Senior Staff Vehicle Systems Architect

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies

. Lead vehicle-level architecture for a platform program from concept through production release .

Posted 10/28/2026full-timeIrvine • California • United StatesSenior💰 $218,200 - $300,100 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in vehicle-level architecture, including defining controllers, functional allocation, and trade studies. Proficient in first-principles modeling, system integration, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to drive design reliability and efficiency.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Vehicle-Level Architecture LeadershipFirst-Principles ModelingPython ProgrammingWCCA and Tolerance AnalysisSysML v2 Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

First-Principles ModelingStack-Up ModelingWCCAMonte Carlo AnalysisDesign Of Experiments (DOE)E/E ArchitectureVehicle Controls SoftwareThermal and Packaging IntegrationMechanical IntegrationReliability Engineering

Soft Skills

Decision-MakingNegotiationMentoringCollaborationCommunication

Tools & Technologies

PythonC++Julia/ModelicaGitAI-Assisted PipelinesEngineering Tooling

Industry Keywords

Automotive EngineeringAerospace EngineeringElectromechanical SystemsSystems EngineeringISO 26262STPAFTAModel CorrelationParameter ManagementCost Engineering

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PythonC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead vehicle-level architecture for a platform program from concept through production release
Define controllers and placement, functional allocation across ECUs, LV/HV distribution, sensor and actuator distribution, packaging, temperature/environmental constraints, and NVH constraints
Lead architecture trade studies with quantified cost, mass, range, power, temperature, NVH, complexity, reliability, and manufacturability outcomes
Use models to identify and remove unnecessary controllers, harness runs, sensors, and requirements
Translate partner asks into architecture decisions and own architecture decision records and rationale
Align architecture with technology roadmaps
Define correlation and characterization tests, validate models against the physical vehicle, and own model error budgets
Define design spaces and candidate architectures, weigh tradeoffs, and build AI-assisted search pipelines
Build and own meta-models connecting features, functions, controllers, physical interfaces, and software interfaces
Author first-principles and stack-up models using Python, Julia/Modelica, C++, and SysML v2 where appropriate
Drive reliability by design using top-down vehicle attributes and bottom-up component data
Lead vehicle-level STPA as a design process and feed hazards and control gaps into models
Negotiate architecture with VW Group, Rivian brand teams, and partner functions
Collaborate with Electrical System Architecture, Software System Architecture, and subsystem domain systems leads
Establish methods for trade studies, meta-modelling, and WCCA; author playbooks and templates; mentor engineers; review models and decisions
Publish models and requirements as a source of truth
Convert recurring analyses into engineering tooling and AI-assisted pipelines
Deliver vehicle architecture boundary diagrams, vehicle-level STPA or integrated feature STPAs and DFMEAs, traceable architecture decisions, and a correlated parametric vehicle model with a known error budget

Requirements

What you’ll need

BS/MS in Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, Aerospace or Computer Engineering, or an equivalent demonstrated record
12+ years in automotive, aerospace or electromechanical systems engineering
At least one full program cycle owning system- or vehicle-level architecture decisions from concept to production
Demonstrated first-principles and stack-up modelling
Fluency across at least two of E/E architecture, vehicle controls software, thermal and packaging, and mechanical integration
Worst-case and tolerance analysis practice, including WCCA, Monte Carlo, and DOE, applied to real designs
Strong Python skills
Comfortable in C++ or Julia/Modelica/Spice
Git-native
Ability to bind ambiguous asks into decisions and defend them with numbers to executives and Brands
Preferred: systems-of-systems and meta-modelling experience, including SysML v2, FMI/FMU co-simulation, and parameter management across model hierarchies
Preferred: hands-on LLM or agentic tooling applied to engineering artifacts
Preferred: cost engineering fluency, including should-cost, BOM roll-ups, and design-to-cost trades
Preferred: STPA, FTA, and ISO 26262 concept phase experience
Preferred: model correlation and test characterization experience
Preferred: experience building or shipping engineering tooling

Benefits

Comp & perks

Annual company performance bonus program eligibility for full-time positions
Equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Health coverage
Retirement savings
Time off
Family planning programs
Comprehensive benefits package supporting health, wellbeing, and financial future