Sr. Staff Systems Engineer

The role

You will be the end-to-end technical owner for a portfolio of vehicle motion control features. You will define feature requirements, decide controller allocation, and perform testing on HIL benches and in vehicles.

What you will do

• Own end-to-end system definition for vehicle motion control features
• Define logical architecture, boundary diagrams, and theory of operation
• Support development of plant models for Propulsion & Vehicle Dynamics components
• Develop and release requirements with full traceability
• Drive functional allocation decisions across controllers
• Own interface and signal-level definition for CAN FD, FlexRay and backbone Ethernet
• Serve as the technical point of contact to VW Group brand engineering teams
• Commit features to specific software releases
• Contribute to feature-level DFMEAs and support ISO 26262 functional safety work
• Formulate and drive DVP&R across SIL, HIL, component and vehicle levels

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical, Electrical, Automotive, Mechatronics or Controls Engineering
• 8+ years of systems engineering experience with a focus on vehicle dynamics, chassis controls or brake systems
• Working knowledge of Traction Control, All-Wheel Drive and Torque Vectoring systems
• Demonstrated ownership of requirements in a formal requirements management tool (Jama, Flow, DOORS or equivalent)
• Experience with automotive networks and interface definition (CAN / CAN FD, FlexRay, LIN, automotive Ethernet, and ARXML or DBC-based signal definition)
• Validation experience at one or more test levels (SIL, HIL, component or vehicle)
• Comfort scripting in Python
• Understanding of ISO 26262 functional safety guidelines
• Familiarity with DFMEA / STPA processes
• Demonstrated use of AI coding assistants (e.g., Cursor, Claude, GitHub Copilot) or AI-powered analysis tools
• Strong written communication
• Willingness to work across time zones and travel internationally on occasion

Nice to have

• Experience in a joint venture, OEM–OEM or OEM–Tier 1 program
• Familiarity with homologation and regulatory frameworks (UN ECE R13-H, UN R140, FMVSS 126 and 135, Euro NCAP)
• Exposure to zonal or service-oriented E/E architectures and by-wire systems
• Calibration and measurement tooling experience (XCP, CANape, A2L-based workflows)
• Familiarity with MBSE methodologies and tools
• Experience testing at proving grounds and in winter test conditions

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Annual company performance bonus program
• Equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
• Health coverage
• Retirement savings
• Time off
• Family planning programs

About the company

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders. They address the challenges of electric vehicles through technology for software-defined vehicles.