Electrical Systems Diagnostics Engineer

ALTEN Technology•Foster City, CA

1d•$115,000 - $135,000•Onsite

About The Position

ALTEN Technology USA is hiring an Electrical Systems Diagnostics Engineer focused on diagnostics and root cause analysis. The engineer will connect design engineering teams with fleet operations technicians, helping maintain the reliability and uptime of public vehicles through complex electrical troubleshooting, hands-on repairs, and formal root cause analysis to prevent recurring issues. The role involves investigating vehicle networks, collaborating with technicians on the shop floor, and translating diagnostic findings into engineering improvements. The position is onsite five days per week in Foster City, California, with regular travel within the Bay Area to support plant activity in Hayward, California. The salary range is $115,000–$135,000, with the actual offer dependent on factors including location and job-related qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience. Candidates selected for employment must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in automotive, robotics, aerospace, or a similar field.
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a closely related technical field.
Understanding of wire harness repair processes and ability to demonstrate and coach technicians.
Hands-on experience with industry-standard CAN network analysis tools, such as Vector CANalyzer, CANoe, or PCAN, including monitoring traffic, injecting signals, and diagnosing network health.
Practical knowledge of formal root cause analysis methods, including Shainin, 8D, 5 Whys, Fishbone/Ishikawa diagrams, and Fault Tree Analysis.
Ability to read complex wiring schematics and use bench tools such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, and logic analyzers.
Comfort with hands-on vehicle work, including turning wrenches.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build trust and work effectively with technicians and design engineers.

Nice To Haves

Spanish fluency.
Ability to analyze remote vehicle logs to identify fleet issues early.
Familiarity with automotive safety standards such as ISO 26262.
Experience leading fast-paced teams in high-pressure problem-solving situations.

Responsibilities

Serve as the highest-level escalation point for complex electrical, electronic, and network issues on public vehicles.
Use CAN tools and advanced diagnostic equipment to investigate vehicle networks, identify communication faults, and isolate hardware or software anomalies.
Analyze vehicle log data to reconstruct failure events and identify system-level electrical faults.
Develop and document standardized diagnostic procedures and troubleshooting trees for technicians.
Lead cross-functional root cause analysis investigations for systemic or high-severity electrical failures using industry-standard methodologies.
Implement temporary containment measures, such as workarounds and immediate repairs, while driving permanent corrective actions.
Present root cause analysis findings to hardware, firmware, and software engineering teams to inform design iterations and improve vehicle reliability.
Maintain failure analysis documentation and track the effectiveness of implemented solutions over time.
Work alongside service technicians to guide complex repairs and component replacements.
Translate engineering concepts into practical guidance for technicians.
Gather technician feedback about serviceability and diagnostic challenges, and advocate for improvements to diagnostic software and vehicle design.
Train technicians to use CAN tools, multimeters, and oscilloscopes and to follow electrical safety protocols.
Communicate technical issues, requirements, and root cause analysis findings to engineering teams and provide concise explanations for non-technical stakeholders and program leadership.
Coordinate across the Foster City and Hayward sites, keeping cross-functional partners aligned on status, risk, and next steps.
Prepare written summaries and verbal briefings suited to audiences ranging from shop-floor technicians to senior decision-makers.