Senior Suspension System Engineer
Foster City, CA, USA
USD 196k-236k / year
Zoox is seeking a Sr. Suspension System Engineer to join our Vehicle System Integration engineering team. In this key role, you will drive the system requirements, functional architecture, integration, and verification activities to achieve end-to-end system capability. Collaboration with cross-functional teams is essential, as you'll work with vehicle integration, feature integration, firmware, and vehicle component development teams to deliver the overall reliability and performance of our cutting-edge vehicles.
We are looking for an engineer who is passionate about developing a groundbreaking Robotaxi, has a strong system engineering background, has extensive active suspension system experience, has system problem-solving skills, and has a commitment to deliver on time.
In this role, you will:
- Lead the design and controls development of a full active suspension system for an autonomous vehicle platform.
- Author system technical specifications, system requirements, and interface control documents for the active suspension system.
- Develop system design, integration, and validation test plans to ensure optimal ride quality, handling performance, safety, and efficiency, balancing vehicle attributes.
- Plan and execute vehicle-level system integration activities, including hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, vehicle validation, and virtual verification.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical, electrical, firmware, and controls teams to define system requirements and ensure seamless subsystem integration.
- Ensure suspension subsystems — including actuators, sensors, control modules, and electromechanical components — meet defined requirements and interface specifications.
- Participate in technical design reviews and supplier evaluations, ensuring verification and validation plans are comprehensive and well-executed.
- Develop System FMEAs, diagnostic strategies, and fault reactions to ensure safe and robust suspension system operation across all driving conditions.
- Lead root cause analysis and issue resolution, including data analysis, log reviews, and hardware investigations.
- Requires occasional domestic and international travel (~2 weeks per year).
Qualifications
- Strong foundation in vehicle dynamics, structural mechanics, and control theory as applied to suspension system design.
- Experience with suspension system modeling and simulation tools (e.g., ADAMS, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar).
- Deep knowledge of developing automotive systems using model-based design processes.
- Deep knowledge of developing system and subsystem requirements, with proficiency in tools like IBM DOORS, Siemens Polarion, or similar.
- Knowledge of automotive electrical architectures, including communication protocols (CAN/LIN/Ethernet) and defining physical and functional interfaces.
- Knowledge of automotive diagnostics (UDS) routines and functional safety standards (ISO 26262).
- Experience developing System FMEAs and defining diagnostic strategies and fault reactions for safety-critical systems.
- Familiarity with vehicle-level integration and validation processes, including HIL testing and on-vehicle performance evaluation.
Bonus Qualifications
- Experience in Model Based System Design process
- Experience in real time embedded software architecture, e.g., AUTOSAR
- Experience in advanced embedded software architecture, e.g., LINUX
- Experience with objective and subjective suspension evaluation criteria
196000 - 236000 USD a year