Senior Vehicle Controls Integration Engineer

Blue Bird Careers•Troy, MI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is a technology leader and innovator of school buses since 1927. The Senior Vehicle Controls Integration Engineer will own the integration of intelligent vehicle control systems across a new commercial chassis platform from concept through production launch. This role is the technical authority for vehicle controls integration, embedded electronic systems, sensors, actuators, and electromechanical interfaces, ensuring seamless integration between hardware, software, electrical architecture, and mechanical systems. Responsibilities include developing system requirements, defining interfaces, supporting controls integration, and delivering production-ready vehicle functionality. This position works closely with other engineering teams, manufacturing, suppliers, and external engineering partners, and is empowered to establish technical direction, make timely engineering decisions, and drive execution across the complete product lifecycle. This is a high-impact role for an experienced engineer who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys solving complex integration challenges, and wants meaningful ownership over the intelligent systems that define vehicle capability, safety, and customer experience.

Requirements

Deep understanding of embedded vehicle controls, electromechanical systems, and vehicle systems integration
Strong understanding of CAN, CAN FD, LIN, J1939, Automotive Ethernet, UDS diagnostics, and vehicle communication architectures
Experience integrating ECUs, sensors, actuators, embedded software, and intelligent vehicle systems
Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink, dSPACE, Vector CANoe, CANalyzer, CANape, or equivalent development and validation tools
Experience developing system requirements, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), DVP&R, and systems validation strategies
Strong understanding of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), functional testing, and root cause analysis
Experience supporting prototype development, validation, manufacturing launch, and production issue resolution
Ability to provide technical direction across internal engineering teams, suppliers, and external engineering organizations without direct authority
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and engineering decision-making skills
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or a related technical discipline
8+ years of experience developing embedded vehicle controls, electronic systems, mechatronic systems, or intelligent vehicle technologies for automotive, commercial vehicle, heavy-duty, or off-highway vehicle platforms
All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated ownership of complex vehicle control systems from concept through prototype development, validation, production launch, and field support
Experience developing system requirements, interface definitions, diagnostics, and controls integration strategies across multiple engineering disciplines
Experience directing technical activities for suppliers and external engineering partners while maintaining ownership of engineering decisions and system performance
Experience making complex engineering decisions in fast-paced product development environments with evolving requirements and aggressive launch schedules
Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Controls Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical discipline
Experience with commercial vehicles, body-on-chassis platforms, vocational vehicles, or heavy-duty vehicle systems
Experience developing embedded controls for braking, steering, suspension, body controls, or other intelligent vehicle systems
Experience with ISO 26262, functional safety, diagnostics, cybersecurity, or AUTOSAR development methodologies
Experience supporting clean-sheet vehicle development or accelerated product launches
Experience integrating multiple electronic control systems within a common vehicle architecture
Experience supporting production launch and field issue resolution for electronically controlled vehicle systems

Responsibilities

Develop and own the vehicle controls architecture for embedded controllers, electronic actuators, sensors, and intelligent electromechanical systems supporting the commercial chassis platform.
Lead integration of electrical, software, and mechanical systems to ensure robust functionality, diagnostics, reliability, manufacturability, and production-ready performance.
Develop and manage system requirements, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), communication interfaces, and functional interactions supporting vehicle controls and intelligent systems.
Partner with controls software, electrical architecture, and systems engineering teams to define control strategies, diagnostics, fault management, and system behaviors that support overall vehicle performance.
Provide technical direction to suppliers and external engineering partners while maintaining ownership of system requirements, engineering decisions, integration quality, and production readiness.
Develop and execute validation strategies supporting Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), subsystem integration, vehicle validation, and production readiness.
Support development of diagnostics, fault detection, system monitoring, cybersecurity considerations, and functional safety activities appropriate for commercial vehicle applications.
Partner with Electrical Architecture, Propulsion Systems Integration, Chassis & Vehicle Integration, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program Management to ensure successful system integration from concept through launch.
Support prototype builds, manufacturing launch, and early production by resolving controls integration issues and rapidly driving corrective actions to maintain program timing.
Lead investigation and resolution of complex controls, communication, software, sensor, actuator, and electromechanical integration issues throughout development and production.
Create structure and drive execution where requirements, technologies, suppliers, and vehicle architectures evolve simultaneously.