Sr. Requirements & Systems Engineer

Blue Bird Corporation•Troy, MI

5h•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Requirements & Systems Engineer is responsible for defining and driving the system-level architecture, requirements, and integration strategy across complex vehicle platforms. This role sits at the center of vehicle development, translating loosely defined customer, regulatory, and business needs into clear technical requirements and executable engineering frameworks. You will operate in a fast-moving environment where many processes, requirements, and system definitions may be incomplete, outdated, or do not yet exist. Success in this role requires the ability to create structure from ambiguity, make high-quality decisions with incomplete information, and align cross-functional teams around practical engineering solutions. This is not a maintenance role. This is a hands-on technical leadership position for someone who wants meaningful ownership, thrives in complex environments, and wants to help shape the future of Blue Bird’s vehicle platforms.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in automotive, mechanical or systems engineering
4+ years of hands-on experience in automotive systems development, integration, and validation
3+ years’ experience in vehicle architecture, integration, or chassis systems
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.
Strong understanding of vehicle system architecture and cross-domain integration (mechanical, electrical, software, thermal)
Experience developing and managing product or system requirements in complex automotive engineering environments
Working knowledge of vehicle communication networks including CAN, LIN, and Automotive Ethernet
Familiarity with tools such as Vector CANoe/CANalyzer or equivalent diagnostic and communication analysis platforms
Familiarity with MBSE methodologies and requirements management tools such as IBM DOORS, Polarion, JIRA, or equivalent
Ability to create structure and drive execution in low-process or rapidly evolving organizations
Strong systems thinking and ability to balance technical trade-offs across competing priorities
Experience influencing cross-functional teams without formal authority
Demonstrated experience defining and managing system requirements, interfaces, or vehicle architecture
Experience supporting programs through prototype builds, integration, validation, and production launch
Experience with commercial vehicles, body-on-chassis platforms, or incomplete vehicle integration
Experience operating in low-process or rapidly scaling engineering organizations
Familiarity with systems engineering standards and MBSE methodologies

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in engineering or related technical discipline
Takes ownership of difficult technical problems and drives them to resolution
Operates with urgency while maintaining strong engineering judgment
Thinks in systems and interfaces, not isolated components
Can balance technical depth with practical execution
Is comfortable challenging assumptions and driving change
Wants meaningful impact and accountability, not narrowly defined tasks
Ability to anticipate and understand customer needs and provide guidance
Excellent interpersonal and customer relationship skills to handle difficult and sensitive matters.
Strong project management skills. Exposure to difficult or complex projects a plus.
Ability to influence stakeholders
Effective communication and ability to communicate complex details in a clear manner.
Flexible workspaces and work hours to help you unleash the best you.
Working in a collaborative team and balancing the needs of individual stakeholders while delivering corporate objectives.

Responsibilities

Support implementation and execution of the vehicle-level architecture through requirements development, interface management, and systems integration activities.
Create, refine, and manage product and system requirements where none exist or where legacy requirements are incomplete, outdated, or disconnected from current vehicle designs.
Develop and manage Interface Control Documents (ICDs) across chassis, body, propulsion, electrical, and controls systems, ensuring compatibility, traceability, and integration readiness throughout development.
Drive integration across mechanical, electrical, software, and controls domains, ensuring vehicle systems function together reliably and without unintended interactions.
Establish and maintain traceability between customer needs, vehicle requirements, subsystem requirements, and validation activities using tools such as JIRA, or equivalent systems.
Lead trade-off discussions involving performance, weight, cost, manufacturability, serviceability, and program timing. Make timely engineering decisions in ambiguous and fast-paced environments.
Drive alignment across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supplier teams. Resolve conflicting priorities through clear technical direction and practical decision-making.
Support the integration of new vehicle platforms, propulsion systems, and advanced technologies into scalable, production-ready vehicle architectures.
Lead investigation and resolution of cross-functional integration issues involving electrical communication, controls, packaging conflicts, system interactions, and vehicle-level behavior.
Ensure system requirements and integrated vehicle functions align with applicable safety, accessibility, and regulatory standards.
Help establish scalable systems engineering practices, requirements frameworks, and integration processes that improve engineering execution without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.