Lidar Engineer Intern

Zoox is transforming mobility with fully autonomous, electric vehicles designed from the ground up for a driverless future. Our mission is to make transportation safer, more sustainable, and accessible to everyone. At Zoox, innovation, collaboration, and a bold vision for the future drive everything we do.
Zoox’s internship program offers hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology, mentorship from some of the industry’s brightest minds, and the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to real projects. We seek interns who demonstrate strong academic performance, engagement beyond the classroom, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine interest in Zoox’s mission.
As a Lidar Engineer InternThis internship is with the Advanced Hardware Engineering Sensors: Lidar team, focusing on characterizing lidar systems for autonomous robots. Interns will work with cutting-edge technologies, gaining experience in high-reliability and safety-critical automotive systems.
The AHE Lidar Team aims to explore lidar performance limits through robust, objective characterization and innovative simulation methods in a controlled lab setting. This role requires skills in optical system design, electro- and opto-mechanical integration, software automation, and advanced data analysis. Ideal candidates should be intellectually curious problem solvers capable of managing complex projects from concept to performance data analysis.
Willing to travel 20% domestically

Program Requirements

• Currently pursuing a B.S., M.S., or other advanced degree in a relevant engineering field.
• Plan to return to school after completing the internship.
• Maintain good academic standing.
• Available to commit to either a 12-week summer internship (May or June 2026 start) or a 6-month co-op.
• At least one prior industry internship, co-op, or relevant project experience.
• Willing and able to relocate to the Bay Area, California, for the duration of the internship.
• Interns may not use proprietary Zoox information in university theses, publications, or share it outside of Zoox.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in applied physics and mathematics.
• Capability to model mechanical and optical systems.
• Hands-on experience with hardware prototyping and experimental lab work.
• Proficiency in Python for data analysis, instrument control, and automation.
• Ability to synthesize complex findings into clear, comprehensive reports.
• Proficient with technical measurement tools and strong analytical skills.

Bonus Qualifications

• Familiarity with optical design, radiometric calculations, and laser safety standards.
• Experience with hardware design, component sourcing, and optomechanical integration.
• Comfortable with optical measuring equipment (e.g., spectrometer, power meter).
• Experience building bulk complex structures (e.g., with 80/20 t-slot extrusions).
• Experience with lidar systems.

Compensation:The monthly salary range for this position is $6,500 to $9,500. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level of education. Additional benefits may include medical insurance, and a housing stipend (relocation assistance will be offered based on eligibility).