Process Improvement Intern [2027]

About Our Internship Program
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. Job Description The Process Improvement team in Fleet Operations ensures that Zoox’s readiness and response processes scale seamlessly as our fleet expands across cities. In this role, you will work side-by-side with ground operations and frontline teams at our depots to examine current workflows, identify bottlenecks, and design standardized, repeatable operational procedures. This role is ideal for an analytical, hands-on problem solver eager to turn complex physical operations into lean, scalable processes that ensure vehicle availability and mission safety.

In this Role, You Will…

• Benchmark Ground Operations: Shadow frontline depot teams to map readiness and response workflows, identify time-loss and operational pain points, and document best practices that can be standardized across domiciles.
• Build Domicile Launch Playbooks: Stress-test operational processes and handoffs at 2x and 3x fleet scale, pinpointing vulnerable failure points and designing scalable operating mechanisms.
• Audit and Establish Operational Metrics: Audit existing turnaround and fleet health metrics and define new performance indicators that reflect true operational efficiency.
• Develop Scorecards and Dashboards: Build a standardized domicile scorecard and weekly executive dashboard to provide visibility into depot performance, bottlenecks, and emerging operational risks.
• Drive Initiatives End-to-End: Formulate data-backed recommendations with quantified impact, aligning stakeholders from frontline teams to leadership to execute sustainable process improvements.

Internship Requirements

• Currently working towards a Master’s, MBA, or Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Supply Chain, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Good academic standing and enrolled at an accredited college or university throughout the internship.
• Expected graduation date between Fall 2027 and Summer 2028.
• Able to commit to a full-time, 12-week internship.
• Ability to work on-site and travel locally to depot facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Interns at Zoox may not use proprietary information for thesis or publication outside of Zoox.

Technical Qualifications

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with demonstrable ability to break down operational workflows and identify root causes.
• Foundational understanding of process mapping, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and lean continuous improvement methods.
• High comfort level working hands-on with frontline ground teams in active depot environments.
• Proficiency in data analytics and visualization (Excel, Sheets, or dashboarding tools).
• Clear communication and stakeholder management skills to earn trust and influence across teams.

Bonus Qualifications

• Prior internship or hands-on experience in automotive maintenance, fleet operations, or logistics environments.
• Experience with project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, or similar workflow platforms.
• Experience applying root cause analysis frameworks (e.g., 5-Whys, Fishbone diagrams, DMAIC).

Compensation The monthly salary range for this position is $5,500 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 offered based on eligibility). Interview Process & Duration of Each Interview