Staff Backend Engineer – Vehicle Access Cloud

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonus

Equity eligibility

Local market benefits

Job summary

Rivian VW Group is seeking a Staff Software Engineer to design and maintain cloud backend systems for Vehicle Access Software. This role involves leading architectural decisions, mentoring juniors, and collaborating with teams to deliver high-performance solutions.

Ideal candidates have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science with 8+ years of software engineering experience, proficiency in Go, Python, or Java, and hands-on experience with cloud platforms and Kubernetes. The position offers competitive rewards in a diverse work environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8+ years of software engineering experience in the automotive or related industry.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms and Kubernetes.
• Familiarity with CCC Digital Key infrastructure and cybersecurity best practices preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, implementation, and deployment of backend components for vehicle access software.
• Develop APIs for secure data exchange.
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize processes for functionality.

Skills

Proficiency in Go

Proficiency in Python

Proficiency in Java

Strong DevOps skills

Excellent problem-solving skills

Effective communication skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field

Tools

Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure)

Kubernetes

Cloud HSM environments

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

The Staff Software Engineer will play a critical role in designing, developing, and maintaining cloud backend systems that support Vehicle Access Software across the entire vehicle lineup. This role is responsible for ensuring the secure, efficient, and reliable integration of user identity, access mechanisms, and vehicle systems. As a staff engineer, you will lead architectural decisions, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, high-performance solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and deployment of backend components for vehicle access software across various vehicle models.

• Develop APIs for secure data exchange between various backend micro services, mobile devices and embedded systems.

• Ensure the scalability, reliability, performance, and security of services.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams—including product management, cloud engineers, embedded software developers, mobile engineers, and cybersecurity experts—to integrate various connected services.

• Partner with mobile device OEMs to integrate the software with their platforms.

• Provide technical guidance, mentor junior engineers, and conduct code reviews.

• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize processes to ensure seamless functionality in real-world conditions.

• Create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including architectural designs, API specifications, system integration guides, and automated tests.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.

• 8+ years of software engineering experience, with a focus on building high-performance microservices in the automotive or related industry.

• Proficiency in Go, Python, or Java.

• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) and Kubernetes, as well as Cloud HSM environments.

• Strong DevOps skills for deploying scalable services on AWS or other leading cloud platforms.

• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work both independently and in a team environment.

• Effective communication skills for collaborating across engineering and business teams.

• Familiarity with CCC Digital Key infrastructure, Identity Management Systems, and cybersecurity best practices (preferred).

Total Rewards

We build the exceptional — and we believe the people doing that work should be rewarded accordingly. In addition to a competitive base salary, full-time positions may be is eligible to participate in our annual company performance bonus program.

Payments are discretionary and not guaranteed; actual amounts depend on company results and the terms of the plan in effect, and require active employment at the time of payout. This role is also eligible for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and the terms of our equity incentive plans, including applicable vesting requirements.

In addition to our compensation programs, we invest in our people with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, wellbeing, and financial future for full-time employees — including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs. Offerings vary by country. Learn more about our global benefit programs.

External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site (https://rivianvw.tech/#careers). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board.

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].

Candidate Data Privacy

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.

--

Please note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.