Sr. Staff Hardware Systems Architect - Connectivity/Wireless

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies • Palo Alto, CA

2d

About The Position

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between Rivian and Volkswagen Group focused on technology for software-defined vehicles, including operating systems, zonal controllers, cloud services, and connectivity solutions.

The Sr. Staff Hardware Systems Architect will lead work within the Hardware Systems Architecture team to understand wireless and connectivity product features and attributes, collaborate across functions to translate them into technical requirements, and define vehicle subsystem and module architectures. The role also supports the definition of system performance criteria and validation methodologies.

The work spans Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/BLE, 4G/5G, GNSS, V2X, and UWB technologies as they apply to telematics, infotainment, vehicle access, and related vehicle domains. The architect drives associated RF, network, compute, and power architectures and helps develop a scalable connectivity and wireless roadmap.

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, NFC, and V2X, and with their performance metrics and evaluation methodologies at RF, protocol, and system application levels.
• Experience designing and/or validating embedded RF systems for distributed architecture environments, such as automotive, aerospace, robotics, or analogous domains.
• Foundation in RF and electrical engineering fundamentals.
• Hands-on familiarity with RF 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.
• Familiarity with wireless technology performance evaluation at protocol and system integration levels.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with hardware architecture, systems engineering, hardware design, and software application teams to translate functional, performance, industry, and regulatory requirements into subsystem requirements.
• Identify key metrics and trade-offs, use data and analysis to optimize them, and define clear system-level and module-level architecture requirements.
• Model system-level trade-offs involving distributed compute, network, 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 the development of mock-ups and prototypes to study next-generation technologies, establish proofs of concept, test modeled assumptions, or serve as reference platforms.
• Support the system validation team in developing comprehensive test plans that measure system-level performance, identify bottlenecks, and reveal potential 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 applicable plan terms and vesting requirements.
• Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs; offerings vary by country.

What This Job Offers

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