Staff Software Engineer, Backend (Equipment Edge)

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 186,000 - 255,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity RSUs

Health coverage

Retirement savings

Time off and parental leave

Job summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies seeks a Staff Software Engineer to architect and build manufacturing applications bridging shop-floor devices and enterprise systems. The role is hybrid from Palo Alto, Irvine, CA or Normal, IL and reports to the Sr. Manager, Equipment and Execution Platform.

You will lead backend design, mentor engineers, and deliver scalable, secure data flows with real-time production insights across the manufacturing ecosystem.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of backend software development experience.
• BS in Computer Science, Computer/Electrical Engineering, or equivalent.
• Proficient in Golang with cloud app frameworks.
• Experience with industrial protocols and factory equipment integration.
• Embedded design for resource-constrained systems; RTOS familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership to a team of engineers and drive architectural decisions.
• Design and architect backend systems for equipment integration at scale.
• Mentor engineers and foster collaboration across teams.
• Solve complex technical challenges to optimize manufacturing processes.
• Champion code quality with reviews, docs, and testing standards.
• Identify performance bottlenecks and optimize backend performance.
• Communicate clearly with stakeholders about technical decisions.
• Own projects from inception to successful delivery.

Skills

Golang

Node.js

Python

C/C++

Embedded systems

REST/gRPC API design

Industrial protocols

Data streaming

Security best practices

SQL/NoSQL

CI/CD / Monitoring

Docker / Kubernetes

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

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 requires expertise in architecting and developing robust manufacturing applications that bridge the gap between shop-floor equipment and enterprise systems. The Staff Software Engineer will play a pivotal role in engineering scalable applications, ensuring seamless data flow, real-time control, and intelligent production insights across the manufacturing ecosystem. This is a hybrid role out of our Palo Alto, Irvine, CA or Normal, IL locations, and the person will report to the Sr. Manager, Equipment and Execution Platform.

Responsibilities

• Technical leadership: Provide technical leadership and guidance to a team of engineers, driving architectural decisions and ensuring the quality of the team's output.
• System design: Design and architect complex backend systems for equipment integration, considering scalability, performance, security, and maintainability.
• Mentorship and collaboration: Mentor and coach other engineers, fostering a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Problem-solving: Tackle complex technical challenges and provide innovative solutions to optimize manufacturing processes.
• Code quality: Champion code quality standards and best practices, conducting code reviews and ensuring the team's code is well-documented and testable.
• Performance optimization: Identify and address performance bottlenecks in backend systems, optimizing for speed and efficiency.
• Communication: Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders, clearly articulating technical concepts and decisions.
• Ownership: Take ownership of projects and initiatives, driving them to successful completion.

Qualifications

• Experience: 10+ years of professional software development experience with a strong focus on backend development.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Backend development: Mastery of at least one backend language (Golang (preferred), Node.js, Python, C, C++ and experience with frameworks and libraries for building cloud applications.
• Industrial protocols: Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (e.g. CIP, Modbus, MQTT) OPC UA and experience integrating with factory equipment (e.g. Programmable Logic Controllers, Robot controllers)
• Embedded design: Experience designing and developing firmware or software for resource-constrained embedded systems, including familiarity with hardware interfaces, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and debugging at the hardware level.
• API design: Experience designing and developing RESTful APIs, gRPC, including API documentation and versioning.
• Data processing: Strong understanding of data processing techniques and experience with message queues and stream processing (e.g.NATS, Kafka, RabbitMQ)
• Security: Knowledge of security best practices for backend systems and industrial environments.
• Databases: Proficiency in working with SQL and NoSQL databases.
• DevOps: Experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and monitoring tools.
• Edge computing: Experience with edge computing platforms and technologies, including containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).

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) 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.

Compensation Range: $186K - $255K