Manager, Simulation Execution & Performance

Zoox is seeking an exceptional Software Engineering Manager to lead our Simulation Execution & Performance team. This pivotal role will drive the development of robust, scalable, and ultra-high-performance software systems. Our team builds the essential tools, launchers, and APIs that empower software engineers across Zoox to run simulations quickly, accurately, and at scale. This platform is the backbone of hundreds of workflows, powering millions of scenarios daily and delivering precise, actionable metrics for the development of our cutting-edge autonomous vehicle software stack.

As the Manager for this critical area, you will spearhead the technical architecture of our simulation execution and own the overall execution efficiency of the simulator. You will lead a highly specialized team of software and performance engineers in modernizing legacy systems, building developer-centric APIs, and aggressively optimizing simulation runtime.

In this role, you will:

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a growing team of world-class software and performance engineers.
• Own the end-to-end architecture of simulation execution systems, ensuring seamless execution across both local developer workstations and distributed cloud environments.
• Direct comprehensive performance engineering initiatives, including rigorous benchmarking, systems profiling, and deep-dive root cause analysis of complex bottlenecks.
• Drive systematic improvements to the simulator's runtime performance, optimizing CPU/memory utilization and dramatically reducing execution latency.
• Drive the architectural decoupling of the core simulation engine from infrastructure orchestration, creating a highly modular and scalable execution pipeline.
• Design and build robust APIs and SDKs (Python, C++, REST) that allow autonomy workflows to easily configure, execute, and interact with the simulator.
• Create telemetry and dashboards to continuously track and improve execution speed.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with autonomy, QA, and infrastructure teams to deliver a frictionless, high-speed developer experience.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of developing top engineering talent and managing high-performing teams (3+ years of engineering management experience) and demonstrated ability to drive complex software architecture and performance optimization projects from conception to delivery.
• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Expert-level programming skills in C++, with strong proficiency in Python.
• Hands-on experience with systems-level performance profiling, bottleneck analysis, and C++ optimization techniques.
• Deep understanding of system design, developer tooling, API/SDK design, and distributed computing.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience in simulation, robotics, gaming engines, or autonomous systems is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with large-scale cloud job orchestration or massive data pipelines.
• Strong aptitude for understanding specialized end-user workflows and translating them into elegant, highly optimized technical solutions.

$210,000 - $300,000 a year

Base Salary Range

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. The listed range applies only to the base salary. 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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.