Staff Vehicle Systems Engineer

Socket.dev; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies in Palo Alto seeks a highly experienced Vehicle Systems Engineer to lead the design, development, and integration of complex vehicle systems. You will coordinate hardware-software interfaces, establish system architectures, and drive end-to-end functionality across subsystems in a fast-paced, innovative environment.

The role emphasizes cross-functional leadership, robust communication, and proactive risk management to ensure safe, reliable electric

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in an engineering discipline.
• 6+ years of experience in systems engineering with leadership responsibility.
• Experience with vehicle or other complex integrated systems development.
• Understanding of mechanical, electrical, and software domains.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and communicate clearly.

Responsibilities

• Establish best practices for developing integrated vehicle systems, including requirements, architectures, and designs.
• Hold teams accountable for overall vehicle level requirements to enable subsystem decomposition.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure system compatibility and integration.
• Identify and mitigate potential risks in system designs.
• Communicate system risks to senior leadership to inform product plans.
• Decompose the vehicle system into subsystems and ensure end-to-end functionality.
• Lead system-wide analysis to meet vehicle level performance metrics during integration.
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional subsystem teams to deliver integrated subsystems and features.
• Arbitrate tradeoffs between vehicle and component-level requirements across domains.
• Work with feature champions to align user stories and resolve conflicting requirements.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure alignment on technical direction.

Skills

Systems engineering leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in engineering

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

At Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies, our mission revolves around developing vehicles powered by software and data. As a Vehicle Systems Engineer, you will be a crucial part of our team, working alongside engineers across various disciplines to design, develop, and integrate complex vehicle systems. You will play a key role in ensuring seamless interaction between hardware and software components, contributing to the overall performance, reliability, and safety of our electric vehicles. We leverage cutting-edge technology and a collaborative environment to achieve this.

We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced Vehicle Systems Engineer with broad technical expertise to ensure seamless integration and harmonization across various vehicle subsystems. If you thrive in a fast-paced, innovative environment and are passionate about shaping the future of mobility, this is the perfect opportunity to make a significant impact by contributing to the next generation of electric vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Establish best practices for developing integrated vehicle systems, including requirements, architectures, and designs
• Hold teams accountable for overall vehicle level requirements to enable subsystem decomposition and development
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (hardware, software, etc.) to ensure system compatibility and seamless subsystem integration
• Identify and mitigate potential risks in system designs
• Communicate system risks to senior leadership to inform product plans
• Decompose the vehicle system into subsystems and ensure end-to-end functionality
• Lead system wide analysis to ensure vehicle level performance metrics are met during integration
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional subsystem teams to deliver integrated subsystems and features
• Arbitrate tradeoffs between vehicle and component-level requirements and across different domains
• Work with feature champions to align user stories and resolve conflicting requirements
• Collaborate with key stakeholders (customers, engineers, business partners and leadership) to ensure all are informed and aligned on the technical direction

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in an engineering discipline
• 6+ years of experience in systems engineering with experience in a leadership role
• Experience with vehicle or similarly complex integrated systems development and launches
• In-depth understanding of mechanical, electrical, and software domains
• Ability to lead and work effectively in cross-functional teams
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills

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.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use your Candidate Personal Data for contact 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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