Software Engineer - Vehicle Software

Harley-Davidson Motor Company; Wauwatosa (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 127,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance benefits

401(k) program

Employee discounts on products

Job summary

Harley-Davidson Motor Company is looking for a Software Engineer - Vehicle Software to join their Product Development Center in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. This role involves contributing to the development of motorcycle software within a cross-functional team.

Responsibilities include designing, testing, and debugging software for automotive-grade microcontrollers, optimizing code, and collaborating with suppliers on automotive protocols. A Bachelor's degree and 2+ years of experience are required.

Competitive compensation includes an annual salary range of $85,000 - $127,200, health insurance benefits, and employee discounts.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience in embedded software development, preferably in automotive.
• Experience in Linux user-space/kernel development.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and debug firmware and software for automotive systems.
• Collaborate on communication stacks and drivers.
• Support vehicle cybersecurity activities.

Skills

Embedded software development experience

Proficiency in C/C++

Real-time design methodologies

Debugging tools

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer engineering or related field

Tools

Git

Make/CMake

Job description

Auto req ID: 52796 | Title: Software Engineer - Vehicle Software | Job Function: Engineering | Location: PDC | Workplace Category: Onsite | Company: Harley-Davidson Motor Company | Full or Part-Time: Full Time | Shift: SHIFT1

Overview

At Harley-Davidson, we build more than machines. We are committed to evolving the brand, leading the industry through innovation, evolution, and emotion. We need the best and brightest talent to keep building our legend. Join our team as a Software Engineer - Vehicle Software at the Harley-Davidson Motor Company Product Development Center (PDC) in Wauwatosa, WI.

Job Summary

Contribute to the development, integration, and validation of Harley-Davidson motorcycle software. Work as part of a cross-functional software team to deliver best-in-class software for customers.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, test, and debug firmware and software for automotive-grade microcontrollers/processors in real-time and Linux-based systems.
• Translate product requirements and hardware constraints into robust, maintainable code across bare-metal, RTOS, and Linux environments; optimize for performance, memory, and boot times.
• Collaborate with suppliers to design and develop communication stacks and drivers for automotive serial protocols.
• Support design, development, maintenance, and release of vehicle communication specifications & databases (DBC, CDD, Diagnostics & DTC etc.).
• Participate in vehicle cybersecurity activities including UN R155 compliance, system risk assessments, post-incident investigations, and design improvements.
• Participate in code reviews, unit tests, integration tests, and hardware-in-the-loop testing to ensure safety, quality, and reliability in-vehicle.
• Troubleshoot integration issues; provide root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and defect reports.
• Maintain and improve software development processes, documentation, and version control practices; contribute to release notes and documentation for infotainment and instrument cluster platforms.

Education

Bachelor's degree required.

Education Specifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).

Experience

Required qualifications:

• 2+ years of embedded software development experience, preferably in automotive or safety-critical contexts.
• Proficiency in C and/or C++ for embedded systems, and in Linux user-space/kernel development.
• Familiarity with RTOS and/or bare-metal development and real-time design methodologies.
• Familiarity with debugging tools (JTAG/SWD, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers).
• Understanding of microcontroller/peripheral interfaces (GPIO, UART/SPI/I2C, timers, ADC/DAC, PWM) and display peripherals.
• Experience with version control (git) and build systems (Make, CMake).
• Strong problem-solving, written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with automotive infotainment or instrument cluster software stacks; understanding of display pipelines, graphics, and multimedia integration.
• Experience with vehicle networking (CAN, Ethernet).
• Working knowledge of vehicle cybersecurity principles, regulations, and best practices.
• Experience with wireless communication (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, UWB).
• Experience with embedded graphical frameworks (Qt, Altia).
• Familiarity with bootloaders, memory management, secure firmware practices, and secure boot concepts.
• Experience with software testing, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop workflows, and automated testing in Linux environments.
• Experience with automotive safety processes and standards (e.g., ISO 26262) or automotive-grade validation practices.

Compensation and Benefits

The pay range shown represents the national average pay range for this role. Your pay may vary based on location and experience.

We offer an inclusive compensation package for full-time salaried employees, including annual bonus programs, health insurance benefits, a 401(k) program, onsite fitness centers, employee stores, employee discounts on products and accessories, and more.

Authorization and Travel

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

Direct Reports: Yes
Travel Required: 10% - 25%
Pay Range: $85,000 - 127,200
Visa Sponsorship: Not eligible for visa sponsorship or transfer
Relocation: Eligible for domestic relocation assistance (within posted country)

Legal Notice

Harley-Davidson is an equal opportunity employer.