Staff Electrical Systems Engineer
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is seeking a Staff Engineer to own the electrical architecture across LV/HV domains for US-based programs. You will define topology, allocate devices, and ensure full traceability from system to components.
You will lead hardware‑driven software requirements, review schematics, and drive validation plans across SIL/HIL and vehicle testing, partnering with suppliers and internal teams.
Qualifications
- BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- ~8+ years in electrical systems engineering on automotive or comparable complex embedded products.
- Ownership of an electrical system or domain through a full development cycle.
- Expertise in LV/HV power systems, electrical distribution, and wiring harness design.
- Requirements decomposition, interface definition, and validation coverage.
- Experience developing and negotiating technical requirements with component suppliers.
- Working knowledge of vehicle networks (CAN, CAN‑FD, LIN, Automotive Ethernet).
- Familiarity with ISO 26262 functional safety as applied to electrical systems.
Responsibilities
- Own the electrical architecture for assigned domains: LV/HV power distribution, harness strategy, and electrical interface definitions.
- Define zonal topology inputs and allocate devices to zonal controllers.
- Define LV power architecture: supply strategy, DC‑DC converters, eFuses; bus management and fault handling.
- Develop mission profiles and accessory power requirements, including load budgets and quiescent current targets.
- Decompose vehicle- and system-level specs into subsystem/interface requirements with full traceability.
- Develop and negotiate requirements with component suppliers and internal owners.
- Define hardware-driven software requirements for embedded teams.
- Review schematics for conformance to the architecture.
- Develop and execute validation plans across unit, SIL, HIL, and vehicle testing.
- Lead root cause analysis and resolution of electrical issues.
- Evaluate next‑generation technologies and support R&D to mature them.
- Align electrical system boundaries with vehicle systems and software teams.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
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.
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.
RV Tech — the Rivian and Volkswagen Group joint venture — builds the electrical and electronic foundation of a software‑defined vehicle platform used by both partner OEMs. Our Electrical Systems Hardware Engineering group owns the vehicle’s electrical system architecture and domain definition. As a Staff engineer, you own the architecture and integration of several electrical domains on US‑based programs, covering both electrical system definition and low‑voltage power distribution.
- Own the electrical architecture for your assigned domains: low‑and high‑voltage (LV/HV) power distribution, harness strategy, and electrical interface definitions
- Define zonal topology inputs — zonal ECU count and placement — and allocate devices and device I/O to zonal controllers
- Define LV power architecture: supply strategy across batteries, DC‑DC converters, and eFuses; bus management, power modes, and fault handling
- Develop mission profiles and accessory power requirements, including load budgets and quiescent current targets
- Decompose vehicle‑ and system‑level specifications into subsystem, component, and zonal interface requirements with full traceability
- Develop and negotiate requirements with component suppliers and internal component owners
- Define hardware‑driven software requirements for embedded software teams
- Review schematics for conformance to the defined architecture
- Develop and execute validation plans across unit, software‑in‑the‑loop (SIL), hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL), and vehicle‑level testing
- Lead root cause analysis and resolution of electrical issues through development and validation
- Evaluate and recommend next‑generation technologies, and support the R&D needed to mature them
- Align electrical system boundaries with vehicle systems and software teams, and confirm designs scale across both Rivian and Volkswagen Group programs
Minimum Qualifications:
- BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
- ~8+ years in electrical systems engineering on automotive or comparable complex embedded products
- Ownership of an electrical system or domain through a full development cycle
- Expertise in LV/HV power systems, electrical distribution, and wiring harness design
- Requirements decomposition, interface definition, and validation coverage
- Experience developing and negotiating technical requirements with component suppliers
- Working knowledge of vehicle networks (CAN, CAN‑FD, LIN, Automotive Ethernet)
- Familiarity with ISO 26262 functional safety as applied to electrical systems
- Zonal or centralized E/E architecture experience on a production program
- eFuse or solid‑state power distribution, DC‑DC converter sizing, or 12V/48V bus design
- Power mode and sleep/wake state machine specification
- Circuit simulation for load, transient, and fault analysis (SPICE, Saber, or equivalent)
- Electrical design tooling
- MS in Electrical Engineering or a related field
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.
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 candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.
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.
Compensation Range: $171.1K - $235.3K
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