Senior/Staff Safety Research Engineer, Human Factors Modeling

As a safety research engineer focused on human factors modeling, you will help Zoox to continuously update and evolve our understanding of safety-critical road user behavior, and contribute to the overall safety risk assessment that will inform decision-making in every aspect of the technology development. You will be part of the SDMA Safety Research team which is scoped with enhancing the foundational approaches used in the safety case. The research you do could potentially lead to methodologies which can inform critical design aspects of the Zoox robotaxi.

• Develop models of various human road user behaviors in different scenarios to inform the evaluation of Zoox autonomous driving performance. Models can be developed based on third party naturalistic driving data, academic publications, or Zoox driving data
• Propose and standardize processes to guide and execute the development of simulated human road user kinematic and non-kinematic parameters.
• Maintain and grow a knowledge base of human road user behavior across modes, including: passenger vehicle drivers, emergency vehicle drivers, bicycle riders, pedestrians, and more.
• Contribute to the development and evolution of the Safety Case of Zoox technology, in close collaboration with cross-functional teams including Systems Engineers, Software and Hardware Engineering, Vehicle Engineering, Safety Strategy, Legal, etc.

• Ph.D. degree in the Human Factors or relevant domain
• Proficiency in experimental design and multivariate statistical methodologies, e.g., causal inference with observable data, classification, dimension reduction, and other quantitative analysis/modeling tools
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in modeling and analyzing the behavior of human road users based on naturalistic databases
• Collaborative team player with strong written and in-person communication skills
• Have the ability to use Python (or other languages) to interface with Zoox driving and simulation data sources

• 10+ years of relevant work experience related to human factors in safety-critical systems and, naturalistic driving data analysis
• Experience leading a research team and setting a research agenda
• Experience working with automotive technology or autonomous driving technology
• Publications in the field of Human Factors related to safety, traffic safety research, and Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS)

Compensation and Benefits

There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. The salary range for this position is $155,000 to $230,000. 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.

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.