Senior Technical Program Manager, Operational Excellence

Zoox is seeking a highly motivated Technical Program Manager (TPM), Operational Excellence to drive manufacturing process maturity, operational performance, and continuous improvement initiatives across Manufacturing Operations. This role will partner closely with Manufacturing, Logistics, Quality, Safety, Training, Facilities, and Engineering teams to identify improvement opportunities, implement scalable solutions, and strengthen the Zoox Production System (ZPS).

As Zoox scales from low-volume production to high-rate manufacturing, this role will help establish the systems, processes, metrics, and governance necessary to achieve predictable, safe, and efficient operations. The ideal candidate combines strong program management capabilities with expertise in lean manufacturing, business process optimization, data-driven decision making, and change management. This position is based onsite at our Clawiter factory.

In this role, you will

• Lead Operational Excellence initiatives across Manufacturing Operations (MOPS), partnering with General Assembly, AHMO, Logistics, Test & Diagnostics, Quality, Safety, and other stakeholders to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and workforce performance.
• Analyze manufacturing and business processes by observing operations, conducting current-state and future-state assessments, identifying variability, waste, bottlenecks, and opportunities for standardization and optimization.
• Drive the deployment, sustainment, and continuous improvement of the Zoox Production System (ZPS), including coaching teams on principles such as Standard Work, 5S, Lean Processes, Visual Management, waste elimination, and continuous improvement.
• Facilitate Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Kaizen events, process reviews, operational audits, and cross-functional workshops to identify root causes, develop corrective actions, and implement sustainable improvements.
• Partner with Manufacturing leadership to establish operational standards, performance metrics, governance mechanisms, and documentation that enable scalable, repeatable, and efficient operations.
• Support strategic planning and execution activities, including Zoox Quarterly Planning (ZQP), organizational readiness initiatives, and structured problem-solving efforts by gathering stakeholder feedback, aligning teams, driving accountability, and tracking business outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, operational excellence, industrial engineering, management consulting, program management, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional process improvement, business transformation, or operational excellence initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and methodologies, including Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Kaizen, Standard Work, 5S, and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Proven analytical and project management skills, with the ability to use data to identify opportunities, drive decisions, and measure business impact.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence teams and leaders across multiple functions and organizational levels.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience supporting production ramp-ups, manufacturing scale-up efforts, or implementation of production systems in automotive, aerospace, robotics, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
• Experience with manufacturing systems and tools such as MES, ERP, quality management systems, and data visualization platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Grafana, Looker).
• MBA or Master's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.