Fleet Engineering Lead - AV Lab

Job description

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 bottleneck 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 Fleet Engineering Lead , you will help scale and optimize fleet operations for our Autonomous Vehicle (AV) data collection projects. You will operate as the on-site technical lead, sitting at the intersection of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, and daily fleet operations. You will diagnose complex system faults, translate engineering designs into clear shop-floor playbooks, and lead the technical rollout of vehicle data collection support across new cities.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a high-impact initiative that will continue to evolve as we scale.

What You’ll Do

Scale-Out & Site Bootstrapping: Launch data collection in new cities, overseeing the technical setup from vehicle hardware to data offload. Adapt playbooks for local nuances, train local contractor staff, and build the operational cadence before handing off steady-state control.

Advanced Diagnostics

Serve as the final on-site escalation point for complex, undocumented hardware and software faults, performing deep root-cause analysis when issues extend beyond standard troubleshooting guides.

Upfit Validation & Serviceability

Validate hardware/software integration on newly upfitted vehicles (e.g., from Roush) upon arrival. Evaluate practical depot-level serviceability and translate complex engineering documentation into actionable maintenance workflows.

SOP Architecture & Fleet Standardization

Design, test, and formally document the core triage, calibration, and maintenance playbooks. Conduct cross-site technical audits to ensure uniform execution and resolve local bottlenecks.

Process Automation & Tooling

Identify operational bottlenecks on the depot floor and test or develop local scripts and tooling to automate repetitive tasks (e.g., firmware deployment) and accelerate data collection fleet throughput.

Basic Qualifications

5+ years of experience in an advanced technical role working with complex electromechanical systems, autonomous vehicles, aerospace testing, or enterprise hardware integration. Strong problem-solving ability with demonstrated capability to figure things out in ambiguous, fast-changing environments. Proficiency in Linux troubleshooting and scripting (Python or Bash preferred) to interact with vehicle compute, pull raw logs, and automate local depot tooling.

Process Architecture Experience

Proven track record of documenting complex technical workflows, writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and training technical teams to execute them safely.

Hands-on Hardware Experience

Deep familiarity with networking concepts, sensor integration (LiDAR, Radar, Cameras, IMU), or automotive data links (CAN, Automotive Ethernet, GMSL). Willingness to travel up to 50% to bootstrap new data collection cities and conduct cross-site technical audits.

Preferred Qualifications

AV Domain Expertise: Direct experience working with L4 autonomous vehicle hardware platforms, sensor calibration rigs, and data collection workflows.

Launch & Scale Experience

Previous experience serving as a bootstrap lead, NPI technician, or "landing team" member for new operational sites or data centers.

Cross-Functional Influence

Proven track record of influencing cross-functional engineering teams (Hardware, Software, Logistics) to drive improvements in product serviceability and operational workflows.

Vendor / Upfit Experience

Experience receiving and validating complex systems from third-party upfitters or contract manufacturers.

Responsibilities

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.