Sr. Staff Hardware Systems Architect - Connectivity/Wireless

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies • Palo Alto, CA

3d • $213,000 - $292,950

About The Position

As a hardware architect on the Hardware Systems Architecture team, you will develop a thorough understanding of wireless and connectivity product features and attributes, collaborate across functions to translate them into technical requirements, and define vehicle subsystem and module architectures. In later development stages, you will help establish system performance criteria and validation methodologies.

The role covers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/BLE, 4G/5G, GNSS, V2X, and UWB technologies used in vehicle subsystems for telematics, infotainment, vehicle access, and related domains. You will drive the corresponding RF, network, compute, and power architectures.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 8 years of hands-on experience in relevant industries, including automotive, aerospace, or relevant consumer applications.
• Deep familiarity with wireless technologies used in automotive applications, including LTE/5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GNSS, BLE, UWB, and NFC, and with performance evaluation at RF, protocol, and systems-application levels.
• Familiarity with system design and/or certification for Connect Car Consortium (CCC) and/or Made for iPhone (MFi) keyless-entry systems at module and system levels.
• Experience designing and/or validating embedded RF systems optimized for distributed architectures, including in automotive, aerospace, robotics, or analogous domains.
• Foundation in RF and electrical engineering fundamentals, and hands-on familiarity with test and measurement equipment such as logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, DMMs, and network analyzers.
• Understanding of power-related aspects of distributed embedded architectures, including low-power-state utilization, wake propagation, and sequencing.
• Conversance with wireless technologies such as GNSS, BLE, LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi, and/or UWB, and their performance evaluation at protocol and systems-integration levels.

Responsibilities

• Work cross-functionally with hardware architecture, systems engineering, hardware design, and software application teams to translate functional, performance, industry, and regulatory requirements into subsystem requirements; identify metrics and trade-offs; and use data and analysis to develop system- and module-level architecture requirements.
• Model system-level trade-offs involving distributed compute, networks, and other resources, including power efficiency, end-to-end latency, compute and memory utilization, and scalability.
• Build relationships with vendors and industry organizations to understand current and future connectivity standards and technologies, and develop a scalable connectivity and wireless roadmap for RVT.
• Guide mock-ups and prototypes to study emerging technologies, establish proofs of concept, test modeled assumptions, and provide reference platforms.
• Support the system validation team in developing comprehensive test plans that measure system performance, identify bottlenecks, and detect over- or under-design relative to system requirements.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Eligibility for an annual company performance bonus program for full-time positions; payments are discretionary and not guaranteed
• Eligibility for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and plan terms
• Health coverage
• Retirement savings
• Time off
• Family planning programs

What This Job Offers

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