Principal Engineer, Platform Integration & Validation

Blue Bird Corporation•Troy, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Blue Bird Corporation is hiring a senior individual contributor to provide technical leadership for vehicle electrical/electronic architecture and integration across vehicle platforms. The role covers wiring harnesses, power and ground distribution, electronic control modules, embedded controls, and software integration. The engineer establishes technical direction, translates vehicle functions into coordinated hardware and software requirements, and leads complex system integration and issue resolution from concept through production and field support. The position combines deep hands-on expertise in one or more electrical/electronic disciplines with broad systems knowledge, cross-functional technical leadership, engineering standards development, and mentorship. Working with internal teams and suppliers, the engineer helps deliver safe, reliable, manufacturable, and serviceable systems across gas, diesel, LPG, and electric vehicle applications. Technical influence is central; direct people-management responsibility is not required. The position reports to the Senior Director of Electrical Engineering.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline from an accredited university; candidates with a Mechanical Engineering degree must demonstrate substantial relevant electrical/electronic systems expertise.
At least 7 years of progressively responsible engineering experience developing and integrating vehicle electrical/electronic systems.
Demonstrated technical leadership across multiple complex programs or vehicle platforms and deep expertise in electrical architecture, electronic modules, embedded controls, and/or embedded software.
U.S. citizenship or permanent residency; candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and provide proof of employment eligibility at hire.
Systems thinking and technical leadership across complex vehicle electrical/electronic programs, from requirements and architecture through production launch and field support.
Ability to define and assess interfaces among wiring, power distribution, electronic modules, embedded controls, and software, and diagnose complex issues using measurements, network data, diagnostics, software, or calibration evidence.
Demonstrated delivery of complex systems through production implementation, resolution of cross-system issues, and development of engineering practices adopted beyond a single project.
Software technical leadership and integration expertise; hands-on production coding experience is required only when included in the assigned technical specialization.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including explaining technical issues, documenting trade-offs, presenting evidence-based recommendations, and influencing stakeholders without direct reporting authority.
Proficiency in tools appropriate to the candidate’s specialization and working knowledge of complementary development tools; examples include schematic and harness CAD, MATLAB/Simulink or equivalent, CAN analysis and diagnostics, C/C++, Python, version control, embedded debugging, requirements management, and automated, software-in-the-loop, or hardware-in-the-loop testing. Mastery of every listed tool is not required.
Working knowledge of applicable vehicle electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, homologation, and FMVSS requirements, and ability to translate relevant requirements into design and verification activities.
Deep expertise in one or more core disciplines: electrical hardware and harness/power-distribution architecture; electronic module development and integration; embedded controls, modeling, and calibration; or embedded software architecture, development, debugging, and integration. Broad working knowledge across complementary disciplines is required.
Experience integrating new features and internally developed or supplier-provided systems into existing and new vehicle architectures, with disciplined interface and hardware/software compatibility management.
Experience with requirements management, design reviews, FMEA, verification planning, engineering change control, and configuration management; ability to establish reusable standards and develop other engineers’ technical capability.

Nice To Haves

Customer-focused systems thinking that anticipates vehicle, manufacturing, and service needs.
Sound technical judgment, constructive technical challenge, and respectful collaboration.
Ability to lead technically ambiguous, high-complexity initiatives, prioritize risks, and drive decisions and execution across organizational boundaries.
Technical influence without direct authority, grounded in evidence, clear reasoning, and shared engineering objectives.
Clear communication of complex concepts, technical risks, and trade-offs to engineering teams, suppliers, customers, and leadership.
Continuous learning, hands-on problem solving, and commitment to mentoring and sharing knowledge across technical disciplines.
Collaborative ownership of outcomes while balancing stakeholder needs and vehicle-platform and corporate objectives.

Responsibilities

Define and maintain the vehicle electrical/electronic architecture roadmap across platforms, balancing functionality, commonality, scalability, reliability, cost, and serviceability.
Lead electrical design and integration decisions for power budgeting, circuit protection, grounding, wiring harnesses, connectors, and electrical interfaces; guide schematic and detailed design reviews.
Lead architecture and design reviews, resolve cross-system technical trade-offs, provide technical approval recommendations within delegated authority, and mentor engineers.
Translate vehicle functions and customer needs into traceable system, module, hardware, and software requirements, including interfaces, operating states, timing, fault responses, and acceptance criteria; address applicable regulatory and customer requirements with stakeholders.
Lead technical definition, selection, development, and integration of electronic control modules, sensors, actuators, and intelligent power-distribution devices, including supplier-developed solutions.
Guide development and review of control strategies, state machines, interlocks, diagnostics, calibration approaches, and fault management.
Provide technical leadership for embedded software requirements, architecture and interface reviews, integration, configuration, verification, and release readiness; perform hands-on controls or software development when aligned with the assigned specialization.
Define and review vehicle network communication interfaces, message requirements, diagnostic behavior, and troubleshooting strategies.
Establish requirements-based verification strategies across simulation, software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, prototype, bench, and vehicle testing, as applicable.
Serve as a technical escalation point for development, manufacturing, and field issues; lead root-cause analysis and verify corrective actions.
Partner with systems, software, mechanical, powertrain, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, and service teams to deliver integrated solutions meeting performance, manufacturability, cost, timing, and lifecycle objectives.
Lead supplier technical engagement on specifications, component selection, design maturity, integration risks, and corrective actions.
Establish engineering standards, analysis methods, reusable designs, and review criteria across electrical hardware, controls, and software interfaces.
Guide FMEA, requirements traceability, change-impact assessment, and hardware/software configuration compatibility; document technical decisions and communicate risks and recommendations.
Evaluate emerging electrical/electronic technologies and development methods, and incorporate lessons from validation, production, and field operation into standards and future designs.