Vehicle Controls Systems Architect

Responsibilities

Systems Architecture & Requirements

• Own high-level systems architecture for vehicle subsystems, defining interactions among mechanical, electrical, and software components.
• Translate customer needs into system design decisions and tradeoffs.
• Collaborate with hardware and software leads on detailed architectures.
• Write, maintain, and trace system and subsystem requirements through integration and test.
• Author and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs), interface descriptions, and other systems engineering artifacts.

Systems Integration & Test

• Integrate custom and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) actuation and sensing systems onto vehicle platforms.
• Design custom actuation or sensing solutions when commercial options are unsuitable.
• Bring hardware and software components together in laboratory and vehicle environments.
• Troubleshoot issues across mechanical, electrical, and software boundaries.
• Develop and execute test plans and procedures to validate system and subsystem performance.
• Operate autonomous vehicles to understand drive-by-wire system architecture and behavior.

Engineering & Analysis

• Write MATLAB, Octave, or Python scripts to process, analyze, and visualize test and telemetry data.
• Produce systems engineering artifacts for safety analysis, including FMEA, fault trees, functional architectures, and allocations.
• Interpret mechanical and electrical CAD models, bills of material, COTS specifications, and drawings.
• Review software designs and code to evaluate system-level behavior and integration impacts.
• Contribute to mechanical, electrical, or software design efforts as appropriate.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Communicate with mechanical, electrical, software, and program stakeholders.
• Translate between disciplines to keep integration and test work on schedule.

Requirements

• 6+ years of hands-on systems integration and test engineering experience; exceptional candidates with 1–2 years of directly relevant experience may also be considered.
• Bachelor's degree in electrical, computer, mechanical, aerospace engineering, computer science, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Experience working across mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines.
• Experience writing, managing, and tracing system and subsystem requirements on a formal engineering program.
• Experience integrating COTS components, particularly actuation or sensing systems, onto vehicles or other complex electromechanical systems.
• Experience interpreting electrical schematics, including PCB, cable, and harness drawings.
• Working knowledge of interface control principles and ICD documentation.
• Ability to review text-based and model-based software and reason about system-level implications of code and design changes.
• Scripting proficiency, such as Python, for processing and analyzing test data.
• Must be a U.S. Person and eligible to obtain a security clearance in the future; no current clearance is required to start.
• Willingness to work hands-on with hardware in laboratory and field/vehicle environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• End-to-end systems architecture ownership for a vehicle, robotic, or complex electromechanical platform.
• Experience developing and executing formal test plans and procedures.
• Background in automotive, medical, aerospace, robotics, or defense vehicle programs.
• Mechanical design proficiency, including CAD modeling and drafting.
• Electrical design proficiency, including eCAD modeling and cabling/harness design tools.
• Experience with C, C++, or Simulink embedded software development.
• Hands-on mechanical and electrical fabrication experience, such as machining, 3D printing, or cable assembly.

Compensation & Benefits

• US salary range: $150,000–$200,000.
• Equity is included in most full-time, high-demand roles as part of the overall compensation package.
• Premium healthcare benefits, with Forterra covering 80% of plan premiums for employees and dependents.
• Company-paid basic life/AD&D and short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Company holidays, including a winter break in December.
• 20 days of accrued PTO per year.
• At least 7 weeks of fully paid parental leave.
• $9,000 annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• 401(k) plan with company match up to 4%.