Creative Technologist Intern

Zoox•Foster City, CA

About The Position

Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet. We're seeking Creative Technologists to ideate and prototype hardware and software solutions for passenger experiences, from lighting and spatial audio to haptic feedback and interactive interfaces. You'll bridge design vision and engineering reality, working across Experience Design, Product Management, UX Research, Vehicle Engineering, Software, and Fleet Operations teams. You will work alongside other creative technologists and designers in our experience lab, to create experiences from low-fidelity concept explorations to high-fidelity interactive prototypes.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a B.S., M.S., or advanced degree in Design Engineering, Mechatronics, HCI, or related field
Good academic standing
Able to commit to a 12-week internship beginning in May or June 2026
At least one previous industry internship, co-op, or hands-on project in a relevant area
Ability to relocate to the Bay Area, California for the duration of the internship
Interns at Zoox may not use any proprietary information they are working on as part of their thesis, any published work with their university, or distribute it to anyone outside of Zoox

Nice To Haves

Experience with programming languages (Python, C++, JavaScript/TypeScript) and modern web framework libraries (React, Vue.js) for building interactive prototypes and interfaces
Experience with computer-aided design tools (Solidworks/CATIA preferred)
Understanding of fabrication workflows (3D printing, laser cutting, soldering)
Hands-on experience with microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi) or electronics prototyping
A portfolio demonstrating your prototyping and design experiences
Familiarity with real-time 3D engines (Unreal Engine, Unity), motion design, spatial computing experience
Familiarity in automotive systems (CAN bus, embedded Linux, ROS)
Familiarity with automotive HMI design and accessibility standards

Responsibilities

Prototype multimodal experiences for autonomous vehicles at various fidelity levels from rapid concept explorations to high-fidelity interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools such as Figma, ProtoPie, Unity, and others
Conduct usability testing on passenger-facing interfaces, measuring perceived safety, trust, and interaction intuitiveness
Collaborate cross-functionally with designers, vehicle engineers, software teams, and operations to integrate prototypes within vehicle constraints, effectively communicating technical concepts and design rationale
Utilize our prototyping laboratory equipped for electro-mechanical prototyping and hardware-software integration
Document technical specifications and design intent for handoff to engineering teams, and present design concepts to stakeholders to gather feedback and iterate on solutions