Senior Quality Control Lead

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 problem 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 the Senior Quality Control Lead, you will be the operational owner and technical floor lead for our Incoming Quality Control (IQC) and production hardware provisioning. Working closely alongside Quality Engineering (QE), you will bridge the gap between engineering-level test development and daily floor execution as we build out our quality infrastructure from the ground up.

This is a hands-on, multi-faceted operational role for an all-around hardware veteran. You are someone who has "been-there, done-that" across the entire bench lifecycle, from physically inspecting cables, connectors, and serial labels, to troubleshooting CAN/Ethernet interfaces, running Linux/Python test scripts, and enforcing strict inventory quarantine protocols in our ERP. You will lead a team of contractor technicians, troubleshoot physical and software anomalies on the fly, and maintain the high bar for throughput, quality, and precision established by engineering.

What the Candidate Will Do

• Drive Daily IQC Operations: Direct and optimize daily Incoming Quality Control (IQC) bench inspections, ensuring incoming production hardware is verified efficiently against engineering acceptance criteria.
• Oversee Hardware Config & Provisioning: Execute benchtop configuration protocols using Linux CLI and automated test scripts (Python/Bash). Troubleshoot script failures, verify environment variables, and validate parameter states prior to part release.
• Technical Triage & First-Line Debugging: Serve as the technical escalation point on the bench. When a test or flash fails, analyze terminal logs, verify communication interfaces (CAN, Ethernet, Serial), and isolate script/environmental glitches from true hardware defects before escalating to Quality Engineers.
• Lead & Train Contractor Technicians: Serve as the hands-on floor lead for contractor QC technicians—assigning daily testing queues, training team members on SOPs, enforcing bench discipline, and auditing inspection accuracy.
• Enforce Material Control & Quarantine: Own the physical quarantine cage and digital logging for non-conforming hardware (NCR generation, RMA staging, and non-conforming material disposition).
• Maintain Bench & Calibration Standards: Ensure all IQC benches, inspection tools, gauges, and diagnostic equipment are properly maintained, calibrated, and ESD-compliant.
• Cross-Functional Floor Support: Partner directly with Production, Warehouse, and Quality Engineering to prioritize inspection queues, resolve material holds, and maintain high dock-to-stock velocity.

Basic Qualifications

• Experience: 5–7+ years of hands-on experience as a Hardware Systems Lead, Quality Control Lead, Engineering Technician, or Test Lead in high-complexity autonomous vehicle, robotics, aerospace, or consumer electronics environments.
• Hands-on Bench & Physical Inspection Mastery: Deep experience with full-spectrum bench inspection, precision measuring tools, wire harness/cable assembly verification, connector pin integrity, serial label/barcode verification, and physical defect identification.
• Linux, CLI & Scripting Familiarity: Practical experience navigating Linux/Unix CLI environments (SSH, terminal navigation, log parsing) with the ability to execute, debug, and make minor configuration/line edits to Python, Bash, or Shell scripts.
• Hardware Interfacing & Diagnostics: Experience using bench power supplies/meters and capturing bus/diagnostic logs over standard hardware interfaces (CAN bus, Ethernet, Serial/UART, PCIe).
• Floor Leadership: 2+ years of experience serving as a lead technician, shift lead, or supervisor directly assigning daily tasks, training on SOPs, and directing contractor technicians or operators on an active floor.
• Material Control & ERP Operations: Proven track record enforcing physical quarantine controls, tracking part serialization, and managing Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) or material holds in ERP/PLM tracking systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Agile).

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or Quality Technology.
• Domain Expertise: Background provisioning, flashing, or testing complex autonomous vehicle hardware, sensor suites (LiDAR, Radar, Cameras), high-performance compute nodes, or wire harnesses.
• Quality & Industry Standards: ASQ Certified Quality Technician (CQT), or familiarity with ESD prevention, Acceptance Sampling (AQL), and IPC-A-620 cable/harness inspection standards.

For Sunnyvale, CA-based roles: The base salary range for this role is USD $167,000 per year - USD $185,000 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.

Ready to Ride?

This isn't the kind of place where you follow a playbook — it's where you help write one. If you're driven by impact, energized by challenge, and ready to shape how the world moves — we'd love to hear from you.

You may be eligible for bonuses, equity, and other compensation, as well as a range of benefits. Explore our benefits.

Offices remain key to collaboration and Uber's culture. Unless approved for full remote work, employees must spend at least 50% of their time in-office. Some roles, like those at greenlight hubs, require full-time in-office presence. Ask your Recruiter for details about this role's requirements.

Uber is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing this form.