Staff Software Systems Engineer, Diagnostics, Autonomy

Rivian • Palo Alto, CA

49d • Onsite

About The Position

About Rivian Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. As a company, we constantly challenge what's possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations. Role Summary Our autonomous driving systems rely on robust, real-time diagnostics to ensure functional safety, achieve higher states of autonomy, and streamline the vehicle life cycle management. As a Diagnostics Systems Engineer, you will be the technical owner responsible for designing and implementing the end-to-end diagnostic and fault management infrastructure, ensuring that our systems are not only safe on the road but also efficient and reliable to service in the factory and in the field.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a closely related technical field
• At least 5-8 years of progressive experience in mechatronics, embedded software development, or systems engineering, preferably within the automotive or aerospace industries
• Demonstrated mastery of the Universal Diagnostic Services (UDS) framework (ISO 14229) and related protocols (e.g., DoIP, XCP/CCP)
• Deep technical expertise in fault monitoring design (DTC management), fault reaction strategies, and the application of diagnostic methods to achieve Functional Safety (ISO 26262) safety goals
• Knowledge of Autonomous systems fundamentals such as data characteristics of different sensor modalities and data needs for perception, localization, decision making, planning, and large scale ML/DL models
• Basic ability to read, write, and debug code in key languages, including C++, Python, and database query languages (SQL)
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills with a proven track record of excellent communication and facilitation across highly technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Ability to work out of the Palo Alto office three times per week

Responsibilities

• Define and Own Diagnostics Strategy: Establish the long-term technical strategy and roadmap for the vehicle's autonomy system diagnostics infrastructure, spanning in-vehicle ECU communication, cloud-based data ingestion, and service tool integration.
• Fault Management Definition: Define the detailed requirements and comprehensive test cases for fault monitoring, detection, and reaction logic within the autonomy stack (including sensors, compute, and actuators) to safely enable and validate higher states of autonomous functionality.
• Root Cause Acceleration: Develop and implement tools, logs, and processes that significantly reduce the mean time to troubleshoot, root cause, and debug system failures, providing clear, actionable insights for developers and field technicians.
• Service and Manufacturing Optimization: Lead initiatives to drastically improve factory and service workflows by designing standardized, automated diagnostic routines and test sequences for End-of-Line (EOL) testing and service center bays.
• Data-Driven Improvement: Define and gather key diagnostic metrics, telemetry, and fault data from the fleet to analyze patterns, quantify system reliability, and establish a data-driven process for continuous improvement of both the diagnostic strategy and the autonomy software itself.
• Cross-Functional Facilitation: Act as the primary interface between core autonomy software teams, functional safety engineers, manufacturing/quality teams, and the after-sales service organization to ensure consensus and alignment on diagnostic requirements.

Benefits

• Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees