Senior Vehicle Communications Architect

MaC VC; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare package

Retirement plan

Parental leave

Paid time off

Wellness program

Job summary

May Mobility is hiring a Senior Vehicle Communications Architect to design end-to-end in-vehicle networks and connectivity for the Autonomous Driving Kit, ensuring secure, high-performance, scalable systems. You will bridge hardware and software, uphold safety and cybersecurity standards, and collaborate with OEM partners.

Lead architecture across Ethernet, CAN, LIN, TSN and OTA connectivity, define SOA/middleware, and implement interfaces per ISO 26262/21434 and UL 4600.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Computer Engineering, CS, or related field.
• 5+ years in automotive or autonomous vehicle engineering, focusing on vehicle networks.
• Experience designing in-vehicle networks (Ethernet, CAN/CAN-FD, LIN).

Responsibilities

• Define in-vehicle network architecture and roadmap across high-speed Ethernet, CAN/CAN-FD, LIN, TSN.
• Architect connectivity for OTA updates, telematics, and secure vehicle-to-cloud communications.
• Define SOA and middleware stacks (AutOSAR Classic/Adaptive, SOME/IP).
• Enforce interfaces aligned with cybersecurity and safety standards (ISO 26262, ISO 21448, UL 4600).
• Evaluate trade-offs for performance, cost, reliability, safety, and security.
• Support cross-functional engineering efforts and collaborate with OEM partners.
• Align interfaces across programs and ensure regulatory applicability.
• Perform FMEA and track findings to resolution.

Skills

In-vehicle network architecture

Automotive Ethernet CAN/CAN-FD LIN TSN

SOA and automotive middleware SOME/IP

Cybersecurity and functional safety

OT A telematics vehicle-to-cloud

Clear communication and presentations

Cross-functional collaboration

Requirement-based design

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, CS or related

Master’s degree (Desirable)

Job description

May Mobility is transforming cities through autonomous technology to create a safer, greener, more accessible world. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, May develops and deploys autonomous vehicles (AVs) powered by our innovative Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) technology that literally reimagines the way AVs think.

Our vehicles do more than just drive themselves - they provide value to communities, bridge public transit gaps and move people where they need to go safely, easily and with a lot more fun. We’re building the world’s best autonomy system to reimagine transit by minimizing congestion, expanding access and encouraging better land use in order to foster more green, vibrant and livable spaces. Since our founding in 2017, we’ve given more than 500,000 autonomous rides to real people around the globe. And we’re just getting started. We’re hiring people who share our passion for building the future, today, solving real-world problems and seeing the impact of their work. Join us.

Job Summary

The Senior Vehicle Communications Architect designs the end-to-end network, telematics, and in-vehicle connectivity frameworks that connect the critical components of May Mobility’s Autonomous Driving Kit (ADK), defining how the vehicle’s physical domains, central compute, and cloud systems communicate. As the company explores new platforms, this role delivers the design maturity needed to create secure, high-performance, and scalable systems that are reliable, cost-conscientious, and suitable for collaboration with our OEM partners. Bridging hardware and software to enable AV features, the Senior Vehicle Communications Architect upholds functional safety and cybersecurity, drawing on deep experience in the automotive or autonomous vehicle space and a strong command of relevant industry standards such as ISO 26262, ISO 21448, ISO/SAE 21434, and UL 4600.

Essential Responsibilities

• Define the in-vehicle network architecture and roadmap across high-speed automotive Ethernet, CAN/CAN-FD, LIN, and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), scaling to the ECUs, sensors, high-performance compute, and domain/zone controllers spanning the vehicle and the ADK
• Architect connectivity infrastructure for over-the-air (OTA) updates, telematics, and secure vehicle-to-cloud communications
• Define the service-oriented architecture (SOA) and middleware communication stacks (EX. Classic and Adaptive AUTOSAR and SOME/IP) to enable seamless communication between physical domains, central compute, and cloud systems
• Enforce hardware and software interfaces that align with automotive cybersecurity (ISO/SAE 21434), functional safety (ISO 26262), SOTIF (ISO 21448), and AV safety case (UL 4600) requirements
• Evaluate architecture trade-offs across performance, cost, reliability, safety, and security to deliver design maturity appropriate for OEM partner programs
• Leverage a system level understanding of our products and technologies to support cross-functional engineering efforts
• Collaborate with systems engineering, controls, software, and OEM platform partners to align communication interfaces across programs
• Evaluate industry and regulatory requirements for applicability to May Mobility products
• Performing FMEA analysis, tracking findings to resolution
• Follow safe work procedures

Skills and Abilities

Success in this role typically requires the following competencies:

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Ability to multitask and adapt to shifting priorities in a fast-paced work environment
• Understanding of agile startup and engineering principles and mindset
• Expertise in automotive communication networks and in-vehicle network architecture, such as automotive Ethernet, CAN/CAN-FD, LIN, and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN)
• Experience architecting service-oriented architectures (SOA) and automotive middleware, such as Classic and Adaptive AUTOSAR and SOME/IP
• Familiarity with OTA update, telematics, and vehicle-to-cloud connectivity architectures
• Knowledge of network and embedded security principles for safety-critical systems
• Working knowledge of functional safety, SOTIF, and cybersecurity standards (ISO 26262, ISO 21448, ISO/SAE 21434) and AV safety case frameworks (UL 4600)
• Ability to balance performance, scalability, cost, reliability, safety, and security in architecture decisions
• Detailed knowledge of requirements management and requirement-based design
• Curiosity to learn and desire to improve
• Passionate about self-driving cars and their impact on the world
• Strong working knowledge of ADAS/Autonomous Vehicle systems

Qualifications and Experience

Candidates most successful in this role typically hold the following qualifications or comparable knowledge or experience:

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field from an accredited university
• 5+ years experience in automotive or autonomous vehicle engineering, with a focus on vehicle communication networks, telematics, or electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture
• Experience designing in-vehicle communication networks, such as automotive Ethernet, CAN/CAN-FD, and LIN

Desirable

• A Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience
• Experience with Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) and high-bandwidth zonal/domain controller architectures
• AUTOSAR Expertise
• Working knowledge of ISO 26262, ISO 21448, ISO/SAE 21434, and/or UL 4600
• Relevant experience working directly with OEM partners
• Knowledge of automotive and autonomous vehicle technologies, such as LIDAR, radar, and vision systems
• Experience working in a startup

Physical Requirements

• Standard office working conditions which includes but is not limited to:
  • Prolonged sitting
  • Prolonged standing
  • Prolonged computer use
• Travel required? - Minimal to Moderate: 5%-15%

Benefits and Perks

• Comprehensive healthcare suite including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability plans. Domestic partners who have been residing together at least one year are also eligible to participate.
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Healthcare and Dependent Care Accounts available.
• Rich retirement benefits, including an immediately vested employer safe harbor match.
• Generous paid parental leave as well as a phased return to work.
• Flexible vacation policy in addition to paid company holidays.
• Total Wellness Program providing numerous resources for overall wellbeing

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and/or people of color are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every qualification. At May Mobility, we’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workforce, so if you’re excited about this role but your previous experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway! You may be the perfect candidate for this or another role at May.

Salary Range

$120,000 — $140,000 USD

Note to Recruitment Agencies

May Mobility does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Furthermore, May Mobility does not pay placement fees for candidates submitted by any agency other than its approved partners.

May Mobility is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants for employment will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, genetics or any other legally protected basis. Below, you have the opportunity to share your preferred gender pronouns, gender, ethnicity, and veteran status with May Mobility to help us identify areas of improvement in our hiring and recruitment processes. Completion of these questions is entirely voluntary. Any information you choose to provide will be kept confidential, and will not impact the hiring decision in any way. If you believe that you will need any type of accommodation, please let us know.

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