Senior Electrical Systems Engineer

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Motiv is a leading manufacturer of medium duty, zero-emission electric trucks and buses. Motiv produces a range of vehicles; including step vans, shuttle buses, box trucks and work trucks, all of which eliminate tailpipe CO2 emissions and particulate matter, while offering drivers and passengers a more comfortable, healthier and safer ride. Motiv’s combination of operational cost savings and environmental performance helps customers meet increasingly stringent emissions and pollution standards as well as achieve their own Net-Zero, ESG or other climate impact-related pledges and commitments.

Motiv is seeking an experienced Senior Electrical Systems Engineer to work on High Voltage/Low Voltage systems for Motiv Electric Truck programs. The Senior Electrical Systems Engineer is responsible to support the strategic direction and technical execution of electrical and electronic systems, ensuring compliance with industry standards and alignment with the company’s goals. This position is also a support role for vehicle testing, build events, plant operations, and field service. The Senior Electrical Systems Engineer regularly finds and root causes vehicle issues, collects data regarding vehicle issues and recreates field failures on a bench or test vehicle to understand the failure modes.

Our ideal candidate must have a high degree of technical competence, written and verbal communication skills, and be comfortable working independently or collaboratively.  A Bachelor’s degree in engineering, or equivalent work experience, is required.  Additionally, the candidate must have experience working in structured engineering process including definition of requirements and objective function, concept creation, market analysis for components, analyzing options, and making engineering decisions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Technical Oversight & Innovation:
• Oversee the design and development of electrical systems and components, including wiring, control modules, sensors, and charging infrastructure.
• Ensure electrical systems meet automotive standards and certifications (e.g., ISO 26262, SAE standards), prioritizing safety, reliability and performance.
• Drive innovation within the team by fostering R&D initiatives and staying updated on advancements in automotive electronics, embedded systems, and high-voltage systems.
• Root cause vehicle issues during build events, validation and at the plant
• Collect and review data logs for vehicle control issues.
• Use CAN (Vector) tools to diagnose vehicle failures and understand the interaction between controls and hardware.
• Use Digital Multi Meters (DMMs), Oscilloscopes, or other tools to diagnose electrical issues.
• Travel to test sites to help reduce vehicle down time.
• Recreate field failures on a bench or test vehicle to help understand the failure modes.
• Project Management:
• Manage the full lifecycle of electrical engineering projects, from concept through design, testing, validation, and production.
• Collaborate with program management to optimize project prioritization, resource allocation, and risk management.
• Stakeholder Communication:
• Serve as a point of contact for electrical engineering in discussions with other departments and external partners.
• Communicate complex technical information clearly to non-technical stakeholders, providing guidance on electrical system capabilities and limitations.

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proactive and independent with the ability to take initiative
• Flexible to work in Factory environment on the floor to inspect /Troubleshoot 
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to work with minimal supervision while producing high quality output in timely manner
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment
• High level of accuracy; ability to work with tight schedules and ambiguity in startup environment
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent work experience
• Use of standard electrical tools i.e., DMMs, Oscilloscopes, etc.
• Use of CAN tools to collect data and review data logs.
• Use of Diagnostic tools or CDD files to read component faults.
• Strong knowledge of vehicle electrical and CAN architectures.
• Must be knowledgeable of electric vehicle operation and high voltage bus architectures.
• Self-starting and ready to work with a small team in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written & oral communication skills – ability to present to wider audiences

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Able to work in shop environments and the field, when needed, to support physical testing, bench tests and vehicle builds
• Flexibility to work in Factory environments, wearing PPE
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times 

Salary Range:

• $140,000.00-$180,000.00 (Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and training.)

This position is based in Novi, Michigan 

Candidates only please; no recruiters. 

Benefits & Perks 

• Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA, Health & Dependent Care FSA, 401(k), Basic Life and AD&D, Voluntary Life and AD&D, EAP (Employee Assistance Program), Education Reimbursement, and more!
• Generous PTO policy and 11 Paid Company Holidays.
• Online, on-demand Training & Development Programs.
• Bicycle friendly, with bike storage available to all Foster City employees with a 5 minute walk to the scenic Bay Front.
• Regular Happy Hours, Company Cultural Events, and more!