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Embedded Software Engineer - Drive Systems

Zoox

Company websitezoox.com (Zoox, opens in new tab)

Base salary $137K  to $207K

Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Foster City, CA

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  • LocationFoster City, CA
  • WorkplaceHybrid
  • Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
  • Last checked (3 h ago) · observed since

About this job

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

Compensation

There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. A sign-on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is considering for this position.

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.

Source: Zoox on Lever · View original posting (opens in new tab)

This range next to 6 other live Zoox roles with the nearest advertised base floor
Chart as a table
This range next to 6 other live Zoox roles with the nearest advertised base floor
RolePublished base
Embedded Software Engineer - Drive Systems (this listing)$137K - $207K
Manager, Vehicle Technicians$137K - $164K
Strategic Sourcing Manager$137K - $194K
Embedded Software Engineer - Body Systems$137K - $184K
Diagnostics Serviceability Engineer$138K - $192K
Financial Analyst, Production Manufacturing$133K - $183K
Manufacturing Test Engineer$131K - $204K

Same $100K to $400K scale as every card. All Zoox roles · How to read the bar

Observed changes

  1. First observed on the employer's board
  2. Began meeting the published-salary criteria
Observed since
Employer-stated posting date
2026-08-31
Where this pay comes from

Location as the employer wrote it: Foster City, CA

USD 137,000 – 207,000 · per-year-salary · salaryRange

Method
Structured pay field published by the employer
Checked
Rule set
us-base-v2

The employer's job board publishes this pay as a dedicated data field. We read the field directly; no interpretation was needed.

What we verified

  • The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
  • The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
  • The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.

We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.