Jesus Martinez: The Suspension Sage

At the Fox Factory powered vehicles group in Scotts Valley, California, Jesus Martinez sits at his workbench, tinkering with suspension setups and valve tuning with a blend of mechanical know-how and passion. His journey to Fox and the Test Engineering department began at a young age, wrenching on cars with his buddies and cultivating an enthusiasm for anything with an engine.

"Growing up, I always had a passion for working on vehicles and mechanics," Jesus reflects. This zeal eventually led him to Fox in 2007, joining the inventory team before transitioning to the service department, and then finding his home in the Test Engineering department just a few years later.

Before Fox, Jesus spent his free time modifying cars and swapping out engines with his friends, driven by an innate curiosity to understand how things worked. This hands-on experience proved invaluable, allowing him to hit the ground running at Fox's elite test facilities.

For Jesus, the thrill lies in the process—taking calculated risks, analyzing data, and fine-tuning setups until they deliver the desired performance. His current passion project? Outfitting his 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser with a custom Fox suspension using an assortment of components from various product lines.

"I grabbed an iQS high flow base valve built from spare parts," he explains. Combining these pieces with a Jeep wiring harness, Jesus is meticulously tuning the system to achieve the perfect ride quality across multiple off-road settings. “It's pretty rad getting a bunch of different parts and making it work for my vehicle.”

This spirit of problem-solving and refusing to settle is woven into Jesus' approach to work. When faced with parts availability challenges, he proactively communicates with other Fox facilities to keep operations running smoothly.

While professional growth remains a priority, Jesus cherishes the work-life balance Fox affords him. "Having the freedom to work my own schedule is always a good thing," he says. “It allows me to spend time with family.”

As he looks ahead, Jesus envisions himself in a tuning technician role, leveraging data analysis to optimize vehicle setups better. His goal? To deepen his understanding of suspension dynamics and calculations, enabling him to predict setups' performance before testing.

At Fox, Jesus' impact extends beyond his technical prowess. He hopes to be remembered as a positive force, always willing to lend a hand to teammates. It's this team-first mentality that has endeared him to colleagues. Whether wrenching on his FJ or dialing in a complex tune, Jesus personifies Fox's relentless pursuit of performance—with an open mind and a thirst for knowledge.

Editor's Note: The FOX TALES series discovers the passionate people behind the products who contribute to our overall success. From production workers, engineers, salespeople, marketers, and beyond, each person contributes to how we collectively drive innovation, challenge convention, and shape the future of Fox Factory.