Staff OBD System Development Engineer

Rivian VW Group; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Performance bonus

Job summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is seeking a diagnostic systems expert to define and implement coverage across vehicle sub-systems, collaborating with software, hardware, manufacturing and service teams. You will translate stakeholder needs into concrete OBD requirements and verification plans.

You will drive diagnostics architecture, monitoring strategies, and integration at manufacturing sites, contributing to multiple programs across Rivian and VW platforms.

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or Software).
• 8+ years in an engineering role with automotive/diagnostics focus.
• Experience in OBD II and diagnostic standards.
• Experience with Requirements and Systems Engineering, and E/E Architecture tasks.
• Understanding of electrical vehicle architecture and on‑board diagnostics.

Responsibilities

• Serve as subject matter expert for one or more vehicle sub-systems' OBD and diagnostic system development.
• Interface between domain software development and diagnostic software, manufacturing, and service.
• Define diagnostic coverage requirements from stakeholder inputs and DFMEA/PFMEA.
• Develop diagnostic monitoring strategies: requirements, algorithms, architecture.
• Ensure correct implementation of diagnostic system requirements with software teams.
• Verify requirements and architecture for correct system functionality.
• Facilitate feedback from manufacturing, service, and engineering to improve diagnostics.
• Support technical integration at manufacturing plants for OBD systems.
• Contribute to multiple Rivian and VW Group Technologies programs and future developments.
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned.

Skills

Diagnostic expertise

Problem solving

Cross‑functional collaboration

Communication (verbal & written)

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

Tools

CAN/CANFD protocols

ISO/SAE diagnostic standards

Gitlab

Python

C

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

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. For more information on the benefits available for full‑time employees, check out our Global Benefits Site.

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.

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