Mechanical Design Engineer - Sensor Cleaning

Foster City, CA hybrid Until 10/4/2026 3+ years exp H-1B sponsor history First posted August 5, 2026 Last posted August 5, 2026
Job description

As a Mechanical Design Engineer on the Sensor Cleaning team, you will play a critical role in ensuring Zoox vehicles can operate safely and reliably in real-world environments. You will be responsible for developing, integrating, validating, and launching sensor cleaning systems that maintain the performance of cameras, lidars, and other perception sensors across a wide range of weather and contamination conditions. 

you will drive engineering solutions that ensure sensors remain within operational specifications, minimize contamination-related failures, reduce supply chain and manufacturing yield losses, improve vehicle availability, and support scalable deployment of Zoox autonomous vehicles. 

In This Role, You Will

  • Develop sensor cleaning components and systems to keep sensors free of contaminants. 
  • Perform packaging studies, tolerance analysis, DFMEA, DFM/DFA, and reliability assessments. 
  • Design and build mockups, proofs of concept, and functional prototypes
  • Develop and release CAD models, engineering drawings, and BOMs. 
  • Support test engineering, sensor performance engineers, and validation teams in test design, failure analysis, and quality management 
  • Collaborate with manufacturing engineers and quality engineer to ramp production processes and meet build objectives 
  • Maintain BOMs, documenting and approving build processes, and supporting quality and cost engineering throughout the supply chain of the assemblies
  • Collaborate with suppliers to develop prototypes, resolve technical issues, and support manufacturing readiness. 

Qualifications

     

  • Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronic BS + 5 years or MS + 3 years of working experience within the automotive industry. Prior sensor cleaning experience is a bonus. 
  • Strong mechanical design fundamentals including:
  • Plastic injection molded components
  • Sheet metal and machined parts
  • Tolerance stack-up analysis
  • Fluid systems and pneumatic systems
  • Thermal and heating system integration 
  • Proficiency with 3D CAD tools (CATIA, NX, Creo, or SolidWorks). 
  • Experience leading cross-functional teams to innovate and drive new ideas and solutions into products.
  • Experience with DV/PV testing, DFMEA, PFMEA, APQP, and PPAP processes.
  • Optical sensor/ADAS system experience is a bonus

Bonus Qualifications

  • Prior experience in sensor cleaning is a plus 
  • Experience in automotive sensors like cameras and LiDAR is a plus
  • Experience with fluid simulation and CFD tools for liquid or airflow analysis is a plus

Compensation (from employer):
151000–207000 USD per year

About this role

Summary

Designs and develops sensor cleaning systems for autonomous vehicles ensuring performance and reliability.

Job title

Mechanical Design Engineer - Sensor Cleaning

Experience level

5+ years or 3+ years with MS

Minimum experience

3+ years exp

Industry

automotive

Location requirements

Foster City, CA; remote work not specified

Salary

$151k–$207k

Visa sponsorship

H-1B sponsor history

Management role

No

Skills & keywords

Required skills

mechanical engineeringCADtolerance analysisDFMEADFM/DFA

Preferred skills

sensor cleaningautomotive sensorsfluid simulationCFDoptical sensors

Specializations

sensor cleaningmechanical designCADfluid systemsthermal systems
Locations

Structured locations inferred from the posting.

Foster City, CA, USA

Hybrid City