Sr. Embedded Software Engineer, Lighting

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 135,100 - 168,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonus

Equity eligibility

Local market benefits

Job summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is seeking a dedicated Sr. Embedded Software Engineer to develop lighting architecture for vehicles. The ideal candidate will excel in software and electrical engineering with a strong emphasis on lighting control systems.

This pivotal role involves substantial software development, mentoring junior engineers, and collaborating closely with system engineers. A full-time position offering competitive salary and benefits tailored to the market awaits the right candidate.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience working with automotive control systems, specifically in lighting.
• Expertise in writing scalable and maintainable code.
• Deep understanding of embedded systems and real-time operating systems.

Responsibilities

• Own software design and development for lighting systems.
• Lead software design for code scalability.
• Mentor junior engineers for quality code development.

Skills

C programming

Python

Embedded systems architecture

Automotive control systems

Agile methodologies

CAN/LIN/ETH tools

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or mechanical engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Vector CANalyzer

CANoe

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 Sr. Embedded Software Engineer to join our software development team. This role is integral to the development and integration of exterior and interior lighting architecture for Rivian and VW vehicle platforms. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in software and electrical engineering, with a focus on lighting control systems, and will demonstrate leadership in driving projects and mentoring junior engineers.

Responsibilities

• Own significant part of software design and development and testing for lighting systems (exterior and interior) for Rivian and VW vehicle platforms.
• Lead software design to ensure code scalability across platforms while accommodating requirements for future programs.
• Work closely with system engineering teams to ensure requirement accuracy and traceability to code and test cases.
• Participate in hardware design review, schematic reviews and ensure SW compatibility to incoming hardware changes.
• Mentor junior engineers to develop and deploy quality code that is optimized for RAM, compute and flash resources.
• Ensure hardware is brought up correctly and develop software functions with the given hardware (bench testing, board level SW verification).
• Develop a validation strategy, devise a plan, and spearhead the calibration process at the feature level to ensure the successful delivery of the complete vehicle feature set.
• Create and oversee the development of comprehensive test cases and scripts to validate features in Unit test, Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) test, and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test environments.
• Prioritize and escalated issues based on user impact and program objectives for prompt resolution, demonstrating strong decision‑making skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or mechanical engineering; Master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience working with automotive control systems. Experience writing code for lighting, graphic design, pixel rendering is a plus.
• Expertise in C programming languages as well as Python, with a focus on developing scalable and maintainable code. Linux experience is a plus.
• Deep understanding of embedded systems architecture and real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• In‑depth knowledge of data structures, microcontroller architectures, memory management and optimization techniques.
• Strong knowledge of software development lifecycle and methodologies, including Agile and Scrum. Experience with tools for requirements management, revision control, issue management systems like JIRA, JAMA, Git.
• Proficiency in CAN/LIN/ETH tools like Vector CANalyzer, CANoe, CANape, etc., along with a deep understanding of embedded hardware & software design.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% as required.

Total Rewards

Full‑time positions include base salary, eligibility for an annual performance bonus, and eligibility for equity. Salary range: $135.1K – $168.9K. 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 the 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].