Sr. Electrical Architecture Engineer

Blue Bird Brand; Macon Township (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401k matching

Paid holidays

Job summary

Blue Bird Corporation seeks a Lead Electrical Architecture Engineer to define and implement the electrical backbone for next-generation commercial vehicle platforms. You will own power distribution, wiring topology, interfaces, and system integration strategy, partnering with Systems Integration, Propulsion, and Manufacturing to ensure a scalable, manufacturable architecture.

You will lead technical direction with suppliers and external partners, drive design standards, validation, and launch

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience developing electrical architectures, vehicle electrical systems, or electrical integration for automotive, commercial, or heavy-duty platforms.
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident; authorized to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the vehicle electrical architecture and alignment with system goals.
• Develop CAN, J1939, LIN, Automotive Ethernet networks and future architectures.
• Lead HV and LV integration including batteries, inverters, DC/DC converters, and charging systems.
• Define electrical interfaces, connectors, and integration requirements with suppliers.
• Define wiring topology, routing, and serviceability considerations.
• Collaborate with Systems Integration, Propulsion, Validation, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program Management.
• Provide technical direction to suppliers and external engineering partners.
• Support prototype builds, validation testing, and production launch readiness.
• Develop electrical design standards, governance, and reusable design strategies.
• Ensure compliance with FMVSS, SAE, ISO, EMC, cybersecurity.

Skills

Electrical architecture

CAN/J1939/LIN

HV/LV integration

ECAD tools

System integration

Technical leadership

DFMEA/DVP&R

MBSE/architecture modeling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field

Tools

Siemens Capital

Zuken E3.series

AutoCAD Electrical

Vector CANalyzer

CANoe

CANape

Job description

About Blue Bird Corporation

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

JOB SUMMARY

The Lead Electrical Architecture Engineer is responsible for defining and implementing the electrical architecture for next-generation commercial vehicle platforms from concept through production launch. This role owns the vehicle electrical backbone, including low- and high-voltage power distribution, communication networks, electrical interfaces, wiring architecture, and system integration strategy. Working closely with the Systems & Integration engineering teams, this position ensures all electrical systems integrate seamlessly into the overall vehicle architecture while supporting manufacturability, serviceability, reliability, and future scalability.

The role provides technical leadership to internal engineering teams, suppliers, and external engineering partners while maintaining ownership of electrical architecture decisions, technical standards, interface definition, and design quality throughout the product lifecycle.

This is a high-impact technical leadership role for someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys building new architectures from a clean sheet, and wants meaningful ownership over the electrical foundation of an entirely new vehicle platform.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Electrical Architecture Ownership: Define and own the vehicle electrical architecture, including power distribution strategy, grounding philosophy, wiring topology, electrical interfaces, and system partitioning.
• Vehicle Network Architecture: Develop CAN, J1939, LIN, Automotive Ethernet, and future communication network architectures supporting propulsion, body controls, diagnostics, telematics, and vehicle systems.
• High-Voltage & Low-Voltage Integration: Lead integration of 12V/24V electrical systems and high-voltage propulsion architectures, including batteries, inverters, DC/DC converters, charging systems, and power electronics.
• Electrical Interface Definition: Develop and maintain electrical interface definitions, connector strategies, communication mappings, and integration requirements between vehicle systems and suppliers.
• Wiring & Harness Architecture: Define vehicle wiring architecture, harness topology, routing strategy, electrical protection, connector selection, and serviceability requirements.
• Cross-Functional Systems Integration: Partner with Systems Integration, Propulsion Integration, Vehicle Integration & Validation, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program Management teams to ensure electrical architecture supports vehicle-level integration and launch readiness.
• Supplier & External Engineering Leadership: Provide technical direction to suppliers and external engineering partners while maintaining ownership of electrical architecture, design quality, technical deliverables, and engineering decisions.
• Validation & Launch Support: Support prototype builds, validation testing, manufacturing launch, and early production by resolving electrical integration issues and ensuring production-ready system performance.
• Standards & Technical Governance: Develop electrical design standards, architecture guidelines, best practices, and reusable design strategies to improve engineering consistency and future platform scalability.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure electrical architectures comply with FMVSS, SAE, ISO, EMC, cybersecurity, and applicable commercial vehicle regulations and industry standards.
• Operate in Ambiguity: Create structure and drive execution in environments where requirements, technologies, and vehicle architectures are evolving simultaneously.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES FOR SUCCESS

• Deep understanding of vehicle electrical architecture and electrical systems integration
• Strong experience designing CAN, J1939, LIN, Automotive Ethernet, and multiplexed vehicle communication networks
• Experience developing high-voltage and low-voltage electrical architectures for commercial or automotive vehicle platforms
• Expertise with ECAD tools such as Siemens Capital, Zuken E3.series, AutoCAD Electrical, or equivalent
• Strong understanding of electrical distribution, grounding strategies, power management, and wiring architecture
• Experience developing wiring harness architecture, connector strategies, and electrical interface definitions
• Familiarity with Vector CANalyzer, CANoe, CANape, and electrical diagnostic tools
• Strong understanding of electrical DFMEA, DVP&R, requirements management, and systems integration methodologies
• Ability to provide technical leadership across internal engineering teams, suppliers, and outsourced engineering organizations
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and technical decision-making skills

BASIC EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field
• 8+ years of experience developing electrical architectures, vehicle electrical systems, or electrical integration for automotive, commercial vehicle, or heavy-duty vehicle platforms
• All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated experience defining vehicle electrical architecture, communication networks, and electrical integration strategies for production vehicle programs
• Experience leading cross-functional electrical integration activities through prototype development, validation, manufacturing launch, and production
• Experience working directly with suppliers and external engineering organizations
• Experience implementing multiplex electrical systems and distributed vehicle controls
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), SysML, or architecture modeling tools
• Familiarity with functional safety (ISO 26262), cybersecurity (ISO/SAE 21434), and ASPICE principles
• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline

WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO

• Takes ownership of complex technical challenges and drives them to resolution
• Thrives in ambiguity and enjoys creating new architectures from a clean sheet
• Operates with urgency while maintaining sound engineering judgment
• Thinks in systems, interfaces, and long-term platform strategy
• Can balance engineering rigor with manufacturing realities, supplier capabilities, and aggressive launch timing
• Can influence technical direction across cross-functional teams and external engineering partners without direct authority
• Wants meaningful ownership over the electrical architecture of an entirely new commercial vehicle platform

INCLUDES

• Continued Professional Development
• Benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays, vacation time and 401k matching

WORK CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office environment and production environment
• Must work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, cold and noise
• Fast-paced production area with moving objects and sheet metal
• Occasional periods of standing or sitting for extended periods of time
• You must wear appropriate PPE when and where required
• Frequent weeks working 40+ hours
• Frequent communication with people throughout the day

*The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Blue Bird is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We strive to have the best available talent in every job based on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities each person brings. Blue Bird is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Company operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination in all forms.

All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

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