Electronic Architecture Engineer

PACCAR; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 81,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k with up to 5% company match

Fully funded pension plan

Comprehensive PTO - 10 vacation days +

Tuition reimbursement

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Flexible spending account

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

Job summary

PACCAR Electronics seeks an Electronic Architecture Engineer to translate requirements into robust vehicle architectures and to own end‑to‑end design across ECUs and networks for heavy‑duty trucks.

You will work with powertrain, chassis, ADAS, and battery systems, applying MBSE and model‑based design while collaborating with global teams in Eindhoven and beyond. A strong systems mindset and J1939 expertise are essential.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Engineering (Electrical, Computer, Systems) or related field.
• 3+ years of product development, systems engineering, or automotive/commercial vehicle experience.
• Strong systems mindset with a passion for architecture rather than component-only design.
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills and ability to explain technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, evaluate tradeoffs, and make sound engineering decisions.

Responsibilities

• Architect next‑generation vehicle network communication systems for heavy‑duty trucks, with a focus on modular, scalable electronic architectures.
• Translate high‑level functional specifications into network implementations, defining SPNs, hardwired I/O, and communication interfaces.
• Integrate ECUs across powertrain, chassis, cab, ADAS, battery‑electric systems, and other emerging technologies.
• Develop and manage system‑level requirements using model‑based design principles, ensuring full traceability from customer needs through implementation.
• Serve as the team’s subject‑matter expert for SAE J1939 while staying current on emerging protocols and industry standards.
• Review engineering change requests to ensure architectural integrity and avoid unintended cross‑system impacts.
• Partner with software, controls, powertrain, calibration, validation, and functional design teams to ensure cohesive system delivery.
• Estimate, prioritize, and track architectural work across multiple vehicle programs.
• Collaborate globally with our DAF architecture team in Eindhoven on shared systems and platform elements.
• Perform root‑cause analysis on field issues and work closely with verification teams to develop solutions.
• Drive improvements to architecture tools, processes, and methodologies.

Skills

Systems mindset

Cross-functional communication

Decision making

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

SysML

IBM DOORS

Jama

Job description

Location

Kirkland, WA

About PACCAR

PACCAR, Inc. is a Fortune 500 company established in 1905 and is recognized as a global leader in the commercial vehicle, financial, and customer service fields. PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture, and customer support of high-quality light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks under its internationally recognized brands Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR designs and manufactures advanced diesel engines and provides customized financial services, information technology and truck parts related to its principal business.

About Global PACCAR Electronics

The Global PACCAR Electronics organization supports Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF by transforming how control systems and vehicle software are developed for commercial vehicle applications. GPE designs next‑generation vehicle controls, display systems, and autonomous technologies that raise the bar for customer productivity and safety. Whether on highways, construction sites, urban centers, or forest roads, PACCAR trucks are recognized for exceptional quality and performance. PACCAR Electronics is central to these product identities—delivering innovations from advanced PTO functionality to intuitive, high‑value digital displays. Join us as we grow and deliver PACCAR’s future in connectivity, cybersecurity, electrification, and autonomous systems.

Position Summary

Our Electronic Architecture team operates at the system level, translating high-level functional requirements into architecture designs, integrating ECUs into cohesive vehicle systems, and ensuring robust communication across our modular truck platforms. The work we do sets up downstream teams for success. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on systems thinking and wants to own the architecture end‑to‑end—analyzing complex requirements, making high‑impact design decisions, and collaborating across disciplines to deliver architectures that scale across multiple truck models and customer applications. You’ll help shape the communication backbone that supports vehicles ranging from rugged vocational trucks in the Pacific Northwest to long‑haul tractors running cross‑country.

Job Responsibilities

• Architect next‑generation vehicle network communication systems for heavy‑duty trucks, with a focus on modular, scalable electronic architectures


• Translate high‑level functional specifications into network implementations, defining SPNs, hardwired I/O, and communication interfaces


• Integrate ECUs across powertrain, chassis, cab, ADAS, battery‑electric systems, and other emerging technologies


• Develop and manage system‑level requirements using model‑based design principles, ensuring full traceability from customer needs through implementation


• Serve as the team’s subject‑matter expert for SAE J1939 while staying current on emerging protocols and industry standards


• Review engineering change requests to ensure architectural integrity and avoid unintended cross‑system impacts


• Partner with software, controls, powertrain, calibration, validation, and functional design teams to ensure cohesive system delivery


• Estimate, prioritize, and track architectural work across multiple vehicle programs


• Collaborate globally with our DAF architecture team in Eindhoven on shared systems and platform elements


• Perform root‑cause analysis on field issues and work closely with verification teams to develop solutions


• Drive improvements to architecture tools, processes, and methodologies

Qualifications & Skills

• B.S. in Engineering (Electrical, Computer, Systems) or related field


• 3+ years of product development, systems engineering, or automotive/commercial vehicle experience


• Strong systems mindset with a passion for architecture rather than component only‑design


• Excellent cross‑functional communication skills and ability to explain technical concepts to diverse stakeholders


• Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, evaluate tradeoffs, and make sound engineering decisions

Preferred

• Experience with automotive communication protocols (SAE J1939, CAN, LIN)


• Knowledge of commercial vehicle systems, customer applications, and industry operating environments


• Familiarity with requirements management tools (IBM DOORS, Jama, etc.) and model‑based systems engineering approaches


• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, SysML, or similar modeling tools


• Understanding of functional safety (ISO 26262), ASPICE, or similar automotive development standards


• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline

PACCAR Benefits

• 401k with up to a 5% company match


• Fully funded pension plan that provides monthly benefits after retirement


• Comprehensive PTO – minimum of 10 paid vacation days (additional days are provided with additional seniority/years of service), 12 paid holidays, and sick time


• Tuition reimbursement for continued education


• Medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your family


• Flexible spending account (FSA) and health account (HSA)


• Paid short‑and‑long‑term disability programs


• Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance


• EAP services include wellness plans, estate planning, financial counseling and more

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

PACCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veteran/Disability.

Work Authorization

Applicants and employees for this position will not be sponsored for work authorization, including, but not limited to H-1B visas, now or in the future.

Salary

The salary range for the Electronic Architecture Engineer is $80,800 - $120,800 annually.

Holiday Gift

This position is also eligible for a holiday gift.