans, RFQs, and procedures; execute component, rig, and vehicle-level testing such as durability, characterization, and performance tests.

-

Manage supplier and third-party test-house execution, driving schedule, quality, reporting, and responsiveness, and holding partners accountable through supplier transitions.

-

Own in-house validation of applicable components: perform test setups, design fixtures, and develop any new test equipment needed to conduct tests.

-

Lead root cause analysis (8D, etc.) on DV and field failures, provide mitigation and design-improvement recommendations, and feed lessons learned forward across concurrent programs.

Qualifications:

-

BS or MS in Mechanical, Automotive, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent experience.

-

8+ years of test or validation experience with chassis or suspension components and systems.

-

Strong experience with DVP&R and with failure and root cause analysis (8D).

-

Demonstrated ability to manage external test houses and suppliers, including driving accountability with partners.

-

Excellent communication skills: able to represent suspension clearly across functions and up to program leadership, flagging risk early and driving alignment.

Bonus Qualifications:

-

Active or semi-active suspension experience (air suspension, active/adaptive dampers).

-

Vehicle dynamics/ride and handling, NVH, or kinematics and compliance (K&C) background.

-

Hands-on experience with lab, rig, and measurement equipment such as servo-hydraulic actuators / MAST / 4-poster / corner rigs, damper dynamometers, K&C rigs, DAQ, and associated sensors (load cells, accelerometers, LVDT, pressure transducers, thermocouples).

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.

Source: Zoox careers (Lever)

Similar roles