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Zoox is seeking a Senior Team Lead for Vehicle Technicians to manage and scale operations in Dallas. This role combines hands-on automotive expertise with people leadership and operational strategy.
You will manage the full lifecycle of a technical team—recruiting, onboarding, performance management, and succession planning—while coaching technicians and leads to build high-performing, safety-focused teams. You'll own the development and enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) across inspections, maintenance, and upgrades, ensuring documentation is audited and aligned with real-world execution.
Operational excellence is central: you'll use data, root cause analysis, and standard work methodologies to improve throughput, vehicle uptime, and process repeatability. You'll ensure operational readiness by verifying tools, equipment, parts, and facilities are standardized and available to meet demand. You'll champion EHS and 5S standards, embedding safety into daily behaviors and decision-making, and proactively identify and mitigate risks through corrective and preventive actions.
You'll define and track critical KPIs related to fleet readiness, quality, and downtime, using data insights to drive accountability. You'll partner with Engineering, Test, and Facilities teams to align operational execution with company roadmaps and testing milestones. You'll lead strategic scaling initiatives—translating goals into practical plans for increased fleet size, new platforms, and expanded facility operations—and serve as the primary technical escalation point for complex maintenance and configuration changes.
You'll provide data-backed communication to leadership on operational risks, constraints, and trade-offs, and work alongside local leadership to align on location needs and handle escalated situations. Travel is required (50%+ locally and nationally).
REQUIREMENTS:
- 8+ years of hands-on automotive technician experience
- 4+ years of people leadership experience in technical, automotive, or high-volume service environments
- Proven experience implementing and improving SOPs, standard work, and operational processes in complex technical environments, with demonstrated success leading high-output teams
- Strong understanding of EH&S compliance, safety programs, and 5S methodologies
- Extensive knowledge of automotive systems, diagnostic methods, parts, and tools
- High proficiency in CAN/LIN architecture, wiring diagrams, and soldering
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to influence across technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, drive initiatives to completion, and operate effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
- Willingness and ability to travel locally and nationally (50%+) with a clean driving record
BONUS QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree
- Experience with autonomous vehicles or similar safety-critical industry
- Experience in R&D, testing, or pre-production environments (engineering labs, prototype operations)
- Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies
- Experience supporting scaling operations, new site launches, or fleet expansion
- Strong understanding of EV architectures and high-voltage systems
- Experience with specialized test equipment (NVH, vehicle dynamics, thermal, durability)
- Technical trade school certificate or Associate Degree in automotive repair
