Director, Calibration, Localization, and Mapping

We’re reinventing personal transportation—making the future safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable. We’ve created our vehicle specifically for dense, complicated urban environments. Zoox is the only driving vehicle on the market with bidirectional driving capabilities and four-wheel steering, allowing us to maneuver through compact spaces and change directions without the need to reverse. The future is for riders!

Our growing software engineering leadership team is searching for a Director of Calibration, Localization, and Mapping (CLAMS). Our CLAMS organization is responsible for building the algorithms and tools necessary for keeping Zoox vehicles well calibrated, always knowing where they’re located within the world, and aware of their environment. We create novel architectures that combine the latest academic results with many in-house innovations in creative ways. Our algorithms are relentlessly optimized and tuned to run efficiently and effectively on a wide variety of real-life data as well as in simulation.

You will be responsible for leading our high-impact CLAMS team with their technical roadmap and milestone goals. You will be closely collaborating with executives, AI leaders, Simulation, and our System Design and Mission Assurance teams to deliver an exceptional system. You will lead a diverse, experienced team with a rapidly growing scope and responsibility while also working on some of the most complex problems in artificial intelligence, mapping, and sensor fusion.

• Build and lead a group of managers and engineers, and be responsible for the team’s strategy, productivity, and impact within the company.
• Set the vision for, grow, and lead a team of talented software engineers in the overall planning, execution, and success of complex technical projects, while providing the team with technical leadership.
• Collaborate with other technical organizations including Perception, Planning, Vehicle Engineering, Hardware Engineering and Software Systems to brainstorm and accelerate the development of CLAMS capabilities.
• Lead the design and implementation of the CLAMS roadmap.
• Provide clear summaries, progress, and recommendations to our executive leadership team.
• Establishing best practices and statistical rigor around data-driven decision-making.
• Stay on top of industry and academic trends in AI and CLAMS, making sure Zoox remains at the cutting edge of both algorithms and their implementation at scale.

• 10+ years of relevant technical experience in robotics, autonomous systems, or related fields
• 5+ years of engineering leadership experience managing large technical teams (team size 80+)
• Deep technical expertise in at least one of: computer vision, SLAM, sensor fusion, or mapping systems
• Track record of delivering complex technical projects at scale
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• MS or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, or related technical field

• Experience with autonomous vehicle development and deployment
• Background in sensor calibration systems and processes
• Knowledge of mapping systems and HD map creation
• Experience with real-time localization systems
• Understanding of safety-critical software development

Compensation

There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. The salary will range from $373,000-$469,000. A sign-on bonus may be part of a compensation package. Compensation will vary based on geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.  

Zoox also offers a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (e.g. sick leave, vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long-term care insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, and life insurance.

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.

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Accommodations

If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to accommodations@zoox.com 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.