Senior Engineer Team Lead

Motional•Pittsburgh, PA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Engineer Team Lead is responsible for the validation of the autonomous vehicle stack with a primary emphasis on the interface between software and physical hardware. This role leads the development and execution of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing strategies to ensure that perception, planning, and control algorithms interact safely and reliably with vehicle sensors, actuators, and ECUs. You will be the technical authority for HIL bench architecture and hardware-software integration, ensuring that the "brain" of the vehicle commands the physical "body" with millisecond precision and fail-safe reliability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or Robotics.
5+ years in Systems/Hardware testing, with at least 3 years focused on HIL simulation within the automotive or aerospace industry.
Expert knowledge of ECUs, sensors (Lidar/Radar/Camera), and mechatronic actuators.
Proven experience configuring real-time simulation environments (e.g., dSPACE ControlDesk, NI VeriStand, or IPG CarMaker).
Expert proficiency in Python for test automation and Matlab/Simulink for plant model integration.
Deep understanding of automotive electrical architectures and power management.
Experience with sensor calibration and synchronization across hardware interfaces.
Familiarity with SOTIF (ISO 21448) and how hardware limitations impact autonomous functionality.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, setup, and maintenance of high-fidelity HIL test benches (e.g., dSPACE, NI, or Speedgoat). Define the hardware-software mapping required to simulate real-world vehicle dynamics.
Own the validation of the Drive-by-Wire (DBW) system, ensuring steering, braking, and acceleration commands meet safety-critical latency and accuracy requirements.
Design and execute complex hardware fault-injection campaigns (e.g., sensor signal loss, CAN bus flooding, power interrupts) to validate system-level safety monitors.
Direct the testing of automotive communication networks, including CAN, CAN-FD, Automotive Ethernet, and LIN, using tools like Vector CANoe/CANalyzer.
While focusing on hardware, maintain oversight of SIL and closed-course testing to ensure HIL results correlate with virtual and physical track performance.
Lead root-cause analysis for complex electromechanical issues, utilizing oscilloscopes, multimeters, and logic analyzers to debug signal integrity and power distribution.
Architect Python-based automation frameworks for HIL regression suites, reducing manual bench time and increasing test coverage.
Act as a lead reviewer for ISO 26262 functional safety requirements, specifically focusing on Hardware-Software Interface (HSI) specifications.