Wireless Software Engineer, WiFi

Rivian VW Group; Palo Alto, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSU equity

Comprehensive health benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is seeking a senior wireless software engineer to advance Wi‑Fi in our next‑generation platform. You will work on the Android‑based Wi‑Fi stack, connect‑management, and network‑layer features across the vehicle’s connected ecosystem.

The role requires deep expertise in 802.11, Linux networking, and vendor collaboration, with a focus on production readiness and cross‑functional impact. A strong, proactive communicator will thrive here.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of embedded software experience with substantial depth in Wi‑Fi.
• Strong experience with the Android Wi‑Fi stack (Wi‑Fi framework/APIs, wpa_supplicant, hostapd, and the vendor HAL boundary).
• Strong C/C++ skills, with working comfort in Java/Kotlin at the Android framework layer.
• Solid Linux networking fundamentals: IPv6, routing, iptables/netfilter, DHCP/DNS.
• Solid 802.11 protocol knowledge (n/ac/ax), including AP and station operation and WPA2/WPA3.
• Proven wireless debugging skills: OTA sniffer captures, framework and driver logs, methodical debugging across stack.
• Experience collaborating with Wi‑Fi silicon or module vendors on issue resolution and feature enablement.
• Clear written communication and the ability to lead technical work across teams.

Responsibilities

• Bring up and enable Wi‑Fi on our next‑generation platform through the Android Wi‑Fi stack and validate behavior.
• Own the connection‑management logic behind wireless projection and meet CarPlay/Android Auto specs.
• Own the network‑management layer for the Wi‑Fi subsystem, including IPv6 and firewall rules.
• Design for RF realities: channel selection, DFS, concurrent APs, antenna sharing.
• Isolate and drive driver‑ and firmware‑level issues with silicon/modules; reproduce traces and validate fixes.
• Lead Wi‑Fi Alliance certification readiness and coordinate with test labs.

Skills

Wi‑Fi embedded

Android Wi‑Fi stack

C/C++

Linux networking

802.11 knowledge

Wireless debugging

Vendor collaboration

Written communication

Tools

Hostapd

wpa_supplicant

DFX/driver debugging

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

Wireless phone projection is one of the most visible connectivity features in the vehicle, and it lives or dies on the Wi‑Fi and networking layers underneath it. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto place demanding requirements on the vehicle: SoftAP hosting and session setup, strict connection timing and retry behavior defined by the CarPlay and Android Auto specifications, country code transitions across the wide range of global regulatory domains our vehicles ship in, and correct IPv6, routing, and firewall behavior, all in an RF‑constrained automotive environment where antennas are shared between Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth.

Most of this work sits above the vendor driver and firmware. You’ll drive the Wi‑Fi subsystem through the Android Wi‑Fi framework, with targeted vendor‑level integration where Android’s abstractions don’t suffice, and you’ll own the connection‑management and network‑management behavior that projection depends on. When issues surface at the driver or firmware level, you’ll isolate them, analyze the evidence, and work them to resolution with our silicon and module vendors. You’ll be a technical authority the rest of the org leans on for Wi‑Fi, working closely with platform, integration, infotainment, and certification teams.

Responsibilities

• Bring up and enable Wi‑Fi on our next‑generation platform through the Android Wi‑Fi stack (framework APIs, supplicant/hostapd configuration, HAL/vendor integration where needed), and validate behavior on bench and vehicle.
• Own the connection‑management logic behind wireless projection: SoftAP hosting for wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, and the connection setup, retry, and timeout behavior required to meet Apple and Google specifications.
• Own the network‑management layer for the Wi‑Fi subsystem: IPv6 configuration, routing, and iptables/firewall rules, plus country code transitions and correct behavior across the many regulatory domains our vehicles support worldwide.
• Design for the platform's RF realities: channel selection and DFS, multiple concurrent APs, and Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth antenna sharing and coexistence.
• Isolate and drive driver‑ and firmware‑level issues with our Wi‑Fi silicon and module vendors: reproduce, capture and analyze logs and OTA traces, interpret vendor findings, and validate fixes.
• Lead our Wi‑Fi Alliance certification readiness: pre‑test the stack, coordinate with authorized test labs, and drive fixes for what certification shakes out.
• Support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto certification efforts as the wireless subject‑matter expert.
• Build out validation and automation: projection session scenarios, throughput/RVR, reboot and OTA cycling, extending our nightly test coverage.
• Write clear design docs and reviews, mentor engineers on the team, and raise the org's overall Wi‑Fi expertise.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• 6+ years of embedded software experience with substantial depth in Wi‑Fi. You've taken Wi‑Fi features from bringup to production and know what it takes to get from "it connects" to "it ships."
• Strong experience with the Android Wi‑Fi stack (Wi‑Fi framework/APIs, wpa_supplicant, hostapd, and the vendor HAL boundary), or deep embedded Linux Wi‑Fi experience with the ability to come up to speed on Android quickly.
• Strong C/C++ skills, with working comfort in Java/Kotlin at the Android framework layer.
• Solid Linux networking fundamentals: IPv6, routing, iptables/netfilter, DHCP/DNS.
• Solid 802.11 protocol knowledge (n/ac/ax), including AP and station operation and WPA2/WPA3.
• Proven wireless debugging skills: OTA sniffer captures, framework and driver logs, and a methodical, evidence‑driven approach to isolating problems across the stack, including issues that ultimately land in vendor driver or firmware code.
• Experience collaborating with Wi‑Fi silicon or module vendors on issue resolution and feature enablement.
• Clear written communication and the ability to lead technical work across teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with wireless Apple CarPlay and/or wireless Android Auto (or similar Wi‑Fi‑based projection/streaming systems).
• Experience with Qualcomm Wi‑Fi solutions.
• Wi‑Fi Alliance certification experience (test plans, authorized test labs, pre‑certification).
• Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi coexistence and shared‑antenna tuning experience.
• Automotive or other regulated embedded domains (homologation, regional regulatory, partner certification).
• Test automation for wireless systems (RVR rigs, attenuators, channel emulation).

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 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.

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.

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