Fleet And Autonomous Vehicle Operations Lead

Avride is a U.S.-based autonomous vehicle startup headquartered in Texas with additional R&D hubs around the world. Our company develops and operates both autonomous cars and delivery robots that share technologies and mutually benefit from each other’s advancements—a unique approach in the industry. Since 2017, Avride has been building expertise in autonomous technologies to create solutions that address current needs and anticipate future demands. Today, we operate a fleet of autonomous vehicles in Dallas, Texas, in partnership with Uber, bringing our technology into real-world deployment.

Our Operations Team is the backbone of safe and efficient AV testing. We manage people, vehicles, and daily execution across multiple test routes and conditions. With a strong focus on safety, performance, and collaboration, the team ensures every mile driven moves autonomy forward — reliably and responsibly.

This role oversees daily autonomous-vehicle (AV) safety operations at a given site. While you’ll still take the wheel for critical tests or coverage gaps, your primary focus is workforce planning, shift scheduling, KPI tracking, and cross-team coordination. You will be accountable for hitting production targets, maintaining a strong safety record, and cultivating a high-performance driver culture.

• Team & Shift Management
• Build weekly driver rosters, balancing skill sets, legal hours-of-service, and vehicle availability.
• Approve timecards, manage PTO, and coordinate backfills for absences.
• Operational KPIs & Continuous Improvement
• Define and track metrics such as disengagements per 100 mi, on-time route completions, and incident response times.
• Run daily stand-ups and post-shift debriefs; publish performance dashboards.
• Safety & Compliance Oversight
• Ensure adherence to all safety protocols, DMV regulations, and company SOPs.
• Lead incident investigations, root-cause analyses, and corrective-action roll-outs.
• Resource & Fleet Coordination
• Align vehicle maintenance, software update windows, and test-route allocations with the central ops team.
• Liaise with engineering, QA, and remote-assist teams to prioritize test objectives.
• Hands-On Driving (as needed)
• Cover critical routes, validate new procedures, or coach drivers during complex scenarios.
• Safety Monitoring and Data Collection:
• Operate autonomous vehicles during testing, ensuring timely interventions when necessary to maintain safety.
• Monitor the technical condition of the vehicle and perform daily inspections and equipment checks.
• Collect and report data related to the autonomous driving system's performance.
• Training and Knowledge Sharing:
• Assist with onboarding and training new drivers as needed.
• Provide feedback to engineers and developers to improve vehicle safety and performance.
• Participate in regular training and performance evaluations to maintain high safety standards.
• Incident Response and Quality Control:
• Support the analysis of any incidents or accidents during testing.
• Ensure compliance with all safety protocols and procedures.
• Participate in discussions to review interventions and improve operational processes.
• Operational Planning:
• Assist in daily task planning and scheduling for testing operations.
• Help manage shifts and ensure the availability of vehicles and drivers for each session.

• 2 years in a supervisory or lead role within AV testing, logistics, or fleet operations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage 20–30 personnel across multiple shifts.
• Proficiency with scheduling/dispatch tools and spreadsheet-based KPI tracking.
• Clean driving record and comfort operating diverse vehicle platforms.
• Excellent communication and conflict-resolution skills.
• Valid driver's license with at least 3 years of experience and a clean driving record.

• Prior experience scaling a new test site or launch program.
• Experience with autonomous vehicles or vehicle testing is a plus.
• Background in defensive driving, motorsports, or related fields.
• Technical knowledge of vehicle systems and safety protocols.