Staff Thermal Controls Test and Integration Engineer

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies•Irvine, CA

18d

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. We are currently looking for a skilled and driven Controls Test and Integration Engineer to become part of our Thermal Control Software Development team. This team is dedicated to creating state-of-the-art software for thermal controls in automotive vehicles including refrigeration, coolant, and HVAC systems. The perfect candidate will possess a solid foundation in software integration and vehicle integration.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering
5+ years of experience working with control systems – automotive or aerospace experience preferred
Strong proficiency in C, C++, Rust, and/or Python
Working experience with requirements management tools (Jama, Doors, or equivalent) preferred
Working experience with issue tracking tools (Jira or equivalent) preferred
Working experience with communication bus monitoring tools (Vector CANalyzer or equivalent) preferred
Working experience with software calibration tools (Vector CANape, ETAS INCA, or equivalent) preferred
Working experience in firmware integration, calibration, vehicle-level testing, and/or SW debugging at the feature level
Working experience with developing automated test cases in the unit testing, SIL, and/or HIL environment; Pytest, OpenHTF, or equivalent experience preferred
Experience with electrical and communication system integration for system level and vehicle level test assets preferred
Familiar with fundamentals of heat transfer and thermodynamics
Familiar with thermal and HVAC components including but not limited to water pumps, AC compressors, expansion valves, blower fans, and HVAC modules

Responsibilities

Lead requirements and test coverage development across virtual and physical assets including but not limited to SIL, HIL, and vehicles
Track feature maturity through test coverage across unit testing, Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), and vehicle level test assets
Design and document detailed test cases and scripts for validating feature functionality in SIL and HIL environments
Design and document test cases at system and vehicle levels based on system and software requirements
Gather data from communication systems commonly used in embedded systems like CAN and Ethernet as well as from vehicle telemetry stored in the cloud
Work with firmware developers and systems engineers to diagnose issues and drive resolution
Test and calibrate thermal management features for cabin HVAC, refrigeration systems, and coolant systems to achieve attributes targets including performance, range, NVH, and cabin comfort
Plan and coordinate test assets to characterize and validate software functionality
Prioritize and escalate issues based on user impact and program objectives
Collaborate with software and hardware systems engineers to develop and refine requirements focusing on testability and scalability across different thermal system configurations