# Senior Materials Engineer

**Company:** [Zoox](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/zoox)
**Location:** Foster City, CA
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Salary:** $187k – $225k/yr
**Experience:** 8+ years
**Skills:** materials science, metallurgy, failure analysis, metallography, fractography, sem/eds, mechanical testing, hardness testing, instron, astm, iso, sae, ppap, dfmea, pfmea
**Posted:** 2026-08-06

> Leads end-to-end failure investigations and corrective actions for metallic components, applying metallurgical characterization, mechanical testing, and manufacturing-process expertise across forming, stamping, and casting. Requires a relevant engineering degree and at least eight years of materials, metallurgical, or failure-analysis experience.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Lead failure investigations for metallic components across development, production, and field releases.
- Execute mechanical testing and metallurgical characterization, including SEM/EDS, metallography, and fractography, to determine root causes and mitigations.
- Advise Design, Manufacturing, and Quality teams on metal selection, process capability, and process-induced failure modes for forming, stamping, and casting operations, including DFMEA/PFMEA.
- Draft and maintain material and process specifications, quality acceptance criteria, and ASTM/ISO/SAE test procedures.
- Support supplier material and process qualification for formed, stamped, and cast metal components, including review of PPAP submissions and material certifications.
- Manage lab test plans, equipment calibration, SOPs, and safety standards.
- Direct external vendor laboratories and mentor junior engineers.

## Requirements
- Bachelor's or master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
- 8+ years of experience in materials engineering, failure analysis, or metallurgical engineering, ideally in automotive, aerospace, or heavy equipment.
- Deep, hands-on expertise with metals, forming and stamping, casting processes, common failure modes, and process documentation.
- Strong experience with mechanical testing, including Instron/UTM systems, and failure analysis techniques such as fractography, SEM/EDS, metallography, and hardness testing.
- Demonstrated ability to independently lead root-cause investigations and drive corrective actions to closure with cross-functional teams.
- Working knowledge of ASTM, ISO, and SAE test standards and experience developing test specifications.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical findings for non-materials audiences and leadership.
- Experience mentoring or directing junior engineers or technicians.

## Nice-to-Haves
- Experience with polymers, composites, adhesives or bonded joints, or coatings failure analysis.
- Familiarity with forming or stamping simulation tools such as AutoForm and LS-DYNA, casting simulation, or DFMEA/PFMEA processes.
- Experience with supplier quality engineering, PPAP, or material certification review.
- Prior experience in high-volume automotive manufacturing or vehicle development.
- Advanced degree in Materials Science or Metallurgy.

## Compensation
- Annual salary range: $187,000-$225,000.

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