Principal Automotive Systems Architect: EV & ADAS Leader

Placements24; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 2,000,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive compensation package

Health benefits

Generous PTO and holidays

International travel opportunities

R&D facilities access

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Automotive Systems Architect for our Pretoria engineering center. This on-site, full-time role guides the overall vehicle architecture across powertrain, chassis, ADAS, and infotainment.

You will drive system-level decisions and align with strategic roadmaps. The ideal candidate has a PhD/Masters with 10+ years in automotive design, expertise in vehicle networks, and a strong background in ISO 26262 and AUTOSAR.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in automotive system design and architecture.
• Expertise across multiple domains: powertrain, chassis, ADAS, infotainment.
• Knowledge of vehicle networks (CAN, LIN, Automotive Ethernet).
• Experience with system modeling and simulation tools (MATLAB/Simulink).
• Strong focus on functional safety (ISO 26262) and cybersecurity.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain high-level architecture for automotive vehicle systems.
• Lead cross-functional teams (electrical, mechanical, software) in integration of components.
• Establish system requirements, specifications, interfaces for domains.
• Analyze interactions, identify risks, optimize performance and safety.
• Develop solutions for vehicle performance, efficiency, safety, connectivity.
• Evaluate emerging technologies for future architectures.
• Ensure compliance with standards (ISO 26262, AUTOSAR).
• Mentor teams on architectural best practices and design principles.
• Communicate complex concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Skills

Systems architecture

Electrical topology

Cross-functional leadership

Autonomous driving

ISO 26262

Cybersecurity

Education

Masters/PhD

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

CAPIDM

AUTOSAR

CAN/LIN/Automotive Ethernet

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Automotive Systems Architect for our Pretoria engineering center. This on-site, full-time role guides the overall vehicle architecture across powertrain, chassis, ADAS, and infotainment.

You will drive system-level decisions and align with strategic roadmaps. The ideal candidate has a PhD/Masters with 10+ years in automotive design, expertise in vehicle networks, and a strong background in ISO 26262 and AUTOSAR.