Automotive Electrical Systems Engineer

We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life—from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.

As part of the global ALTEN Group—57,000+ engineers in 30 countries—we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.

When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you’ll collaborate on some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.

Automotive Electrical Systems Engineer – Interior, Body & Chassis

Position Overview

We are seeking an Automotive Electrical Systems Engineer with hands-on experience in developing, analyzing, and documenting electrical specifications for automotive applications. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of vehicle electrical and electronic (E/E) systems, with knowledge of Interior, Body, and Chassis systems.

The engineer will be responsible for translating vehicle-level functional requirements and customer specifications into detailed electrical system specifications, defining interfaces, and supporting system integration and validation throughout the automotive product development lifecycle.

The successful candidate should be comfortable working with OEM engineering teams, suppliers, and cross-functional engineering groups to ensure electrical systems meet functional, performance, interface, and quality requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Electrical Specifications & Requirements Development

• Develop, analyze, and maintain electrical system specifications for automotive applications.
• Translate customer requirements, vehicle-level functions, and engineering inputs into clear, measurable, and testable electrical specifications.
• Define electrical and electronic system requirements, including functional behavior, interfaces, signals, inputs/outputs, and performance criteria.
• Develop and review system-level and subsystem-level electrical specifications for Interior, Body, and Chassis applications.
• Interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, interface documents, signal definitions, and technical specifications.
• Define system interfaces between ECUs, sensors, actuators, switches, and other vehicle electrical components.
• Ensure requirements are complete, consistent, traceable, and aligned with OEM specifications.
• Support requirements allocation, change management, impact analysis, and technical documentation throughout the vehicle development lifecycle.
• Collaborate with electrical architecture, hardware, software, systems integration, and validation teams to resolve specification-related issues.
• Use requirements management tools such as IBM DOORS, DOORS Next, Polarion, or Jama to document and manage requirements.

Automotive Subsystem Knowledge

• Apply electrical systems engineering principles across one or more of the following automotive domains:
  • Interior Systems: Seating, HVAC controls, interior lighting, power windows, door modules, switches, occupant comfort systems, and other cabin electronics.
  • Body Systems: Body Control Modules (BCMs), central locking, power liftgates, wipers, exterior lighting, access systems, and other body electronics.
  • Chassis Systems: Electronic braking systems, steering systems, suspension controls, wheel-speed sensing, and related chassis electronic control systems.
• Understand subsystem functionality, electrical interfaces, signal requirements, and interactions with other vehicle systems.
• Support the definition of functional behavior, operating conditions, fault responses, and system interface requirements.
• Review subsystem specifications and ensure alignment with vehicle-level electrical architecture and functional objectives.
• Coordinate with domain engineers and suppliers to clarify requirements and resolve electrical specification gaps.

System Integration, Verification & Validation Support

• Support system integration and verification activities to ensure compliance with electrical specifications and customer requirements.
• Develop or review verification criteria, test specifications, and acceptance criteria based on system requirements.
• Support system-level functional testing, troubleshooting, defect analysis, and root-cause investigations.
• Work with engineering teams to resolve electrical interface, signal, communication, and functional issues.
• Support testing across bench, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), and vehicle-level environments, as applicable.
• Maintain traceability between system requirements, specifications, verification procedures, and test results.
• Participate in design reviews, requirements reviews, technical discussions, and engineering change assessments.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, hardware and software engineers, electrical architects, and validation teams.
• Participate in technical reviews to ensure electrical specifications are technically feasible, complete, and consistent.
• Support automotive development processes, engineering documentation, quality requirements, and release activities.
• Communicate technical issues, specification gaps, and proposed solutions clearly to internal and external stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in automotive electrical/electronic systems engineering, electrical specifications, or requirements development.
• Hands-on experience developing, interpreting, reviewing, or managing electrical system specifications.
• Working knowledge of at least one automotive domain: Interior, Body, or Chassis systems.
• Understanding of automotive E/E architecture, ECUs, electrical interfaces, sensors, actuators, and system interactions.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, signal definitions, interface specifications, and technical documentation.
• Experience translating functional requirements into detailed electrical or system-level requirements.
• Familiarity with automotive communication protocols such as CAN, CAN FD, LIN, or Automotive Ethernet.
• Understanding of system integration, verification, and validation processes within the automotive development lifecycle.
• Familiarity with requirements management and traceability principles.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working directly with automotive OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers.
• Experience developing electrical specifications for body electronics, interior comfort systems, lighting, access systems, steering, braking, or suspension applications.
• Familiarity with automotive electrical architecture, wiring harnesses, electrical interfaces, and signal-level documentation.
• Experience with IBM DOORS, DOORS Next, Polarion, or Jama.
• Familiarity with Vector CANoe, CANalyzer, Vehicle Spy, or similar automotive engineering tools.
• Experience supporting system integration, bench testing, HIL/SIL testing, or vehicle validation.
• Understanding of the V-model, Automotive SPICE (ASPICE), and ISO 26262.
• Experience with defect tracking, engineering change management, and technical documentation tools

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or pregnancy.

Please beware of job seeker scams and see this important notice on our careers page for more information about our recruiting process.

Compliance Notice: Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Drug Screening Requirement: As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug-free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.