Senior Manager, R&D Vehicle Production

About the role

As Senior Manager of R&D Vehicle Production, you will run the prototype vehicle lines at our factory in Fremont, CA. Your team is responsible for building and testing R&D vehicles for mileage collection and software validation, plus early builds of our next-generation ground-up vehicles. You will own assembly, diagnostics, testing, and End-of-Line (EOL), and help carry new vehicles into serial production.

Prototype builds surface new hardware and software issues every day. Success in this role depends on working closely with hardware and software engineering teams to resolve them fast, so you can meet production goals. You will set priorities, hold owners accountable, and escalate decisively when an issue blocks the build.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Manufacturing Engineering and General Assembly, you will be a key leader in Zoox Manufacturing Operations. You will partner closely with Vehicle Development, Software, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and the teams operating our test fleet.

In this role, you will

• Own diagnostics, functional testing, and EOL validation. Deliver vehicles to fleet and engineering teams safely, complete, and on time.
• Implement repeatable build processes and keep accurate hardware and software configuration records for every vehicle. Ensure each vehicle meets quality and product specifications.
• Prepare and manage the line's OPEX, CAPEX, and headcount budgets. Identify investments that improve throughput, quality, and flexibility.
• Ensure MES and QMS support prototype builds, including traceability and issue tracking. Drive continuous improvement through the Zoox Production System.
• Hire, train, and develop technicians, leads, and supervisors. Set clear expectations and evaluate performance.
• Build a culture that puts employee and product safety first, in partnership with EHS. Enforce safe practices for high-voltage systems and pre-production vehicles.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Management, or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience in vehicle or complex electromechanical assembly manufacturing (e.g., automotive, aerospace, robotics), including prototype, pilot, or NPI builds.
• 5+ years of experience leading production teams, including supervisors or managers.
• Proven ability to lead hardware and software engineers to resolve build issues under schedule pressure, often without direct authority.
• Working knowledge of vehicle systems (mechanical, electrical, high-voltage, embedded software) and how they are built, diagnosed, and tested.
• Experience transitioning new products from prototype into serial production.
• Familiarity with MES, ERP, and QMS, and with structured problem-solving (e.g., 8D, root cause analysis).
• Clear communicator who can present build status, risks, and trade-offs to executives.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with autonomous, electric, or other software-defined vehicles.
• Experience building or retrofitting R&D or test-fleet vehicles.
• Experience applying lean principles in low-volume, high-mix production.