Systems Designer III (L5)

Daimler Truck North America; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Daimler Truck North America is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to drive system design leadership across the vehicle development process. You will derive high-level requirements from use cases, govern the Abstract Effect Chain, and guide feature owners through MS0/MS1 phases in a hybrid Portland, OR setting.

The role demands strong collaboration across global teams, robust analytical thinking, and expertise in DOORS Next Gen and JIRA, with a Bachelor’s degree and 5–7 years in automotive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering with 5–7 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in the automotive organization and the V-model process across the product lifecycle.
• Analytical thinker who can solve complex problems with minimal guidance.
• Understanding of Daimler Truck product portfolio.
• Knowledge of function-based systems approach.
• Understanding of top-level vehicle and legal requirements.
• Ability to model abstract system design such as AECs.
• Moderate critical situations between system owners and component owners.
• Strong cross-functional communication and ownership mindset.
• Experience with DOORS Next Gen or similar requirements tool and JIRA-driven environments.

Responsibilities

• Derive high-level functional requirements from use cases.
• Lead development and governance of Abstract Effect Chain (AEC) as foundational system design artifacts.
• Review feature Use Cases and provide technical guidance to Feature Owner.
• Create and maintain initial AEC structures and AEC parts; define impacted systems; govern the AEC part library.
• Transition completed AECs to Feature Owners for downstream SE activities.
• Support Milestone 0 (MS0) and Milestone 1 (MS1) by clarifying use cases and system interactions.
• Drive and document system allocation change requests with AEC Owner/System Owners.
• Manage intake and assessment of Customer Value Criteria (CVCs) and Legal/Regulatory Requirements.
• Allocate functional requirements to appropriate systems.
• Collaborate with global Systems Designers to manage the Daimler Truck system architecture portfolio.
• Identify needs for new system creation and propose portfolio updates.
• Review and improve systems boundaries and scope definitions.
• Promote system landscape visibility across the global organization.

Skills

System Design

Requirements Management

Cross-functional Collaboration

V-Model Knowledge

Stakeholder Management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

DOORS Next Gen

JIRA

Job description

Inside the Role

The Vehicle Level Engineering Department is built on four core values: Respect, Pioneering, Tenacity & Excellence. We work together in an environment of genuine trust, inclusivity and belonging. Robust product development is our passion, we take pride in seeing our trucks on the road for their progressive design, ease of use and purpose built engineering. Our commitment to innovation results in products that our customers, drivers, and operators crave. We are relentless in the pursuit of breakthrough processes and tools to accelerate the ultimate customer focused solutions to the market.

If you are creative and passionate about solving hard problems and want to make a difference for those who keep the world moving – we want to hear from you!

We are looking for energetic engineer ready to develop the next iteration of industry leading Commercial Vehicles. The Systems Engineering (SE) team is responsible to intake development requests and process those through our Systems Engineering teams to deliver reliable, robust and industry leading solutions. This role will be a front seat to the entire development process of customer requests to product execution in vehicles. The ideal candidate will bring a fresh perspective to DTNA with a hunger for diving into our development process and having their fingerprints on all our products.

What You Drive at DTNA

System Design Leadership

• Derive high-level functional requirements from use cases
• Lead the development and governance of Abstract Effect Chain (AEC) as foundational system design artifacts
• Review feature Use Cases (UC) and provide technical guidance and feedback to Feature Owner
• Create and maintain initial AEC structures and AEC parts, define impacted systems, and govern the AEC part library (reuse, naming conventions, split/merge, and consistency)
• Transition completed AECs to Feature Owners for downstream Systems Engineering activities
• Support Feature Owners and System Owners during Milestone 0 (MS0) and Milestone 1 (MS1) by providing clarification on use cases, system interactions, and AEC content
• Drive and document system allocation change requests and facilitate agreement with AEC Owner/System Owners.

Requirement Management & System Allocation

• Manage intake and assessment of Customer Value Criteria (CVCs) and Legal / Regulatory Requirements
• Allocate functional requirements to appropriate systems

Global Systems Portfolio Management

• Collaborate with global Systems Designers to manage and evolve the Daimler Truck system architecture portfolio.
• Identify needs for new system creation and propose updates to the Daimler Truck Systems portfolio
• Review, maintain and improve systems boundaries & systems scope definitions
• Communicate and promote system landscape visibility across the global organization to ensure consistency and alignment

Process & Tooling Excellenc"e

• Assist global Systems Engineering team in the continuous improvement of systems engineering processes, methods and tools
• May lead team or department projects or work streams within broader projects
• Act as an advisor to management and key external stakeholders on job field-related projects
• Use experience to contribute to standards in which others will operate

Knowledge You Should Bring

• Requires a Bachelors Degree in Engineering with 5-7 years of relevant experience
• Experience in the automotive organization and the general V-model process and how it is used in the product lifecycle from end to end
• Uses analytical thought to solve complex problems with minimal guidance and identify solutions independently
• Understanding of the Daimler Truck product portfolio
• Possess basic knowledge of function based systems approach
• Understanding of top-level general vehicle and legal requirements
• Understand knowledge of complex development processes e.g., V-model
• Ability to model abstract effect chains or similar System Design models
• Ability to moderate critical situations / conflicting goals of system owners and component owners
• Strong cross-functional communication and ownership mindset
• Ability to abstract between logical and physical implementation
• Experience with DOORS Next Gen or similar requirements management tool and JIRA driven environments

Where We Work

This position is open to applicants who can work in (or relocate to) the following location(s)-

Portland, OR US. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

Schedule Type:

Hybrid (4 days per week in-office / 1 day remote). This schedule builds our #OneTeamBestTeam culture, provides an unparalleled customer experience, and creates innovative solutions through in-person collaboration.

At Daimler Truck North America, we recognize our world is changing faster than ever before. By listening to the needs of today, we’re building to solve with cutting‑edge solutions in sustainability and future driving technology across electric, hydrogen and autonomous. These solutions, backed by years of innovative success and achievement, continue DTNA’s legacy as the undisputed industry leader. Our evolving brand portfolio is second to none, including Freightliner Trucks, Western Star, Demand Detroit, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis, and Financial Services. Together, we work as one team towards our envisioned future – building a cleaner, safer and more efficient tomorrow for all.

That is what we are working toward - for all who keep the world moving.

Additional Information

• This position is not open for Visa sponsorship or to existing Visa holders
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country the position is located in at the time of application
• Final candidate must successfully complete a criminal background check
• Final candidate may be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen
• Contractors, professional services, or other contingent workers should confirm with their local agency if they are eligible to apply for FTE positions
• EEO - Disabled/Veterans

Daimler Truck North America is committed to workforce inclusion and providing an environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, age, marital status, family relationship, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (including transgender and transitioning status), genetic information, or veteran status.

For an accommodation or special assistance with applying for a posted position, please contact our Human Resources department at 503-745-8982 or toll free 800-206-3369. For TTY/TDD enabled call 503-745-2137 or toll free 866-355-6935.