Staff Engineer, HIL Design, Hardware Integration & Test

We are CARIAD, an automotive software development team with the Volkswagen Group. Our mission is to make the automotive experience safer, more sustainable, more comfortable, more digital, and more fun. To achieve that we are building the leading tech stack for the automotive industry and creating a unified software platform for over 10 million new vehicles per year. We’re looking for talented, digital minds like you to help us create code that moves the world. Together with you, we’ll build outstanding digital experiences and products for all Volkswagen Group brands that will transform mobility. Join us as we shape the future of the car and everyone around it.

​Role Summary: 

The Staff Engineer, HIL Design, Hardware Integration & Test owns the hardware-oriented architecture, build, bring-up, and sustained readiness of HIL benches, integration benches, harnesses, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and AI-enabled lab automation used to validate CARIAD, Inc. hardware platforms. This is a hands-on staff-level individual contributor role requiring deep HIL design experience, embedded hardware bring-up, wire harness drawing ownership, Python automation, and AI-based automation using MCP servers or comparable tool interfaces. The role converts requirements, schematics, ICDs, harness drawings, supplier documentation, and failure modes into scalable HIL architectures, controlled bench configurations, test procedures, automated execution, and repeatable validation evidence. The engineer leads complex board, ECU, and system bring-up; resolves cross-domain hardware/software issues; drives design-for-integration and design-for-test practices; and owns the hardware-side roadmap for AI-enabled lab capability.

Role Responsibilities:

HIL Architecture, Hardware Integration & Bring-Up

• Own HIL and integration bench architecture for embedded automotive hardware platforms, including I/O strategy, signal conditioning, load/sensor simulation, fault insertion, power distribution, instrumentation, safety interlocks, bench health monitoring, and readiness criteria.
• Lead hands-on board, ECU, and system bring-up across prototype revisions, including power, reset, boot, flashing, communications, display, audio, RF/radio paths, diagnostics, issue isolation, and root-cause closure.

Wire Harness, ICD & Test Infrastructure Technical Ownership

• Own wire harness drawings, pinouts, connector definitions, cable assemblies, lab wiring documentation, ICDs, and bench interface definitions required for integration, HIL execution, and validation readiness.
• Translate requirements, schematics, supplier documentation, ICDs, and failure modes into controlled bench configurations, fixture needs, test procedures, automation requirements, evidence expectations, and configuration baselines.

Validation Automation, AI Tools and MCP Server Roadmap

• Develop and own Python-based automation for instrument control, sequencing, data capture, log parsing, regression execution, evidence collection, and reusable test libraries.
• Lead the hardware-side roadmap for AI-enabled lab automation, including MCP servers, equipment control, setup verification, test orchestration, artifact retrieval, failure triage, evidence packaging, governance, and measurable execution improvements.

Cross-Functional Technical Leadership, Supplier Coordination & Validation Readiness

• Serve as staff-level technical escalation for complex integration and validation issues, driving structured triage across hardware, software, systems, validation, manufacturing, suppliers, IT, and lab operations.
• Communicate status, risks, blockers, decisions, recovery plans, validation evidence, and closure rationale clearly, while mentoring engineers on disciplined debug, design-for-test, lab practices, templates, and repeatable processes.

General Skills:

• Staff-level technical leadership in HIL architecture, hardware integration, validation infrastructure, lab automation, and prototype lab execution.
• System-level command of interactions among hardware, software, mechanics, power, networks, diagnostics, manufacturing, validation, and supplier deliverables.
• Disciplined engineering approach to requirements decomposition, interface analysis, trade-off evaluation, risk identification, verification planning, and evidence-based closure.
• Structured problem solving and rigorous hardware debug for ambiguous, cross-domain failures.
• Clear written, verbal, and executive-ready communication with data-backed recommendations and actionable next steps.
• Ability to convert ambiguous lab problems into scalable processes, owners, evidence, closure criteria and durable corrective actions.
• Hands-on ownership in a prototype lab environment with strong follow-through on risks, blockers, safety, and corrective actions.

Required Specialized Skills:

• HIL design, including architecture, signal/I/O mapping, fault insertion, load/sensor simulation, power distribution, safety interlocks, instrumentation, bench health monitoring, configuration management, and repeatable execution methods.
• Embedded hardware integration and bring-up experience across power, reset, clock, boot, flashing, peripherals, firmware, BSP, drivers, test infrastructure, and HW/SW issue isolation.
• Wire harness background and wire harness drawing ownership, including connector/pinout definition, signal routing, shielding/grounding, continuity checks, cable assembly documentation, and lab wiring control.
• Hands-on integration and debug of display interfaces, analog audio, digital audio, RF/radio communication paths, CAN/CAN FD, LIN, Ethernet/1000BASE-T1, serial, USB, UART, SPI, I2C, GPIO, analog/digital I/O, power/wake lines, and diagnostics.
• Strong lab instrumentation capability, including oscilloscopes, meters, power supplies, electronic loads, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, RF tools, Ethernet tools, CAN tools, and controlled reproduction setups.
• Python for automation, instrument control, data capture, sequencing, log parsing, evidence collection, repeatable execution, regression execution, and reusable automation libraries.
• AI tools, MCP servers, and AI-based automation for hardware lab workflows, including equipment control, orchestration, artifact retrieval, setup verification, failure triage, evidence packaging, governance, and traceable closure.

Desired Skills:

• Automotive ECU experience, including telematics, connectivity, infotainment, zonal controllers, high-performance compute platforms, or similar embedded hardware.
• Commercial or custom HIL platform experience, such as dSPACE, NI/VeriStand, Vector, ETAS, Speedgoat, Keysight, or Python-based frameworks.
• Experience with Linux, Android, QNX, Yocto, adb/serial console, flashing, bootloaders, diagnostics, manufacturing/EOL tooling, DV/PV, EMC/ENV, validation, or supplier issue support, CI/CD, Jira, Git, or requirements management tools.
• Experience with AI-agent lab workflows, automated evidence generation, test orchestration, failure clustering, tool interfaces, data architecture, governance, and adoption metrics.
• Familiarity with systems, requirements, verification, safety, cybersecurity, automotive or aviation standards such as ISO 15288, ISO 29148, IEEE Std 1012, ASPICE, ISO 26262, ISO/SAE 21434, DO-254, DO-178C, or SAE ARP4754A/B.

Workplace Flexibility:

• Onsite lab work is required.
• This role requires daily hands-on work with HIL benches, prototypes, harnesses, cable assemblies, fixtures, power supplies, instruments, and debug equipment.
• Limited travel may be required for supplier support, build support, external test labs, or equipment/vendor reviews.

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Years of Relevant Experience:

• 8+ years of relevant experience in HIL design, embedded hardware bring-up, wire harness/interface documentation, system integration, hardware validation, lab automation, or debugging of automotive or comparable high-reliability embedded platforms.

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechatronics, or related technical discipline.

​Desired Education:

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechatronics, or related technical discipline.

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Compensation

Salary range is dependent on factors such as geographical differentials, credentials or certifications, industry-based experience, qualification and training. In the city of Mountain View, the salary range for this position is $161,710 - $234,325. 

CARIAD, Inc. provides performance based merits and annual bonus along with a competitive benefits package. Benefits include 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 and student loan repayment plans, maternity and non-primary caregiver leave, adoption assistance, employee referral program and vacation and paid holidays. We also offer a unique vehicle lease program that covers registration and insurance fees. 

CARIAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws. 

Employment with Cariad Inc. is contingent upon the successful completion of this screening process. We emphasize the importance of compliance with export control and sanctions laws as a fundamental aspect of our operations. Our company is dedicated to adhering to these regulations to ensure the lawful and ethical conduct of our business activities. Employment with our company is contingent on either verifying U.S. citizenship or U.S. lawful permanent resident status or obtaining any necessary license or confirming the availability of an applicable exemption or license exception. You, the applicant, will be required to answer certain questions for export control purposes, and that information will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law. Cariad Inc. may choose not to apply for a license or use an applicable license exception (if available) for such individuals whose access to export-controlled technology or software source code may require authorization and may decline to proceed with an applicant on that basis alone.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree to participate in the export control and sanctions compliance screening process. Your cooperation in this matter is essential to our shared success and the integrity of our operations. Thank you for your understanding and commitment to upholding these important standards.