Staff Engineer, AD/ADAS Verification & Validation

Mercedes-Benz R&D North America • San Jose, CA

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About The Position

At Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America (MBRDNA), we are committed to delivering world-class automotive technologies that push the boundaries of what is possible. Our teams of highly skilled engineers and designers use cutting-edge software and technology, to enhance the driving experience and reduce environmental impact.

Join our Autonomous Driving team and help shape the next generation of automated driving technologies. We collaborate closely with leading US technology partners such as Google and NVIDIA, as well as our global engineering teams in Germany, to deliver cutting-edge hardware and software systems.

As a Staff Engineer, you will lead the overall North American Verification and Validation program for Automated Driving and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, defining test plans, deliverables, and resource strategies aligned with project milestones and driving their execution through completion.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (mechanical, computer, computer science, mechatronics, electrical, etc).
• 7+ years of relevant work experience.
• Extensive ADAS experience. Knowledge of competitor systems and all AD/ADAS sensor technologies. Strong understanding of SAE Level-2 and Level-3 systems, including system attributes, system performance, and driver feedback and monitoring performance.
• Solid understanding of the automotive vehicle development process and system integration.
• Experience working with vehicle network architectures including CAN and FlexRay, and hands on experience with diagnostic and measurement tools such as CANoe and DTS Monaco.
• Ability to analyze and interpret diagnostic data, fault traces, and measurement results to troubleshoot complex system issues.
• Basic programming knowledge: Ability to support team with script development for analysis of data. Experience using AI tools to speed analysis of qualitative & quantitative feedback.
• Proven ability to coordinate cross functional vehicle updates, testing activities, and reporting in a dynamic development environment; formal project management training or certifications such as PMP are a plus.
• Experience providing technical leadership or indirect guidance to engineers without formal line management responsibility.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage logistics, budgets, workshop activities, and stakeholder alignment across internal teams and global counterpart.
• Experience working in an international or intercultural environment; German language skills are preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 30% including domestic and international business trips and test drives. This includes test trips that require frequent overnight and weekend travel.
• Driver’s license. Ability to test drive vehicles and pass MB T1 & Bertha certifications, which evaluate the driver’s ability to control vehicle dynamics at limit-handling conditions.

Nice To Haves

• German language skills, written and spoken.
• Master's degree with emphasis in Mechanical, Mechatronics or Electrical Engineering.

Responsibilities

• AD/ADAS Testing and Validation:
• Lead scaled testing of AD/ADAS with a focus on the US and Canadian markets.
• Enable team to systematically test performance of AD/ADAS systems, with a focus on US-market specific conditions. Collect measurement data to identify, analyze, and document potential issues found during testing.
• Apply deep knowledge of local customer expectations to prioritize testing focus areas and independently drive defect resolution and product improvements.
• Consolidate findings into weekly status reports and prepare release recommendation reports based on local market system performance.
• Establish, maintain, and enhance automation tooling for KPI monitoring, including visualization tools to real-time monitor project KPIs.
• Utilize SAE Level-2 and Level-3 systems knowledge to review and judge Mercedes-Benz product performance objectively and subjectively and provide feedback and actionable improvements to development departments.
• Communicate findings and recommendations to executive leadership and influence product and validation direction.
• Test Vehicle Maintenance and Technical Oversight:
• Lead team to update and maintain SW and HW on dedicated test vehicle to both released and pre-released levels.
• Flash and update ECUs and sensor calibration.
• Update and maintain the vehicle measurement equipment to ensure proper operation at all times.
• Train and mentor team members in vehicle systems and diagnostics.
• Communication and Cross Functional Coordination:
• Maintain regular communication with internal and external stakeholders to stay aligned on shifting project timelines.
• Escalate and drive project owners to make sure projects stay on track to achieve market goals.
• Manage vehicle scheduling and track hardware and software availability minimize vehicle down time.
• Support other engineering teams as needed and stay informed of feature development, issues, and release status for AD/ADAS systems.
• Other Responsibilities:
• Lead the engineering team through structured training, one on one development, and mentorship
• Develop new testing strategies and planning for ADAS testing projects, test routes, test methods, and reporting.
• Define and track performance metrics aligned with strategic ADAS validation objectives.
• Independently manage budget planning and updates with customer departments.
• Drive process development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Align and share project status and testing results with other international testing sites.
• Research and incorporate US specific traffic environments and driving conditions into validation strategies.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• 401(k) with employer match
• Up to 15 company-paid holidays
• Paid time off (flexible time off for salaried employees), sick time, and parental leave
• Tuition assistance program
• Wellness/Fitness reimbursement programs

What This Job Offers

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