Thermal Controls, Test & Integration Engineer

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies•Irvine, CA

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. Role Summary: We are seeking a dedicated and innovative Controls Software Engineer to join our Thermal Controls software development team. This role is integral to the development and integration of control systems for various vehicle features, including cabin cooling, cabin heating, battery cooling, battery heating, and actuator control development. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in electrical or mechanical engineering, with a focus on automotive or aerospace control systems.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or related fields
1+ years of experience working with controls development, integration, or calibration - automotive or aerospace experience preferred
Strong proficiency in C, C++, Rust, and/or Python
Knowledgeable about control theory principles & algorithm design like compensator design and PID tuning
Familiar with fundamentals of heat transfer and thermodynamics
Working experience in firmware integration, calibration, vehicle-level testing, and/or SW debugging at the feature level

Nice To Haves

Familiar with thermal and HVAC components including but not limited to water pumps, AC compressors, expansion valves, blower fans, and HVAC modules preferred
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 with developing automated test cases in the unit testing, SIL, and/or HIL environment; Pytest, OpenHTF, or equivalent experience preferred

Responsibilities

Develop embedded software in C for automotive ECUs
Architect and develop control systems for various vehicle subsystems such as refrigeration, coolant, external airflow, and HVAC to be executed on embedded controllers
Review requirements and produce high-level functional specification designs to offer control solutions
Create test cases and scripts to validate features in unit test, Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) test, and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test environments
Conduct software testing and calibration on vehicles
Develop intuitive diagnostic interfaces for controllers to facilitate troubleshooting and maintenance
Utilize a multidisciplinary approach to troubleshoot functional problems within our vehicles by addressing root causes across physical, electrical, and software domains.
Prioritize and escalate issues based on user impact and program objectives for prompt resolution