Platform Specialist, On-Highway

Inside the Role

The Vehicle Architecture team brings a vehicle-level perspective to create exceptional products that deliver real customer value. We act as the technical voice of the customer, helping turn their needs into thoughtful, effective solutions. Our work is grounded in clarity, consistency, and collaboration—and we truly see ourselves as partners in progress.
As a Platform Specialist, you will bring a vehicle-level perspective to help translate customer needs and vehicle-level requirements into technical solutions that create meaningful value. In this role, you will partner across technical and strategy teams to define vehicle-level requirements and performance targets, align project scope, and support execution through key phases of development. You will also help strengthen and improve processes for the Vehicle Architecture team while supporting the Cascadia Vehicle Architects in making cohesive, customer-focused platform decisions. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of the on-highway vehicle platform.
What You Drive at DTNA: Technical execution that supports the platform vision and creates as much value as possible for our customers.

Posting Information

We provide a scheduled posting end date to assist our candidates with their application planning. While this date reflects our latest plans, it is subject to change, and postings may be extended or removed earlier than expected.

We Take Care of Our Team

What You Drive At DTNA

Vehicle-Level Technical Activities

• Gather, organize, and document vehicle-level vehicle requirements

• Connect vehicle requirements to design verification plan activities (DVP)

• Develop and track technical targets and benchmarking activities

• Provide technical guidance to team to achieve targets

• Coordinate cross-functional technical design reviews to resolve conflicts, document and track progress toward vehicle-level specifications, and support target sign-off at key milestones

Development Projects

• Communicate Platform feature functionality to cross-functional team

• Develop department-level Production Year implementation plans for Cascadia projects, capturing key functional deliverables

• Create and document project technical targets, vehicle-level one-pagers, and coordinate target trade-off analysis

• Prepare vehicle-level engineering status reports for Core Team leadership

Process Management and Development

• Identify and document opportunities to improve vehicle-level specifications

• Document key information and help facilitate the Strategic Technical Forum

Knowledge You Should Bring

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field
• 2-4 years of experience in vehicle engineering, software development, or technical program management
• Strong understanding of automotive product development processes, quality gates, and lifecycle management
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and decision-making skills
• Ability to guide technical decisions and build alignment in complex, cross-functional environments

Critical Success Factors

• A demonstrated focus on customer value and strategic relevance
• A strong vehicle- and systems-level mindset
• The ability to align technical direction with business strategy
• Excels in an environment of ambiguity
• A proven ability to prioritize critical activities, document decisions and actions clearly, and follow through with persistence to achieve results

Where We Work

This position is open to applicants who can work in (or relocate to) the following location(s)-

Portland, OR US. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

Schedule Type:

Hybrid (4 days per week in-office / 1 day remote). This schedule builds our #OneTeamBestTeam culture, provides an unparalleled customer experience, and creates innovative solutions through in-person collaboration.

At Daimler Truck North America, we recognize our world is changing faster than ever before. By listening to the needs of today, we’re building to solve with cutting-edge solutions in sustainability and future driving technology across electric, hydrogen and autonomous. These solutions, backed by years of innovative success and achievement, continue DTNA’s legacy as the undisputed industry leader. Our evolving brand portfolio is second to none, including Freightliner Trucks, Western Star, Demand Detroit, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis, and Financial Services. Together, we work as one team towards our envisioned future – building a cleaner, safer and more efficient tomorrow for all.

That is what we are working toward - for all who keep the world moving.

Additional Information

• This position is not open for Visa sponsorship or to existing Visa holders
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country the position is located in at the time of application
• Final candidate must successfully complete a criminal background check
• Final candidate may be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen
• Contractors, professional services, or other contingent workers should confirm with their local agency if they are eligible to apply for FTE positions
• EEO - Disabled/Veterans

Daimler Truck North America is committed to workforce inclusion and providing an environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, age, marital status, family relationship, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (including transgender and transitioning status), genetic information, or veteran status.

For an accommodation or special assistance with applying for a posted position, please contact our Human Resources department at 503-745-8982 or toll free 800-206-3369. For TTY/TDD enabled call 503-745-2137 or toll free 866-355-6935.