Sr. HIL Systems Engineer
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
We are seeking a Senior HIL Systems Engineer to join our team in Irvine. In this on-site role, you will be a key player in designing, developing, and maintaining HIL test systems & simulation hardware for our embedded vehicle control systems.
Your primary focus will be on design & development of control system simulation hardware solutions, ensuring compliance with design specifications, and working closely with our subsystem and firmware engineers. You will also use your expertise in HIL infrastructure to perform root cause analysis of hardware failures and propose improvements to increase test coverage.
Responsibilities
Design and develop HIL test systems for embedded vehicle controllers, building familiarity with the simulation, sensing, measurement, and controls architecture behind them.
Define HIL hardware and wiring requirements for each ECU under test, and produce schematics, harness drawings, and bills of materials for new test rigs.
Set up, maintain, and document HIL infrastructure, and run HIL tests to verify that control system simulation behavior meets design specifications and project requirements.
Partner with subsystem and firmware engineers to confirm compliance with design specifications and project requirements.
Work with platform teams developing new product architecture (system architecture, actuator and contactor control, sensing, electrical safety, and fault/overcurrent protection) to simulate those designs on HIL systems.
Lead hardware failure analysis to determine root causes of HIL failures, and document lessons learned.
Propose and implement HIL infrastructure improvements that increase test coverage.
Work with HIL firmware engineers to evaluate HIL hardware APIs against simulation needs.
Qualifications
Required:
Bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering or a related engineering discipline.
Solid grasp of analog and digital circuit design principles, sensing mechanisms, and actuators, with PCB schematic and layout design experience.
2+ years of design and development experience with HIL test systems such as dSPACE, NI VeriStand, or OPAL-RT, plus experience with embedded control systems, simulation, vehicle subsystems, or HIL technologies.
Knowledge of electrical safety practices, including high voltage where applicable.
Experience with vehicle communication protocols: CAN, CAN-FD, XCP, LIN, FlexRay, and CAN over Ethernet.
Experience creating hardware-focused requirements from the ground up using a first-principles engineering approach.
Proven problem-solving skills, with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, identify root causes quickly, and implement corrective actions.
Familiarity with DMMs, power supplies, oscilloscopes, and crimp tools.
Experience with issue tracking tools such as Jira or Bugzilla.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical issues to diverse audiences.
Preferred:
Proficiency in Python (including Pytest) for automation scripting and control design.
Experience with vehicle bus tools such as CANalyzer or CANoe.
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 is 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. Learn more about our global benefit programs.
External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site (https://rivianvw.tech/#careers). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board.
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 candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.
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.
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Please note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.
