Sr. Vehicle Electrical Control Systems (VECS) Engineer

Polaris Inc; Novi (MI); On-site; USD 96,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

Polaris Inc. seeks a Senior Vehicle Electrical Control Systems (VECS) Engineer to own Off‑Road Vehicle electrical features from concept to vehicle realization.

You will lead cross‑functional teams, align stakeholders, and translate customer needs into clear feature behavior and testable requirements. You will use MATLAB/Simulink, Stateflow, and other tools to evaluate concepts, drive model‑based development, and ensure feature readiness.

Qualifications

• Translate customer or product needs into clear technical behavior and requirements.
• Define and manage feature behavior, acceptance criteria and technical direction.
• Author testable, traceable feature and function requirements.

Responsibilities

• Own electrical features from concept through vehicle realization.
• Define customer experiences and align stakeholders on feature behavior.
• Develop architectures, interfaces, and traceability for requirements.
• Create prototypes and support model-based development.
• Lead DFMEA, safety, cybersecurity, and regulatory engagements.
• Develop system‑level test cases and vehicle calibration.
• Contribute to VECS standards and best practices.

Skills

Systems engineering

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Requirements translation

Model-based engineering

Hands-on vehicle work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer/Systems Engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Stateflow

Codebeamer

Jama

PTC RV&S

DOORS

CANoe

CANalyzer

Job description

At Polaris Inc., we have fun doing what we love by driving change and innovation. We empower employees to take on challenging assignments and roles with an elevated level of responsibility in our agile working environment. Our people make us who we are, and we create incredible products and experiences that empower us to THINK OUTSIDE.

Position Overview

As a Senior Vehicle Electrical Control Systems (VECS) Engineer at Polaris, you will own assigned Off-Road Vehicle electrical features from concept through integrated vehicle realization. This role combines systems engineering, model-based engineering, cross-functional technical leadership, and hands‑on vehicle development to translate customer and product needs into clear feature behavior, requirements, models, implementation plans, and testable functionality. Working with product owners, architects, component owners, validation, manufacturing, service, safety, cybersecurity, regulatory, and program teams, you will align technical direction and drive feature readiness. Your work will directly influence the functionality and rider experience of Polaris Off-Road Vehicles.

Key Responsibilities

• Own assigned electrical features from concept through vehicle realization, including feature intent, requirements, cross‑functional execution, integration, and readiness.
• Define intended customer experiences and align product and engineering stakeholders on feature behavior, tradeoffs, acceptance criteria, and technical direction.
• Author and maintain clear, testable, and traceable feature and function requirements that translate stakeholder goals into engineering expectations.
• Develop logical behavior, functional architectures, interfaces, and requirement traceability using Codebeamer or similar requirements‑management tools.
• Use MATLAB/Simulink, Stateflow, and other modeling or simulation methods to evaluate concepts, identify edge cases, improve requirements, and support model‑based development.
• Lead cross‑functional technical execution with component owners, validation, manufacturing, service, and vehicle program teams to deliver assigned features.
• Create virtual or physical prototypes when useful to make concepts tangible, accelerate decisions, and validate the user experience.
• Lead feature risk and compliance activities, including DFMEAs and engagement with functional safety, cybersecurity, regulatory, and intellectual‑property teams.
• Develop system‑level test cases and integration plans, and perform vehicle testing, calibration, CAN‑data analysis, issue triage, and production‑readiness assessments.
• Contribute to VECS engineering standards, guidelines, best practices, and templates that support continuous improvement.

Desired Competencies

• Leadership: You inspire, guide, and empower others to achieve their best by setting clear direction, fostering trust, and creating an environment where people feel supported, motivated, and accountable for delivering results.
• Communication: You clearly convey information, ideas, and expectations to diverse audiences, adjusting your message to ensure understanding and alignment.
• Technical / Functional Expertise: You apply the required technical or professional knowledge to perform your role effectively and stay current within your area of expertise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Ability to translate ambiguous customer or business needs into clear technical behavior, decisions, and actionable requirements.
• Strong communication and technical leadership skills, including the ability to facilitate alignment and move cross‑functional teams toward decisions.
• Experience with requirements development, systems engineering, functional decomposition, interface definition, or requirements‑management tools.
• Experience with model‑based engineering tools or methods such as MATLAB/Simulink, Stateflow, SysML, or UML.
• Working knowledge of CAN‑based embedded systems, the ability to use vehicle‑network data to diagnose behavior, and willingness to work hands‑on with vehicles, test equipment, software tools, and incomplete early‑development systems.
• Experience in powersports, automotive, commercial vehicle, off‑highway, aerospace, robotics, or another complex embedded‑system industry is preferred.
• Experience with Codebeamer, Jama, PTC RV&S, DOORS, or a comparable requirements‑management platform is preferred.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink and Stateflow, including controls modeling, simulation, or automated analysis, is preferred.
• Experience with vehicle‑network and verification tools or methods, including Vector CANalyzer or CANoe, CAPL, J1939, UDS, CAN FD, diagnostics, calibration, log‑data analysis, vehicles, benches, Model‑in‑the‑Loop, Software‑in‑the‑Loop, or System‑HIL environments, is preferred.
• Experience with feature‑level DFMEA, HARA, functional safety, cybersecurity, regulatory or technical design reviews; embedded controller concepts; or programming in MATLAB, Python, C, C++, or a similar language is preferred.
• This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

The starting pay range for Minnesota is $96,000 to $127,000 per year. Individual salaries and positioning within the range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geography. While individual pay could fall anywhere in the range based on these factors, it is not common to start at the high end or top of the range.

To qualify for this position, former employees must be eligible for rehire, and current employees must be in good standing.

We are an ambitious, resourceful, and driven workforce, which empowers us to THINK OUTSIDE.

At Polaris we put our employees first, by offering a holistic approach to their health and financial wellbeing. Polaris is proud to offer competitive compensation, including a market‑leading profit‑sharing plan that is fundamental to our pay‑for‑performance culture.At Polaris, employees are owners of the company through company contributions to our Employee Stock Ownership Plan and discounted employee stock purchases plan. Employees receive a generousmatching contribution to 401(k), financial wellness education and consultation to plan for their financial future. In addition to competitive pay, Polaris provides a comprehensive suite of benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, wellness programs, paid time off, gym & personal training reimbursement, life insurance and disability offerings. Through the Polaris Foundation and our Polaris Gives paid volunteer time off, we support employees who actively volunteer their time, efforts, and passions to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities in which they live, play and work. Employees at Polaris drive our success and are rewarded for their commitment.

About Polaris

As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris’ high‑quality product line‑up includes the Polaris RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side‑by‑side off‑road vehicles; Sportsman® all‑terrain off‑road vehicles; military and commercial off‑road vehicles; snowmobiles; Slingshot® moto‑roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry‑leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe. www.polaris.com

EEO Statement

Polaris Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will make all employment‑related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Applicants with a disability that are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, or otherwise need assistance or an accommodation in the recruiting process, should contact Human Resources at 800-765-2747 or [e-mail]. To read more about employment discrimination protection under U.S. federal law, see: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (eeoc.gov).