Sr. Manager, Automotive Systems Development

Monolithic Power Systems • San Jose, CA

5d

About The Position

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. (MPS) seeks a hands-on, entrepreneurial engineering leader to execute development of production-ready automotive electronic control units (ECUs) and highly integrated electronic modules, such as zonal controllers, infotainment ECUs, and audio amplifier ECUs. The role translates product requirements and commercial priorities established by Automotive Marketing into complete, validated, manufacturable systems incorporating MPS semiconductor products.

The Senior Manager will lead a lean core team of approximately one to two direct reports and coordinate project-based engineering contributors across North America, Europe, China, and Taiwan. The position requires strong technical judgment, independent problem solving, rapid execution, and willingness to personally design, debug, and validate hardware. It owns engineering execution, technical delivery, and production readiness with contract manufacturing partners; it is hands-on and is not primarily a people-management or program-administration position.

The target annual base salary range for this position in California is $220,000–$270,000. Pay may vary based on market location, experience, skills, education, and other job-related factors. MPS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal opportunity without regard to legally protected status.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• At least 6 years of relevant hands-on experience developing complex electronic hardware or embedded systems.
• Strong fundamentals in system architecture, power electronics or power management, PCB design, interfaces, hardware bring-up, and validation.
• Demonstrated ownership of substantial hardware development deliverables, including practical debugging and cross-functional problem solving.
• Ability to drive work across teams without relying on direct reporting authority; strong organization, prioritization, and follow-through.
• Excellent written and spoken English and ability to work effectively with internationally distributed teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience delivering automotive ECUs or similarly demanding electronics into production, including work with external manufacturing partners.
• Background in agile hardware environments such as EV startups, robotics, industrial electronics, or lean automotive electronics companies.
• Experience with EMC, environmental qualification, automotive reliability, manufacturing test, and relevant functional safety processes.
• Working proficiency in Mandarin Chinese.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end technical execution, including system architecture, design planning, schematic and PCB development, component integration, prototypes, verification, qualification, design release, and production readiness.
• Lead development of complete automotive ECUs and modules integrating MPS power management products with processors, communications, sensing, and other system components.
• Contribute personally to technical reviews, bench debugging, root-cause analysis, design tradeoffs, and validation as needed.
• Build realistic milestones and resource plans; coordinate global project-based specialists, resolve dependencies, and drive timely delivery with a small dedicated team.
• Partner with Automotive Marketing to translate product requirements into engineering specifications, challenge feasibility assumptions, and communicate cost, performance, schedule, and technical risks.
• Work with contract manufacturers and internal quality teams on DFM, DFT, production test, prototype and pilot builds, engineering changes, qualification, and manufacturing ramp readiness.
• Ensure EMC, thermal, environmental, reliability, and applicable automotive safety and quality requirements are addressed without unnecessary process overhead.
• Provide concise, clear technical and project communication to stakeholders across regions and functions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior