CARIAD, Inc. · 2 hours ago
Principal Systems Engineer, Infotainment ECU
Mountain View, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff
$195K/yr - $283K/yr
12+ years expCARIAD is an automotive software development team within the Volkswagen Group, aiming to enhance the automotive experience. The Principal Systems Engineer, Infotainment ECU will lead system-level execution, integration, and validation of infotainment ECUs, driving requirements and coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure robust ECU delivery.
AutomotiveInformation TechnologySoftware
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Lead system requirements gathering and traceability for infotainment ECU features, diagnostics, and compliance
Contribute to architecture trade-off analysis, performance and power estimations, and capacity planning; validate against user experience and vehicle constraints
Assist with build and maintain performance models to guide design choices; drive cross-functional reviews and support domain signoffs with domain owner
Partner with hardware leads to define and refine system-level hardware requirements and constraints for the infotainment ECU (power, high-speed interfaces, memory, connectivity, audio/display) and ensure they flow to silicon and PCB vendors
Review schematic/PCB progress, DFM/DFT readiness, and EVT/DVT/PVT builds; surface and track thermal, EMC/EMI, and reliability risks with the hardware team
Coordinate lab bring-up activities and issue tracking with responsible domain teams, ensuring hardware owners stay in the loop and own fixes
Lead ECU integration into vehicle networks (CAN/CAN FD, LIN, Ethernet as applicable) in partnership with network owners
Define and execute system integration tests across bench, HIL, and in-vehicle with cross-domain peers; triage issues across hardware, firmware, and applications with clear ownership and hand-offs
Coordinate supplier deliverables (SoC vendors, ODMs, contract manufacturers) with clear requirements, acceptance criteria, and documentation; escalate risks early with supplier leads
Partner with SoC, BSP, and middleware leads on SoC selection, boot chain (UEFI/U-Boot, secure boot), BSP, middleware, and driver integration; co-evaluate performance/power targets and trade-offs
Support roadmap alignment with HMI, connectivity, and cloud teams; jointly validate audio, video, display, and storage pipelines through system-level test plans
Ensure diagnostics, logging, security features, and OTA readiness at ECU level with contributors from each discipline, keeping ownership with respective domain leads
Qualification
Required
Experience in developing strategies for automotive safety
Strong ARM SoC, DDR/flash, PMIC, PCIe/USB, audio/video/display understanding
Proficient in BSP/bootloader/kernel fundamentals and embedded Linux/RTOS
Skilled in schematic/layout review, bringup, validation, and triage across domains
Strong knowledge of vehicle networks (CAN/CAN FD, LIN, Automotive Ethernet)
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities; clear communicator with cross-functional teams and suppliers
Ability to lead ambiguous hardware/software/system investigations and drive to closure
Self-driven, organized, and comfortable coordinating multi-partner deliverables
12+ years of Systems Engineering experience with an emphasis in embedded/infotainment ECU development across SoC, board, and system integration
Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics or related technical field
Preferred
Experience with automotive safety (ISO 26262) and cybersecurity (ISO/SAE 21434)
Background with Android Automotive, QNX, or embedded Linux infotainment stacks
Exposure to audio tuning, display/graphics optimization, and validation
Familiarity with OTA campaign orchestration and security hardening
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
401k with employer match and defined contribution plan
Short and long term disability
Basic life and AD&D insurance
Employee assistance program
Tuition reimbursement
Student loan repayment plans
Maternity and non-primary caregiver leave
Adoption assistance
Employee referral program
Vacation and paid holidays
Unique vehicle lease program that covers registration and insurance fees
Company
CARIAD, Inc.
For generations, Volkswagen AG has included a collection of legendary brands.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Scott Runner
Chief Executive Officer
Julian Christopher Zeug
Director IT Security, Chief Information Security Officer
Recent News
2026-01-07
2026-01-05
2025-11-28
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