Principal Automotive Systems Architect

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 3,046,000 - 4,738,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive bonus opportunities

Global health benefits

Stock options and incentives

Professional development budget

Fully remote work

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Placements24 is recruiting a Principal Automotive Systems Architect for a fully remote, global team. This senior leadership role defines system architecture across E/E, software, and connectivity domains for next-generation vehicle platforms.

You will drive architectural standards, mentor dispersed engineering teams, evaluate new technologies, and translate business needs into scalable, future-proof designs in a fast-moving automotive environment.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related advanced technical field.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in automotive systems engineering, with at least 5 years in a senior architect or principal engineer role.
• Defined system architectures for ADAS, infotainment, powertrain and body electronics.
• Deep knowledge of E/E architectures, embedded systems, RTOS, and automotive networks.
• Experience with architectural frameworks and modeling languages (AUTOSAR, SysML).
• Strong grasp of electrification, autonomous driving, V2X and cybersecurity trends.
• Exceptional analytical and strategic thinking abilities.
• Outstanding communication and ability to influence stakeholders globally.
• Experience leading cross-functional and distributed teams is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve system architecture for next‑gen automotive platforms (E/E, software, connectivity).
• Lead high‑level design of complex vehicle systems ensuring interoperability and scalability.
• Establish architectural principles, guidelines and best practices.
• Collaborate with product management and engineering to translate requirements into architectures.
• Conduct trade‑off analyses and make critical architectural decisions balancing cost and feasibility.
• Identify and evaluate emerging technologies and their impact on vehicle architecture.
• Mentor and guide distributed engineering teams on architectural standards.
• Develop and maintain architectural diagrams, specifications and roadmaps.
• Represent architectural vision in technical forums and industry discussions.

Skills

Automotive systems engineering

E/E architectures

SysML modeling

AUTOSAR

Technical leadership

Stakeholder influence

Communication skills

Global team leadership

Education

Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AUTOSAR

SysML

RTOS

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a visionary automotive technology firm, is seeking an exceptional Principal Automotive Systems Architect to join their fully remote team. This is a senior leadership role responsible for defining the overarching system architecture for future vehicle platforms, encompassing electrical, electronic, software, and connectivity domains. You will spearhead the conceptualization and design of highly integrated, scalable, and future-proof automotive systems, ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives and technological roadmaps. The ideal candidate will possess a distinguished track record in automotive systems architecture, a deep understanding of emerging automotive technologies (e.g., autonomy, electrification, connectivity), and the ability to lead and influence technical direction across a global organization. This is a unique, **fully remote** opportunity to shape the architecture of vehicles from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the comprehensive system architecture for next-generation automotive platforms, covering E/E, software, and connectivity.
• Lead the conceptualization and high-level design of complex vehicle systems, ensuring interoperability, scalability, and robustness.
• Establish architectural principles, guidelines, and best practices for system development.
• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering leads, and technology partners to translate business requirements into technical system architectures.
• Conduct trade-off analyses and make critical architectural decisions, balancing innovation, cost, and technical feasibility.
• Identify and evaluate emerging technologies and their potential impact on vehicle architecture.
• Mentor and guide engineering teams in the adoption and implementation of architectural standards.
• Develop and maintain architectural documentation, including diagrams, specifications, and roadmaps.
• Represent the company's architectural vision in technical forums and industry discussions.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related advanced technical field.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in automotive systems engineering, with at least 5 years in a senior architect or principal engineer role.
• Demonstrated expertise in defining system architectures for complex automotive domains (e.g., ADAS, infotainment, powertrain, body electronics).
• Deep understanding of E/E architectures, embedded systems, real-time operating systems, and automotive communication networks.
• Proven experience with architectural frameworks and modeling languages (e.g., AUTOSAR, SysML).
• In-depth knowledge of modern automotive trends such as electrification, autonomous driving, V2X communication, and cybersecurity.
• Exceptional analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience leading cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and executive-level bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive global health and wellness benefits.
• Generous stock options and long-term incentive plans.
• Extensive professional development budget and opportunities for continuous learning.
• A fully remote work environment, offering exceptional flexibility and work-life balance.
• The opportunity to define the architectural foundation for the future of mobility.