Sr. Body Controls Engineer - Mechanism

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonus

Equity

Benefits tailored to local market

Job summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies seeks a Body Controls Engineer to develop and integrate control systems for vehicle features, including closures, lighting, seating, and accessories. You’ll work with C/C++ and Python, apply PID tuning, and contribute to software testing across SIL, HIL, and vehicle platforms.

You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure robust software integration and support FMEA activities for safety compliance. Occasional travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering; Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Architect and develop control systems for vehicle mechatronics features utilizing PID control, feedforward techniques, motion profiling, and signal filtering.
• Review requirements and produce high-level functional specification designs to offer control solutions.
• Create test cases and scripts to validate features in Unit, SIL, and HIL environments.
• Conduct software testing on vehicles and contribute to feature tuning and calibration.
• Support FMEA for ISO 26262 compliance across features.
• Collaborate with controls engineers to enhance simulation models for analysis, optimization, and troubleshooting.
• Work with the engineering team to ensure software robustness and seamless integration of new features.
• Develop intuitive diagnostic interfaces for controllers to facilitate troubleshooting and maintenance.
• Use multidisciplinary approach to troubleshoot functional problems across physical, electrical, and software domains.
• Prioritize and elevate issues based on user impact and program objectives for prompt resolution.

Skills

PID control

Control theory

C programming

C++ programming

Python programming

CAN/LIN tools

Education

Bachelor's in electrical or mechanical engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

CANalyzer

CANoe

CANape

JAMA/Cameo

JIRA

Git

Job description

About Us

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.

The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.

Role Summary

We are seeking a dedicated and innovative Body Controls Engineer to join our software development team. This role is integral to the development and integration of control systems for various vehicle functions, including closures, lighting, seating, and accessory devices. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in electrical or mechanical engineering, with a focus on automotive control systems.

Responsibilities

• Architect and develop control systems for vehicle mechatronics features utilizing PID control, feedforward techniques, motion profiling, and signal filtering.

• Review requirements and produce high-level functional specification designs to offer control solutions.

• Create test cases and scripts to validate features in Unit, Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test environments.

• Conduct software testing on vehicles and contribute to feature tuning and calibration.

• Support Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for ISO 26262 compliance across features.

• Collaborate with other controls engineers to enhance or create simulation models for analyzing, optimizing, and troubleshooting vehicle aspects.

• Work closely with the engineering team to ensure software robustness and seamless integration of new features.

• Develop intuitive diagnostic interfaces for controllers to facilitate troubleshooting and maintenance.

• Use a multidisciplinary approach to troubleshoot functional problems in vehicles by addressing root causes across physical, electrical, and software domains.

• Prioritize and elevate issues based on user impact and program objectives for prompt resolution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering; Master’s degree preferred.

• 3+ years of experience with automotive or robotic control systems, with a focus on mechatronics.

• Knowledge of control theory principles and algorithm design, including compensator design and PID tuning.

• Strong understanding of hardware components such as DC motors, latchs and various sensor types (limit switches, pinch strips, resistance ladders, hall sensors, current sensors).

• Expertise in C, C++, and Python programming languages.

• Experience with Requirements Management Systems (e.g., JAMA/Cameo).

• Experience with Task Management Systems (e.g., JIRA).

• Experience with Source Control/Revision Control systems (e.g., Git).

• Familiarity with failure analysis methodologies such as FMEA and fault trees.

• Proficiency in CAN/LIN/ETH tools (e.g., Vector CANalyzer, CANoe, CANape) and understanding of embedded hardware and software design.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Ability to travel up to 20%.

Total Rewards

Full-time positions include base salary, eligibility for an annual performance bonus, and eligibility for equity.

In addition to base salary, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies offers benefits tailored to the local market. For more information on the benefits available for full-time employees, check out our Global Benefits Site.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition or any other characteristic protected by law. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [e-mail].

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies” may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment-related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.

Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.