Automotive Electrical System Engineer

Placements24; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Professional development

Career progression

Sandton base

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Automotive Electrical System Engineer to join its advanced engineering team in Sandton, Gauteng. You will design, develop, integrate and test complex electrical systems for next‑generation vehicles, collaborating with mechanical, software and validation engineers to ensure reliability and performance.

The role requires a Bachelors/Masters in Electrical Engineering, 5+ years in automotive electrical design, and familiarity with CAN/LIN/Ethernet, wiring

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in automotive electrical system design and development.
• Proficiency in automotive wiring harness design tools and methodologies.
• Strong understanding of automotive electrical architectures, including CAN, LIN, Ethernet communication.
• Knowledge of automotive power electronics and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) principles.
• Experience with simulation and analysis tools for electrical systems.
• Familiarity with functional safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262) is a strong asset.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective team collaboration.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced automotive development environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop automotive electrical system architectures, including power distribution, signal routing, and grounding strategies.
• Specify and select automotive electrical components, such as ECUs, sensors, actuators, and connectors.
• Create detailed wiring harness designs and schematics using CAD tools (e.g., E3.series, Capital).
• Perform electrical load analysis and ensure compliance with vehicle power requirements.
• Develop and execute system integration and validation test plans.
• Troubleshoot electrical system issues during development and vehicle testing phases.
• Collaborate with software engineers to ensure proper integration of electrical hardware and control software.
• Ensure designs comply with automotive standards (e.g., ISO 26262 for functional safety) and customer requirements.
• Participate in design reviews and provide technical leadership for electrical system development.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of designs, test results, and project progress.

Skills

Automotive electrical design

CAN/LIN/Ethernet

Team collaboration

Wiring harness design

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Electrical Engineering

Tools

E3.series

Capital

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent automotive Tier 1 supplier, is seeking an experienced Automotive Electrical System Engineer to join their advanced engineering team based in Sandton, Gauteng . This critical role involves the design, development, integration, and testing of complex electrical systems for next-generation vehicles. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in automotive electrical architecture, component selection, wiring harness design, and system validation. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including mechanical engineers, software developers, and validation engineers, to ensure the seamless functionality and reliability of vehicle electrical systems. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking automotive innovations and work with state-of-the-art technology in a dynamic and challenging environment. We are dedicated to fostering a culture of excellence and providing our engineers with opportunities for significant professional growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop automotive electrical system architectures, including power distribution, signal routing, and grounding strategies.
• Specify and select automotive electrical components, such as ECUs, sensors, actuators, and connectors.
• Create detailed wiring harness designs and schematics using CAD tools (e.g., E3.series, Capital).
• Perform electrical load analysis and ensure compliance with vehicle power requirements.
• Develop and execute system integration and validation test plans.
• Troubleshoot electrical system issues during development and vehicle testing phases.
• Collaborate with software engineers to ensure proper integration of electrical hardware and control software.
• Ensure designs comply with automotive standards (e.g., ISO 26262 for functional safety) and customer requirements.
• Participate in design reviews and provide technical leadership for electrical system development.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of designs, test results, and project progress.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in automotive electrical system design and development.
• Proficiency in automotive wiring harness design tools and methodologies.
• Strong understanding of automotive electrical architectures, including CAN, LIN, Ethernet communication.
• Knowledge of automotive power electronics and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) principles.
• Experience with simulation and analysis tools for electrical systems.
• Familiarity with functional safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262) is a strong asset.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective team collaboration.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced automotive development environment.

Benefits

• A competitive annual salary of R , commensurate with your expertise and experience.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge automotive electrical systems for leading vehicle manufacturers.
• Access to advanced engineering tools and technologies.
• Continuous professional development and training programs.
• A stimulating and collaborative engineering environment in Sandton, Gauteng .
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance and retirement planning.
• Opportunities for career progression within a respected industry leader.