Senior Manufacturing Design Engineer

About the Role

Uber is launching AV Labs to accelerate the autonomous technology ecosystem. We're building out a high-velocity team of multi-disciplinary experts to turn real-world operations into high-quality data for our autonomous partners. This team is focused on the hardest problem in AV today: unlocking real-world, long-tail driving data. Autonomy is now a data race-and Uber has an edge: We collect rare, real-world driving data at a scale and capital efficiency no one else can match.

As a Senior Manufacturing Design Engineer at Uber AV Labs, you will drive the design and development of early exploration platforms and foundational technology building blocks that directly enable and influence next-generation autonomous vehicle architecture decisions. Leveraging a strong engineering background and a proven track record of navigating high ambiguity, you will proactively lead multi-functional engineering teams alongside key hardware vendors, technology suppliers, and Tier-1 partners through the definition, prototyping, and Proof of Concept (PoC) of AV technologies-including advanced sensing platforms (LiDAR, Radar, Cameras), custom compute architectures, and hardware-software integration layers. In this role, you will apply situational program management to seamlessly organize, align, and orchestrate high-impact R&D roadmaps from raw concepts all the way through architectural validation and physical prototype integration.

CoreResponsibilities

• Architect the Production Process: Design, validate, and deploy custom fixtures, jigs, and tooling. You will build the physical architecture that allows our assembly teams to work safely and efficiently. You will own the tooling lifecycle from blank CAD canvas to shop-floor deployment.
• BOM Architecture & Management: Build, structure, and maintain accurate Manufacturing Bills of Materials (MBOMs). You will act as the gatekeeper ensuring that every part, fastener, and tool is accurately accounted for.
• Engineering Change Management: Drive the Engineering Change Order (ECO) process for all manufacturing tooling and production parts. You will manage version control, ensuring the shop floor is always building with the right revision of fixtures.
• Fixture Procurement & Fabrication: Work directly with internal machine shops or external vendors to get your fixture designs fabricated. You will select the right materials (tool steels, aluminum, plastics) and specify tolerances using GD&T.
• Operator Support: Spend time on the floor observing how your fixtures are used. Gather feedback from assembly technicians to iterate and improve tooling for better safety and cycle times.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Industrial Technology.
• 5+ years of MDE experience leading multi-functional engineering teams through early-stage technical ambiguity, milestone planning, and release gating criteria.
• Advanced proficiency in 3D CAD (Solidworks, NX or Catia). Deep understanding of core principles of GDT
• Experience developing process DFMs, and driving corrective actions and failure analysis efforts
• Direct, hands-on experience supporting a live production line and troubleshooting manufacturing issues in real-time.
• Proven track record of managing external hardware vendors and suppliers to deliver complex fixtures on time with high quality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience managing specialty automotive build partners, prototype vehicle upfits, custom retrofits, or Tier-1/OEM integration programs.
• Familiarity with core autonomous vehicle architecture and building blocks, including sensing platforms (LiDAR, Radar, Cameras), vehicle integration and bringups
• Exceptional communication skills with a demonstrated ability to bring transparency, resolve conflicts, and drive priorities across complex, multi-organization environments without direct authority.
• Vendor management experience, being good at handling the conflicts and command vendors to implement actions and deliver results.

For Sunnyvale, CA-based roles: The base salary range for this role is USD $180,000 per year - USD $200,000 per year.

You will be eligible to participate in Uber's bonus program, and may be offered an equity award & other types of comp. All full-time employees are eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan. You will also be eligible for various benefits.