Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies · 4 weeks ago
Staff Embedded Software Engineer
Palo Alto, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$186K/yr - $246K/yr
7+ years expRivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. The Staff Embedded Software Engineer will play a critical role in supporting ECU-level platform bring-up and validation, ensuring robust performance and seamless user experiences in the rapidly growing EV marketplace.
AutomotiveInformation TechnologySoftware
Responsibilities
Lead and contribute to the bring-up of new hardware platforms at the ECU level for infotainment systems, including initial boot, driver integration, and system-level debugging
Design, develop, and implement dedicated software features specifically for testing the ECU against its specifications. These features are critical for comprehensive validation at the ECU level
Extract valuable learnings from the validation feature development and testing processes to continuously improve and enhance production diagnostics
Develop and execute comprehensive validation strategies, Including Stress Testing: Design and implement rigorous stress tests for critical ECU subsystems (CPU, GPU, NPU, Multimedia subsystems) to identify performance bottlenecks, thermal limitations, and ensure system stability under extreme loads
Analyze and optimize ECU system performance, identifying areas for improvement and implementing efficient solutions
Develop and maintain manufacturing software for End-of-Line (EOL) testing, ensuring quality control and efficient production processes for ECUs
Focus on validating and optimizing the camera and display subsystems at the ECU level, from driver integration and middleware validation to user-space application testing, ensuring high-quality multimedia experiences within the infotainment system
Work closely with hardware engineers, Validation & Test Automation teams, and other software architects/engineers to ensure seamless ECU integration and delivery of high-quality products
Identify and resolve complex software and hardware issues at the ECU level, utilizing various debugging tools and techniques, with an ability to work across organizations/teams
Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for software designs, APIs, and test procedures
Ability to crisply communicate with peers, stakeholders, customers, technical leaders, and OEMs/ODMs
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science/Engineering or a related field
7+ years' experience in Embedded Software Development
Strong hands-on experience with high-performance SoCs such as Snapdragon, NVIDIA Orin, MediaTek, or similar platforms. Experience with automotive-grade SoCs is a significant plus
Proficient in Embedded Linux, QNX, DriveOS, and experience with hypervisor-based systems (e.g., Type-1 hypervisors, Gunyah, ACRN, etc.)
Strong background in multimedia development with a particular focus on camera and/or display subsystems - including driver integration, middleware, and user-space application development
Proven experience in ECU-level software development for complex infotainment systems
Experience with performance analysis and optimization of CPU, GPU, and NPU workloads
Expert proficiency in C, C++, and Python
Good understanding of Linux and/or RTOS fundamentals, Board Support Packages, kernel configuration, device driver interfaces, and debugging tools
Hands-on experience using Lauterbach, Oscilloscope, JTAG, and flashing tools
Solid understanding of interface protocol stacks (SPI, I2C, Ethernet, PCIe), and board bring-up
Experience with scripting languages (Python, shell)
Comfortable and effective working in fast-paced environments such as startups, consumer electronics, or automotive domains, with a proven ability to adapt to evolving requirements
Preferred
Knowledge of OS internals (process scheduler, memory management, concurrency, synchronization, storage)
Knowledge of hypervisors and virtualization in the automotive industry
Experience with ARM cores and architecture
Experience in using electronic test equipment for debugging at the hardware level
Experience with embedded toolchains (compilers, linkers, linker scripts)
Experience with automotive communication protocols (e.g., CAN, Ethernet)
Familiarity with functional safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262)
Experience with continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for embedded systems
Benefits
Robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26.
Flex Time Off
Retirement savings plans
Medical, vision and dental coverage
Company
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies develops scalable automotive software and technology platforms for multiple vehicle segments.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (9)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Kranti Garatkar
Staff Technical Program Manager
Recent News
2025-11-14
Company data provided by crunchbase