Staff Embedded Software Engineer, Infotainment Connectivity

Rivian VW Group; Palo Alto, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian VW Group Technologies in Palo Alto seeks a Staff Embedded Software Engineer to advance the software stack for design verification of PCBAs & ECUs in infotainment/connectivity and vehicle access segments.

You will work with hardware teams to bring up boards, develop validation strategies, and debug across software and hardware layers, including high-performance SoCs.

Qualifications

• Bachelors or Masters in CS/Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of embedded software development experience.
• Strong C/C++ coding skills with exposure to automotive stacks.

Responsibilities

• Instrumental with board bring-up, verification, and debugging of automotive electronics.
• Familiarity with Linux build systems, device trees, and kernel driver development.
• Communicate crisply with peers, stakeholders, customers, and OEMs/ODMs.
• Develop and execute comprehensive validation strategies for ECU subsystems.
• Collaborate with hardware, validation, and other software teams to ensure seamless ECU integration.
• Troubleshoot complex software/hardware issues across organizations.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded Linux

QNX

DriveOS

Linux kernel

SoC experience

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

Lauterbach

Oscilloscope

JTAG

Flashing Tools

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're looking for a Staff level Embedded Software Engineer to join our team, focusing on the software stack for Design Verification of PCBAs & ECUs (Electronic Component Units) in current and previous-gen Infotainment/Connectivity & Vehicle Access Segments. This role offers a chance to collaborate with some of the brightest minds in developing embedded h/w + s/w stacks for the rapidly evolving EV industry.

Responsibilities

• Instrumental with board bring-up, verification, and debugging of automotive electronics.
• Familiarity with Linux build systems, device trees, and kernel driver development is essential.
• Ability to communicate crisply with peers, stakeholders, customers, technical leaders, and OEMs/ODMs.
• Validation & Testing: Develop and execute comprehensive validation strategies, Including: Stress Testing: Design and implement rigorous stress tests for critical ECU subsystems (CPU, GPU, NPU, Multimedia subsystems) to identify performance bottlenecks, thermal limitations, and ensure system stability under extreme loads. Performance Benchmarking: Analyze and optimize ECU system performance, identifying areas for improvement and implementing efficient solutions.
• Collaboration: Work closely with hardware engineers, Validation & Test Automation teams, and other software architects/engineers to ensure seamless ECU integration and delivery of high-quality products.
• Troubleshooting & Debugging: Identify and resolve complex software and hardware issues at the ECU level, utilizing various debugging tools and techniques, with an ability to work across organizations/teams.
• Documentation: Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for software designs, APIs, and test procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years' experience in Embedded Software Development.
• Platforms: Strong hands-on experience with high-performance SoCs such as Snapdragon, NVIDIA Orin, MediaTek, or similar platforms. Experience with automotive-grade SoCs is a significant plus.
• Operating Systems & Virtualization: Proficient in Embedded Linux, QNX, DriveOS, and experience with hypervisor-based systems (e.g., Type-1 hypervisors, Gunyah, ACRN etc.)
• Experience with Automotive Infotainment/Connectivity platforms preferably working with subsystems like Camera/Display, Memory/Storage Subsystem, GNSS, UWB, RF, A2B, BT Audio
• Good coding skills on C/C++.
• Good understanding of Linux/Android, kernel configuration, device driver interfaces, debugging tools, etc.
• Strong BSP and kernel bring-up expertise (Linux, U-Boot or equivalent bootloader)
• Excellent debugging skills with an ability to work across organizations/teams.
• Experience using Lauterbach, Oscilloscope, JTAG, Flashing Tools, etc.
• Good understanding of interface/communication protocol stacks (SPI, I2C, Ethernet, PCIe, CAN), and board bring-up.
• Experience with scripting languages (Python, shell). Preferred Skills:
• Knowledge of OS internals (process scheduler, memory management, concurrency, synchronization, storage).
• Experience with ARM cores and architecture.
• Experience with embedded toolchains (compilers, linkers, linker scripts).
• Experience with automotive communication protocols (e.g., CAN, Ethernet).
• Familiarity with functional safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262).
• Experience with continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for embedded systems.
• ISO 26262 functional safety awareness

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.

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) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service provider, 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.