Senior Team Lead, Vehicle Technicians

As the Senior Team Lead, Fleet Support for Base Operations, you will serve as both the technical player-coach and the strategic operational owner responsible for executing daily vehicle maintenance while evolving the backbone of Zoox’s Base Operations. You will combine hands-on diagnostic and repair responsibilities with high-level shop execution, directing technicians and ensuring the holistic readiness, safety, and strategic deployment of our Robotaxi fleet. Acting as a people leader and change driver, you will champion operational excellence, scale-readiness, and standardization across the workshop network. You will be accountable for implementing and improving Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), enforcing EH&S and 5S standards, and fostering a culture of urgency and continuous improvement. Serving as the vital link between operations management and the shop floor, you will work closely with Fleet Support Specialists, Engineering, Facilities, and Operations Leadership. You will translate management's high-level objectives into practical, daily instructions for technicians, while simultaneously elevating floor-level constraints, technical blockers, and resource needs back to leadership Shift: 1st Shift, Monday - Friday, 9am - 6pm In this role, you will: • Manage the full team lifecycle, including workforce planning, recruiting, onboarding, and performance management, to build high-performing teams rooted in safety and quality. • Coach and develop technicians and leads by establishing clear expectations, providing consistent feedback, and creating succession plans to support organizational scaling. • Own the development and enforcement of SOPs across all workflows (inspections, maintenance, upgrades), ensuring documentation is audited and aligned with real-world execution. • Drive operational excellence by utilizing data, root cause analysis, and standard work methodologies to improve throughput, vehicle uptime, and process repeatability. • Ensure operational readiness by verifying that tools, equipment, parts, and facilities are standardized, maintained, and fully available to meet operational demand. • Champion EHS & 5S standards, maintaining a clean, organized, and compliant work environment while embedding safety into daily behaviors and decision-making. • Proactively identify and mitigate risks, leading corrective and preventive actions to address safety concerns, near misses, and process gaps. • Define and track critical KPIs related to fleet readiness, quality, and downtime, using data insights to drive accountability and prevent systemic failures. • Partner with Engineering, Test, and Facilities teams to align on operational execution with company roadmaps, testing milestones, and evolving requirements. • Lead strategic scaling initiatives, translating high-level goals into practical plans for increased fleet size, new platforms, and expanded facility operations. • Serve as the primary technical escalation point, overseeing complex maintenance and configuration changes to ensure strict adherence to quality standards. • Provide data-backed communication to leadership and stakeholders regarding operational risks, constraints, and trade-offs to support agile decision-making. • Work alongside local leadership to align on location needs, goals, and handle escalated situations Qualifications • 8+ years of hands-on automotive technician experience. • 4+ years of people leadership experience. Experience leading teams 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 the 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 • Bachelors degree • Experience with autonomous vehicles or a similar safety-critical industry • Experience working in R&D, testing, or pre-production environments, including engineering labs or prototype operations. • Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies. • Experience supporting scaling operations, new site launches, or fleet expansion initiatives. • Strong understanding of EV architectures and high-voltage systems. • Experience utilizing specialized test equipment (NVH, vehicle dynamics, thermal, durability). • Technical trade school certificate or Associate Degree in automotive repair.