On-site opportunity at
ZooxSeating and Passive Safety HW Validation Engineer
Zoox is developing an autonomous mobility service utilizing custom robotaxis, and the component and system hardware validation team plays a central role in ensuring these vehicles…
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About This Role
Zoox is developing an autonomous mobility service utilizing custom robotaxis, and the component and system hardware validation team plays a central role in ensuring these vehicles meet all functional and reliability targets. The organization values competence, integrity, humility, and an action-biased approach to building physical products. As a seating and passive safety hardware validation engineer, the professional stepping into this position will oversee the entire validation lifecycle for interior components,…
Job Description
Zoox is developing an autonomous mobility service utilizing custom robotaxis, and the component and system hardware validation team plays a central role in ensuring these vehicles meet all functional and reliability targets. The organization values competence, integrity, humility, and an action-biased approach to building physical products.
As a seating and passive safety hardware validation engineer, the professional stepping into this position will oversee the entire validation lifecycle for interior components, restraint systems, and airbags. Responsibilities span from early requirement definition through final report approval, requiring close collaboration with cross-functional design and engineering groups.
This opportunity is well-suited for a mechanical engineering professional who has extensive experience testing automotive interior systems and wants to apply rigorous validation methodologies to autonomous vehicle technology.
The role involves managing internal testing resources, coordinating supplier-led validation activities, designing test fixtures, monitoring schedules, and driving root cause failure analysis. The incoming engineer will shape the testing protocols for mechanical, electrical, and environmental failure modes across seat assemblies, occupant classification sensors, air bags, seat belts, and air bag control units.
Responsibilities
- Develop and manage comprehensive test plans addressing mechanical, electrical, and environmental failure modes for interior trim, seating, and restraints
- Partner with design engineers to establish clearly defined requirements captured accurately within validation plans
- Select appropriate testing assets, sensors, and data acquisition systems to gather high-quality data
- Analyze testing data and deliver clear, concise reports detailing the findings
- Support design failure mode and effects analysis activities to ensure potential failure modes are addressed
- Facilitate root cause failure analysis during the development, validation, and deployment phases
- Design specialized test fixtures needed to execute testing protocols
- Oversee validation schedules to identify critical path items and maintain test asset availability
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering or a related relevant field
- Minimum of 8 years of testing or validation experience focused on interior automotive trims, seats, and restraint systems
- Demonstrated experience conducting failure and root cause analysis
- Hands-on experience generating and managing design failure mode and effects analyses
- Familiarity with requirements management tools such as Polarion
- Working knowledge of relevant industry test standards including FMVSS, UN ECE, Euro NCAP, IIHS, ISO, ASTM, SAE, and hazardous material or explosives handling regulations
Qualifications
- Familiarity with three-dimensional design software, specifically CATIA 3DX, CATIA V5, or SolidWorks
- Experience with passive safety systems including seat structure, anchorage, recliner, track, and latch strength testing
- Background in crash or sled test setup, instrumentation, and data interpretation
- Knowledge of airbag modules, inflators, cushions, tethers, and vent design principles
- Experience with seatbelt systems such as retractors, pretensioners, load limiters, buckles, webbing, and anchorages
- Familiarity with steering wheel, knee, curtain, side, and pedestrian airbag architectures along with active hood systems
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers are based only on the employer’s listing; where it doesn’t say, neither do we.
What company is hiring for this position?
Zoox is hiring for this role to support component and system hardware validation for their robotaxi fleet.
What is the location or remote status of this job?
The source posting does not specify the geographic location or remote work policy for this position.
What level of experience is required?
Candidates must have a bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering or a related field, along with at least 8 years of testing or validation experience in automotive interior trims, seats, and restraints.
What salary and benefits are offered?
The job posting does not provide details regarding salary, compensation, or employee benefits.
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