Sr. Staff Hardware Platform Board 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
As an Infotainment/Connectivity Hardware Platform Engineer, you will be responsible for the design, development, and validation of advanced hardware platforms specifically engineered to enable early software development and mitigate architectural risks for our future infotainment and connectivity systems. This is a hands-on role that requires a deep understanding of embedded systems, high-speed digital design, and a strong ability to collaborate cross-functionally with software, system, and validation teams.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualization & Design: Lead the architectural definition and detailed design of in-house development boards, considering requirements from software/hardware architecture and product teams.
• Schematic Capture & Layout: Develop comprehensive schematics and guide PCB layout engineers to ensure optimal performance, signal integrity, and power delivery for complex digital and analog circuits.
• Component Selection: Evaluate and select appropriate SoCs, memory, high-speed transceivers, power management ICs, and other components, considering performance, cost, and availability.
• Prototyping & Bring-up: Oversee the fabrication of development boards and lead the initial bring-up and debugging efforts, ensuring all hardware functionalities are verified.
• Collaboration: Work closely with software engineers to define hardware-software interfaces, debug issues, and optimize performance. Collaborate with system architects to translate high-level requirements into feasible hardware designs.
• Documentation: Create detailed design specifications, test reports, and other technical documentation.
• Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis: Diagnose and resolve complex hardware issues, utilizing various debugging tools and methodologies.
• Stay Current: Keep abreast of the latest advancements in automotive electronics, infotainment technologies, and relevant industry standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in hardware design and development, preferably in automotive infotainment, consumer electronics, aerospace or data centers.
• Proven experience in designing and bringing up complex multi-layer PCBs for high-speed digital applications.
• Strong proficiency in schematic capture and PCB layout tools (e.g., Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro).
• Deep understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, and EMI/EMC principles.
• Experience with various communication protocols (e.g., Ethernet, CAN, LIN, USB, PCIe, SERDES, MIPI CSI/DSI, DisplayPort).
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
• Familiarity with embedded software development processes and debugging tools.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a methodical approach to debugging.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in a cross-functional team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SoC down-selection processes for product development, including defining requirements, evaluating vendor roadmaps, and making informed decisions.
• Ability to conduct comprehensive trade studies for hardware architectures and component selection, considering factors such as performance, power, cost, reliability, and time-to-market.
• Proven experience working directly with or for SoC vendors and manufacturers, including managing technical relationships, understanding their product offerings, and influencing future roadmaps.
• Familiarity with SoC development lifecycles, including silicon bring-up, validation, and production ramp-up.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property (IP) blocks commonly found in SoCs (e.g., CPU cores, GPUs, DSPs, security engines, video encoders/decoders).

Pay Disclosure
Salary Range for Northern California Based Candidates:
$213,400 - $266,300 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary:
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26.

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

Candidate Data Privacy
Rivian and VW Group Technologies ("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) recordkeeping; (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.

Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.