Sr. Software Systems & Data Engineer

Rivian and VW Group Technology • Palo Alto, CA

12h

About The Position

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.
The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.
In this role, you will bridge the gap between hardware validation and big data. You’ll develop the software that controls automated test equipment (ATE) while architecting the pipelines that ingest and process massive volumes of test results and time-series signals. From ADAS to Battery Management Systems, you will ensure that results and data are traceable to requirements.

Requirements

• Education: BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Experience: 5+ years in hardware test automation with a strong emphasis on Python and object-oriented programming.
• Cloud & Data: Proven experience with Databricks (Spark/SQL) and AWS services (S3, Lambda, Kinesis, or Glue) for data engineering.
• Database Proficiency: Strong knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases, specifically optimized for time-series data storage and retrieval.
• Hardware Context: Familiarity with vehicle communication protocols (CAN, CANFD, Automotive Ethernet) and instrumentation control (VISA, Ethernet, GPIB).
• Visualization: Experience building advanced dashboards in tools like Hex, Grafana, Tableau, or custom web-based frameworks.
• DevOps: Solid understanding of the software engineering life cycle (Git, CI/CD, unit testing, and automated deployment).

Nice To Haves

• Experience with PySpark for large-scale signal processing.
• Familiarity with LabVIEW, Rust or React.
• Knowledge of automotive diagnostic protocols (UDS, XCP).

Responsibilities

• Data Pipeline Architecture: Design and implement automated data ingestion and processing pipelines for high-frequency time-series signals using AWS and Databricks.
• Software Development: Design modular software, drivers, and Hardware Abstraction Layers (HAL) to interface with low-voltage electrical hardware.
• Analytics & Visualization: Create complex dashboards and visualization tools to analyze test coverage, performance trends, and hardware reliability.
• Automation & Control: Develop Python-based automation scripts for characterization, validation and end-of-line (EOL) manufacturing tests.
• Full-Stack Troubleshooting: Root-cause complex issues across the stack, from electrical signals and communication protocols to cloud-side data processing errors.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with hardware designers, validation and reliability engineers to define data schemas and standards for ECU testing.
• Global Support: Support the deployment of data-integrated test systems at Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies and external manufacturing sites.

Benefits

• Total compensation packages for this position include base salary, eligibility for an annual performance bonus, and eligibility for equity.
• In addition, our benefits package has been designed to support the health and wellness of our employees. Benefit offerings include Flex Time Off, retirement savings plans as well as medical, vision and dental coverage.

What This Job Offers

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