Staff OBD System Development Engineer

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 171,100 - 213,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonus

Equity

Benefits tailored to local market

Job summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is seeking a diagnostic systems expert responsible for defining and integrating OBD coverage across vehicle sub-systems. You will work with software, hardware, manufacturing, service, quality and reliability teams to implement robust diagnostic solutions and verifiable requirements.

The role requires hands-on engineering experience with vehicle electrical architectures and diag protocols, plus strong collaboration and communication skills.

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics or Software).
• 8+ years in an engineering role; level negotiable based on experience.
• Experience with OBD II and diagnostic standards.
• Knowledge of vehicle electrical architecture and CAN/CANFD, ETH, LIN, UART, SENT.
• Experience with requirements and systems engineering, and E/E architecture.
• Hands-on with electromechanical vehicle systems.

Responsibilities

• Define diagnostic system coverage requirements from stakeholder inputs.
• Develop diagnostic monitoring strategies and architecture.
• Interface between domain software teams and diagnostic software, manufacturing, and service.
• Verify requirements and designs to ensure correct functionality.
• Organize feedback from manufacturing, service and engineering for improvements.
• Support technical integration at manufacturing plants for OBD.
• Deliver cross-program diagnostic support across Rivian and VWG Technologies platforms.
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned.

Skills

OBD II

Systems engineering

Requirements engineering

Python

C

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

BS in Engineering

Tools

Gitlab

Job description

Role Summary

This role will be the diagnostic system expert to one or more of the vehicle sub‑systems to ensure appropriate requirements definition, software development, and implementation within that domain. You will work directly with that domain’s software development team to identify and integrate necessary diagnostic system coverage to support the needs of engineering, manufacturing and service. You will serve as the integrator between multiple stakeholder groups including software and hardware engineering, manufacturing, service, quality, reliability, functional safety, homologation, and the broader diagnostic development team.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the subject matter expert within one or more vehicle sub‑systems driving diagnostic system development of that domain’s onboard diagnostic (OBD) system.
• Serve as the primary interface between your domain’s software development team and diagnostic software, manufacturing, and service.
• Define diagnostic system coverage requirements for your sub‑system based on stakeholder inputs, DFMEA and PFMEA.
• Develop diagnostic monitoring strategies for your domain including detailed requirements definition, algorithm development, and architectural design.
• Work with your domain’s software development team to ensure correct implementation of all diagnostic system requirements.
• Ensure complete verification of requirements and architectural design to ensure correct system functionality.
• Organize feedback from the manufacturing plant, service, and engineering to facilitate continued diagnostic system improvement and drive the update of requirements and implementation.
• Support technical integration of your domain at the manufacturing plant as relates to the onboard diagnostic system.
• Perform above tasks in support of all programs currently in the field and in future development across all of Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies' platforms.
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned and best practice methodologies.

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering (preferably Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or Software related discipline).
• 8+ years of experience in an engineering role (level negotiable based on experience).
• Experience in OBD II.
• Experience with Requirements Engineering, Systems Engineering, and E/E Architecture tasks.
• Technical understanding of electrical vehicle architecture.
• Hands‑on working capability with electromechanical (vehicle) systems.
• Effective ability to troubleshoot and root cause complex systems.
• Familiarity with vehicle communication protocols (CAN, CANFD, ETH, LIN, UART, SENT, etc.).
• Familiarity with all layers of diagnostic communication protocols (ISO‑14229‑x, SAE J1979‑x, ISO‑15031, ISO 15765‑x, ISO 13400‑x, etc.).
• Familiarity with diagnostic standards (SAE J2012, SAE J1979, SAE J1930, SAE J1962, SAE J1978, etc.).
• Familiarity with C and Python.
• Familiarity with Gitlab.
• Experience in security, functional safety, and telematics is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems and deliver technical projects.
• Ability to collaborate with multiple cross‑functional disciplines, including external stakeholders.
• Ability to think fast, prioritize, and make decisions that benefit Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies as a whole using a first‑principles approach.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.

Total Rewards

Full‑time positions include base salary, eligibility for an annual performance bonus, and eligibility for equity. In addition to base salary, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies offers benefits tailored to the local market.

Compensation Range: $171.1K - $213.9K

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.