Staff Embedded Software Engineer, Functional Safety

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 171,000 - 214,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is seeking a Staff Embedded Software Engineer specializing in Functional Safety to design and implement platform-level software for embedded systems. You will act as a functional safety representative across software, hardware, mechanical and manufacturing teams, applying ISO 26262 concepts to ensure safety goals throughout the product lifecycle.

The role requires strong C skills, RTOS experience, and hands-on work with multi-threaded, multi-core embedded

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of professional experience focused on functional safety in automotive, aerospace, industrial, or equivalent sectors.
• Strong proficiency in C programming.
• Hands-on experience with embedded software development and microcontroller-based systems.
• Experience with RTOS-based development.
• Experience with multi-threaded and multi-core programming.
• Experience developing systems in accordance with ISO 26262:2018, particularly Parts 5 and 11, or IEC 61508, particularly Parts 1, 2, and 3.
• Practical experience with safety requirements, technical safety concepts, FMEDA, FTA, and DFA.

Responsibilities

• Implement platform-level embedded software and functional safety components.
• Design and implement technical safety requirements at the software level.
• Represent functional safety in cross-functional discussions with software, hardware, mechanical, systems, and manufacturing teams.
• Evaluate safety requirements, technical safety concepts, FMEDA, FTA, and DFA against functional safety objectives.
• Develop software for microcontrollers using C and real-time operating systems.
• Design and develop multi-threaded and multi-core embedded software.
• Develop verification and validation methods for software safety requirements.
• Write test procedures and support testing of hardware subsystems and safety mechanisms.
• Document safety requirements, analyses, architecture, implementation, verification, and validation activities for each subsystem.
• Collaborate effectively in a fast-paced development environment.
• Help move concepts from the R&D phase into robust, production-ready products.

Skills

C programming

Embedded software development

RTOS development

Multi-threaded programming

Multi-core programming

ISO 26262 familiarity

Safety concepts & analyses

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

RTOS

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

As a Staff Embedded Software Engineer specializing in Functional Safety, you will implement platform-level software and safety components for embedded systems. You will design and implement software-level technical safety requirements and serve as a functional safety representative across software, hardware, mechanical, and manufacturing teams. You will apply functional safety expertise to evaluate safety requirements, technical safety concepts, FMEDA, FTA, and DFA, helping ensure that system safety goals are achieved throughout the product lifecycle—from research and development through production.

Responsibilities

• Implement platform-level embedded software and functional safety components.
• Design and implement technical safety requirements at the software level.
• Represent functional safety in cross-functional discussions with software, hardware, mechanical, systems, and manufacturing teams.
• Evaluate safety requirements, technical safety concepts, FMEDA, FTA, and DFA against functional safety objectives.
• Develop software for microcontrollers using C and real-time operating systems.
• Design and develop multi-threaded and multi-core embedded software.
• Develop verification and validation methods for software safety requirements.
• Write test procedures and support testing of hardware subsystems and safety mechanisms.
• Document safety requirements, analyses, architecture, implementation, verification, and validation activities for each subsystem.
• Collaborate effectively in a fast-paced development environment.
• Help move concepts from the R&D phase into robust, production-ready products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of professional experience focused on functional safety in the automotive, aerospace, industrial, or equivalent sectors.
• Strong proficiency in C programming.
• Hands-on experience with embedded software development and microcontroller-based systems.
• Experience with RTOS-based development.
• Experience with multi-threaded and multi-core programming.
• Experience developing systems in accordance with ISO 26262:2018, particularly Parts 5 and 11, or IEC 61508, particularly Parts 1, 2, and 3.
• Practical experience with safety requirements, technical safety concepts, FMEDA, FTA, and DFA.

Demonstrated experience collaborating across hardware, software, mechanical, and manufacturing teams on safety engineering projects.

Experience with automated requirements-management and issue-tracking tools. Strong communication, documentation, and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with AI-enabled engineering flows as applied to automotive functional safety.
• Experience taking embedded safety concepts from research and development through product launch.
• Experience with software verification and validation for safety-critical systems.
• Experience supporting hardware subsystem testing and safety mechanism verification.

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 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.

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.

Compensation Range: $171K - $213.9K