Senior Staff Software Engineer - Perception & Sensing

Foster City, CA on site Until 8/21/2026 H-1B sponsor history First posted September 9, 2025 Last posted September 9, 2025
Job description
At Zoox, you will collaborate with a team of world-class engineers with diverse backgrounds in areas such as AI, robotics, mechatronics, planning, control, localization, computer vision, rendering, simulation, distributed computing, design, and automated testing. You’ll master new technologies while working on code, algorithms, and research to impact key systems to move Zoox forward.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the Sensor Change Playbook workflow, defining the validation process for our next-generation, low-cost vehicle platforms.
  • Partner with PCP V&V to define the Autonomy Technical Specification (ATS) by identifying "bounding" (worst-case) scenarios, particularly those related to winter driving (e.g., heavy snow, ice, sensor occlusion).
  • Work with PCP model owners to architect low-cost stacks that reduce reliance on expensive sensors and accommodate reduced compute (e.g., migrating from 8 GPUs to 1 Thor).
  • Drive the Clearance MoC (Method of Compliance) process for hardware changes, balancing cost, compute constraints, performance and safety.

Qualifications

  • Deep expertise in the PCP Stack, multi-modality fusion, and optimizing architectures for severely constrained compute budgets. 
  • Experience in V&V (Validation & Verification) for safety-critical systems, specifically expanding into complex Operational Design Domains (ODDs) like winter weather.
  •  Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders (SDMA, AHE, PCP) to align on cost vs. performance trade-offs.
  • The ability or experience of managing or curating datasets for sensor validation or model training

Bonus Qualifications

  • Experience with Autonomy Technical Specifications (ATS) and defining winter/adverse weather bounding scenarios.
  • Experience working with VLM’s.
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.


Accommodations
If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [email protected] 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.

Compensation (from employer):
324000–389000 USD per year

About this role

Summary

Lead sensor validation workflows, optimize architectures, and influence safety-critical system design.

Job title

Senior Staff Software Engineer - Perception & Sensing

Experience level

senior level

Industry

software

Location requirements

Foster City, CA; on-site preferred, remote not specified

Salary

324000–389000 USD per year

Visa sponsorship

H-1B sponsor history

Management role

No

Skills & keywords

Required skills

deep expertise PCP stackmulti-modality fusionvalidation verificationdataset management

Preferred skills

autonomy technical specificationswinter weather scenariosVLM

Specializations

AIroboticscomputer visionsensor validation
Locations

Structured locations inferred from the posting.

Foster City, CA, USA

On-site City