Staff Software Engineer, OTA Platform

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies

. Develop OTA features and services for firmware delivery, ECU/software configuration updates, and software-hardware mismatch detection and remediation .

Posted 10/8/2026full-timeBerlin • GermanyLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates extensive experience in developing OTA features and services for automotive firmware delivery, with a strong focus on system architecture, API design, and ensuring compliance with automotive security and safety standards. Proficient in C++ and Rust, with a solid understanding of embedded systems and automotive communication protocols.

Highest-signal resume keywords

C++ ProgrammingRust ProgrammingEmbedded LinuxAutomotive Communication ProtocolsOTA Software Update Systems

ATS Keywords

Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Embedded Systems DevelopmentSystem Architecture OwnershipDebugging SkillsVersion ControlCI/CD for Embedded Software

Soft Skills

Cross-Organization CollaborationMentoring EngineersTechnical Leadership

Tools & Technologies

Automotive EthernetCAN/CAN-FDSOME/IPUDS/DoIPTLSMQTTGRPC/Protobuf

Industry Keywords

Automotive SoftwareFunctional SafetyCybersecurityHIL TestingMachine Learning for Edge Compute

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

CloudCyber SecurityGRPCLinuxRustC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop OTA features and services for firmware delivery, ECU/software configuration updates, and software-hardware mismatch detection and remediation
Collaborate daily with the Palo Alto OTA team on system architecture, API contracts, and release planning
Align Germany-site work streams with the global OTA roadmap
Design safe, resumable, rollback-capable full-image, delta/differential, and A/B-partition updates across heterogeneous ECUs
Define and evolve the software/hardware compatibility framework, including version dependency graphs, pre-condition checks, and campaign eligibility rules
Drive cloud/backend interface and contract discussions covering campaign orchestration, telemetry ingestion, and update eligibility services
Integrate OTA services with ECUs and cloud endpoints using automotive communication protocols
Ensure OTA processes meet automotive security and safety expectations, including secure boot, cryptographic signing/verification, and key management
Partner with QA, functional safety, cybersecurity, and vehicle integration teams on bench, HIL, and vehicle-level testing
Support root-cause analysis and resolution of field update failures, mismatches, and rollback issues
Lead architecture reviews and global OTA platform design decisions while representing Germany-site needs
Drive Germany-site technical planning, design reviews, code quality standards, and delivery execution
Mentor Senior and mid-level engineers and review designs and code
Identify architectural risks and technical debt and lead remediation initiatives
Act as an escalation point for complex issues spanning firmware, middleware, and cloud interfaces

Requirements

What you’ll need

8+ years of professional software engineering experience, including significant time in embedded, systems, or automotive software
Experience owning system or platform architecture for a production software product
Track record leading technical initiatives across multiple engineers or teams, including cross-site or cross-organization collaboration
Experience interfacing with a partner engineering team in a different location/time zone
Strong, hands-on proficiency in C++ and Rust; core, non-negotiable requirement
Understanding of embedded Linux / POSIX-compliant operating environments and resource-limited automotive compute platforms
Experience with in-vehicle and vehicle-to-cloud communication protocols, including CAN/CAN-FD, Automotive Ethernet, SOME/IP, UDS/DoIP, TLS, MQTT, gRPC/Protobuf, or comparable protocols
Ability to drive technical interface discussions with cloud/backend engineering teams, defining APIs, data contracts, and failure-handling behavior
Experience with version control, code review workflows, and CI/CD for embedded or systems software
Working knowledge of digital signatures, certificate/key management, and secure boot chains
Strong debugging skills across application logic, OS/driver interaction, and hardware/bus-level communication
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
Fluent English, spoken and written
Willingness to travel occasionally to Palo Alto, California, or host virtual overlap hours
German language skills are a plus
Preferred: experience with OTA/software update systems, engineering site/team scaling, machine learning/AI for edge compute, automotive middleware, Yocto/embedded Linux, functional safety, automotive cybersecurity, SBOM tooling, HIL testing, embedded containerization/virtualization, and distributed multi-site engineering organizations

Benefits

Comp & perks

Annual company performance bonus program eligibility for full-time positions
Equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval, plan terms, and vesting requirements
Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees
Health coverage
Retirement savings
Time off
Family planning programs
Benefits offerings vary by country