Sr Engineer, HIL Design, Hardware Integration & Test Automation

Cariad, Inc.•Mountain View, CA

9h•$171,495 - $215,785•Onsite

About The Position

We are CARIAD, an automotive software development team with the Volkswagen Group. Our mission is to make the automotive experience safer, more sustainable, more comfortable, more digital, and more fun. To achieve that we are building the leading tech stack for the automotive industry and creating a unified software platform for over 10 million new vehicles per year. We’re looking for talented, digital minds like you to help us create code that moves the world. Together with you, we’ll build outstanding digital experiences and products for all Volkswagen Group brands that will transform mobility. Join us as we shape the future of the car and everyone around it. Role Summary: The Senior Engineer, HIL Design, Hardware Integration & Test Automation is responsible for the hardware-oriented design and bring-up of HIL benches, integration benches, harnesses, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and lab automation used to validate CARIAD hardware platforms. This is a hands-on senior engineering role requiring extensive experience in HIL design, embedded hardware, wire harnesses, and system integration. The role defines HIL architecture, creates and reviews harness and interface documentation, leads hardware bring-up and debug activities, and drives repeatable test execution from requirements and ICDs through lab evidence. The Senior Engineer also leads the hardware side of an AI-enabled integration lab, including the roadmap and implementation of AI-agent-based workflows, MCP servers, equipment interfaces, automated evidence capture, and test orchestration for hardware validation.

Requirements

Structured problem solving and disciplined hardware debug
Clear written and verbal communication with data-backed recommendations
Cross-functional leadership across hardware, software, systems, validation, manufacturing, and suppliers
Ownership of documentation, issue tracking, action follow-through, and risk escalation
Ability to operate with urgency in a hands-on prototype lab environment
Ability to convert ambiguous lab problems into plans, owners, evidence, and closure criteria
Process-oriented execution in complex, high-reliability systems programs
Hands-on HIL design for embedded ECUs or comparable high-reliability systems, including architecture, signal/I/O mapping, fault insertion, load/sensor simulation, safety interlocks, and bring-up.
Embedded hardware integration and bring-up across power, reset, clock, boot, peripherals, firmware, BSP, drivers, test infrastructure, and HW/SW issue isolation.
Wire harness and ICD ownership, including connector/pinout definition, signal routing, shielding/grounding, continuity checks, electrical interfaces, protocols, timing, diagnostics, and test coverage.
Ability to interpret schematics, datasheets, PCB/connector documentation, debug reports, and supplier deliverables to define coverage and resolve integration issues.
HIL bench and test fixture design/documentation, including benches, breakout/load boxes, fixtures, cable assemblies, configurations, and readiness checklists.
Strong lab instrumentation and interface knowledge, including scopes, meters, power supplies, loads, logic analyzers, CAN/Ethernet/serial tools, JTAG, CAN, LIN, Ethernet, USB, UART, SPI, I2C, GPIO, analog/digital I/O, power/wake lines, and diagnostics.
Python automation for instrument control, data capture, sequencing, log parsing, evidence collection, and repeatable execution.
Structured debug and AI-enabled lab automation, including MCP servers/APIs or comparable interfaces for equipment control, orchestration, artifact retrieval, triage, and traceable closure.
Ability to work onsite with prototypes, harnesses, fixtures, benches, suppliers, and cross-functional engineering teams.
6+ years of relevant experience in HIL design, embedded hardware bring-up, wire harness / interface documentation, system integration, hardware validation, lab automation, or debug of automotive or comparable high-reliability embedded platforms
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechatronics, or related technical discipline

Nice To Haves

Automotive ECU experience, including telematics, connectivity, infotainment, zonal controllers, high-performance compute platforms, or similar embedded hardware.
Commercial or custom HIL platform experience, such as dSPACE, NI/VeriStand, Vector, ETAS, Speedgoat, Keysight, or Python-based frameworks.
Experience with Linux, Android, QNX, Yocto, adb/serial console, flashing, bootloaders, diagnostics, manufacturing/EOL tooling, DV/PV, EMC/ENV, validation, or supplier issue support.
AI-agent lab workflow or AI roadmap experience, including setup checks, instrumentation control, failure clustering, evidence/report generation, tool interfaces, data architecture, governance, and rollout metrics.
Familiarity with systems, requirements, verification, safety, cybersecurity, or automotive process standards such as ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288/29148, IEEE 1012, ASPICE, ISO 26262, ISO/SAE 21434, DO-254, DO-178C, or SAE ARP4754A/B.
Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechatronics, or related discipline

Responsibilities

Own HIL design for embedded automotive hardware platforms, including architecture, I/O mapping, signal conditioning, fault insertion, load/sensor simulation, safety interlocks, instrumentation, and bench readiness criteria.
Design, bring up, and maintain HIL benches, integration benches, breakout boxes, load boxes, fixtures, harnesses, and lab stations used for HW/SW integration and validation.
Lead board, ECU, and system bring-up across prototypes and revisions, including power, reset, clock, boot, flashing, communications, peripheral interfaces, and diagnostics.
Define bring-up plans, HIL readiness checklists, configuration baselines, and repeatable test setup documentation for lab execution.
Debug complex hardware/software interface issues using schematics, ICDs, harness drawings, logs, instruments, and controlled reproduction steps.
Create, review, and maintain harness drawings, pinouts, connector definitions, cable assemblies, and lab wiring documentation required for integration and HIL execution.
Own Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for bench and system interfaces, including electrical definitions, signals, protocols, timing, diagnostics, power states, and test coverage mapping.
Translate requirements, ICDs, schematics, and supplier documentation into HIL test coverage, test procedures, hardware fixture needs, and automation requirements.
Establish configuration control for benches, harnesses, firmware/images, flashing steps, lab equipment, scripts, and test artifacts.
Support DV/PV, EMC/ENV, manufacturing, and end-of-line readiness by ensuring the lab infrastructure can reproduce failures and verify corrective actions.
Lead the hardware-side roadmap for an AI-enabled HW integration lab, including target workflows, tool interfaces, data sources, rollout plan, and measurable execution benefits.
Define and implement MCP servers, APIs, or comparable tool interfaces for hardware testing, lab equipment control, bench state, test orchestration, artifact retrieval, and AI-agent operation.
Develop AI-agent-based HW testing workflows for setup verification, instrumentation control, automated test execution, log capture, failure triage, evidence packaging, and status/report generation.
Partner with software, automation, IT, and validation teams to integrate AI agents with lab equipment, HIL frameworks, Jira, requirements repositories, SharePoint evidence, and test reporting tools.
Ensure AI-based lab workflows remain traceable, reviewable, safe for lab use, and aligned with engineering judgment and validation evidence requirements.
Serve as escalation point for complex integration failures and drive structured triage across hardware, software, systems, validation, manufacturing, and supplier teams.
Coordinate supplier and internal deliverables for HIL equipment, harnesses, interface issues, board revisions, bench blockers, and corrective actions.
Communicate status, blockers, risks, recovery plans, and decision needs with clear evidence and recommended next steps.
Document issues, debug findings, configurations, test evidence, and closure rationale in a structured and traceable manner.