Zoox is looking for an embedded software engineer to join our Firmware Drive Systems team. Drive Systems owns the critical path from autonomous trajectory to vehicle motion — taking a trajectory from our AI stack and translating it into drive control actuator commands (motor torques, brake torques, steering angles, and more), arbitrating between control sources (our nominal AI stack, in-house remote controller, and test sources like drive-by-wire and trajectory spoofing), and continuously monitoring the safety of trajectory execution and drive control ECUs. We are looking for people who are passionate about working with hardware and developing production-quality, safety-critical code for complex dynamic systems.
Drive Systems engineers literally make the robot move. Whether a Zoox robot is in service carrying riders, staging at a depot, undergoing critical testing on test tracks, or freshly off the assembly line, this team ensures it drives safely and reliably.
In this role, you will:
Build and contribute to simulation, emulation, SIL, and HIL infrastructure to validate drive control software
Design, develop, and test embedded software for autonomous trajectory execution, translating planned trajectories into drive control actuator commands (motor torque, brake torque, steering angle, and more)
Contribute to control source arbitration and safety monitoring across trajectory execution and drive control ECUs
Integrate supplier sub-systems (steering, motoring, braking, active suspension, and more) into the Zoox software stack
Work cross-functionally with Motion & Controls, Vehicle Dynamics, Safety Systems, Validation, and other partner teams to deliver a seamless, highly-automated driving experience
Qualifications
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Robotics, or equivalent experience
1-3 years of experience developing real-time embedded software for distributed electro-mechanical systems and the simulation and test infrastructure for such systems
Strong embedded C/C++ programming experience and experience with Python for test
Experience with QNX, SafeRTOS, FreeRTOS, or similar embedded operating systems
Understanding of automotive communication protocols (CAN, LIN) and sensor/actuator integration
Bonus Qualifications
Experience with CAN/LIN analysis and debugging tools (PCAN, CANalyzer, CANape, etc.)
Familiarity with high-assurance development practices and tools (Polarion, ISO-26262, MISRA C/C++, etc.)
Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, system debugging, or SIL/HIL test infrastructure
Zoox Foster City, California, USA Office
4000 E 3rd Ave, Foster City, CA, United States, 94404
Zoox Foster City, California, USA Office
1149 Chess Drive, Foster City, CA, United States, 94404
Zoox Fremont, California, USA Office
47540 Kato Road, Fremont, CA, United States, 94538
Zoox San Francisco, California, USA Office
60 Broadway St, San Francisco, CA, United States, 94111
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the San Francisco Tech Scene
Key Facts About San Francisco Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 365,500; 13.9% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Google, Apple, Salesforce, Meta
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, consumer technology, software
- Funding Landscape: $50.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins
- Research Centers and Universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of San Francisco; Santa Clara University; Ames Research Center; Center for AI Safety; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
