Senior Reliability Engineer - EV Powertrain Systems

Zoox•Foster City, CA

About The Position

At Zoox, we have set the goal to provide our customers with the highest level of safety and a best-in-class experience while using our fully autonomous vehicles. You will work with a team of world-class engineers with diverse backgrounds, such as robotics, control, and vehicle engineering, to deliver vehicle performance using advanced virtual tools and methodologies. In taking on the virtual and physical durability development, you will predict where the vehicle is within its lifecycle and define maintenance, monitoring, and optimization strategies. Working in a startup environment gives you the chance to lead technically, influence system design, and make a meaningful impact on the final product.

Requirements

Master's-level engineering or similar technical degree with 10+ years of hands-on experience in Reliability Engineering
Detailed understanding of EV EDU and HVB systems, and typical failure modes and test methods for these systems
Deep understanding of reliability data analysis and risk assessment, and how to develop component reliability targets based on functional safety and business objectives
Experience in failure mode assessment, accelerated reliability testing, and advanced field reliability monitoring concepts
Strong first principles mindset with an understanding of governing equations for both acceleration models and powertrain component theory of operation
Personable with the ability to lead and coach a high-caliber engineering team toward world-class levels of reliability/dependability

Nice To Haves

ASQ Certified Reliability Engineer, or similar professional recognition
An understanding of ISO 26262 Functional Safety
Working knowledge of SQL, Pyspark, and python based packages for fleet wide data analysis
Experience applying numerical methods to highly distributed compute workloads
Familiarity with lumped element models for mechanical or thermal analysis

Responsibilities

Establish and refine system- and component-level reliability targets for the electric drive unit (EDU), high-voltage battery (HVB), and HV to LV Power Distribution (DCDC and HV harnesses) in collaboration with Vehicle Systems Engineering and cross-functional stakeholders
Drive the design failure mode and effects analysis (DFMEA) process for EDU and HVB to identify critical reliability risks and define effective mitigation strategies
Apply reliability targets, DFMEA risk insights, and physics-of-failure understanding to develop virtual and physical validation plans in partnership with validation engineers
Lead the definition of Prognostics & Health Monitoring (PHM) strategy for EDU and HVB systems, including field monitoring concepts that enable early detection, return-to-base actions, and reduced roadside events
Support execution of PHM and field reliability initiatives by translating design-time assumptions into measurable signals, metrics, and feedback loops that inform corrective actions and design improvements
Pave the way from development to field deployment by building systems and processes that identify reliability performance gaps, prioritize improvement opportunities, and drive timely corrective actions across design, validation, and operations
Contribute to broader design reliability efforts, ensuring durability, serviceability, and lifecycle reliability considerations are embedded early in system architecture and design decisions
Engage with component suppliers to ensure components are able to achieve our high reliability standards