Staff Engineer, HIL Design, Hardware Integration & Test Automation

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 Automation is responsible for the hardware-oriented architecture, technical standards, and bring-up strategy for HIL benches, integration benches, harnesses, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and lab automation used to validate CARIAD hardware platforms. This is a hands-on staff-level individual contributor role requiring deep experience in HIL design, embedded hardware, wire harnesses, system integration, and cross-functional technical leadership. The role defines scalable HIL architectures, reviews and approves harness and interface documentation, leads the most complex hardware bring-up and debug activities, and establishes repeatable test execution from requirements and ICDs through lab evidence.

The Staff Engineer also owns the technical roadmap for the hardware side of an AI-enabled integration lab, including AI-agent-based workflows, MCP servers, equipment interfaces, automated evidence capture, governance, rollout metrics, and test orchestration for hardware validation.

Role Responsibilities:

HIL Architecture, Hardware Integration & Bring-Up Strategy

• Own staff-level HIL architecture for embedded automotive hardware platforms, including I/O strategy, signal conditioning, fault insertion, load/sensor simulation, safety interlocks, instrumentation, reuse patterns, and bench readiness criteria.
• Define scalable bench architectures, configuration baselines, readiness checklists, and technical standards for HIL benches, integration benches, breakout/load boxes, fixtures, harnesses, and lab stations used for HW/SW integration and validation. –
• Lead the most complex board, ECU, and system bring-up across prototypes and revisions, including power, reset, clock, boot, flashing, communications, peripheral interfaces, diagnostics, and cross-domain issue isolation.
• Provide technical direction for bring-up plans and debug strategies, ensuring ownership, evidence, decision records, and closure criteria are clear across engineering teams and suppliers.
• Debug complex hardware/software interface issues using schematics, ICDs, harness drawings, logs, instruments, and controlled reproduction steps, while mentoring engineers on structured methods.

Wire Harness, ICD & Test Infrastructure Technical Ownership

• Own and approve harness drawings, pinouts, connector definitions, cable assemblies, and lab wiring documentation required for integration and HIL execution.
• Serve as technical authority for Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for bench and system interfaces, including electrical definitions, signals, protocols, timing, diagnostics, power states, and test coverage mapping.
• Translate requirements, ICDs, schematics, and supplier documentation into HIL coverage strategy, test procedures, hardware fixture needs, automation requirements, and validation evidence expectations.
• Establish configuration control and release discipline for benches, harnesses, firmware/images, flashing steps, lab equipment, scripts, and test artifacts.
• Support DV/PV, EMC/ENV, manufacturing, and end-of-line readiness by ensuring lab infrastructure can reproduce failures, validate corrective actions, and scale across program needs.

AI-Enabled Hardware Lab, MCP Server Roadmap & Automation Standards

• Own the hardware-side technical roadmap for an AI-enabled HW integration lab, including target workflows, tool interfaces, data sources, rollout plan, governance, safety constraints, and measurable execution benefits.
• Define and guide implementation of MCP servers, APIs, or comparable tool interfaces for hardware testing, lab equipment control, bench state, test orchestration, artifact retrieval, and AI-agent operation.
• Develop reusable AI-agent-based HW testing workflows for setup verification, instrumentation control, automated test execution, log capture, failure triage, evidence packaging, and status/report generation.
• Partner with software, automation, IT, and validation teams to integrate AI agents with lab equipment, HIL frameworks, Jira, requirements repositories, SharePoint evidence, and test reporting tools.
• Ensure AI-based lab workflows remain traceable, reviewable, safe for lab use, aligned with engineering judgment, and repeatable across programs.

Cross-Functional Technical Leadership, Supplier Coordination & Validation Readiness

• Serve as staff-level escalation point for complex integration failures and drive structured triage across hardware, software, systems, validation, manufacturing, and supplier teams.
• Influence supplier and internal deliverables for HIL equipment, harnesses, interface issues, board revisions, bench blockers, technical risks, and corrective actions.
• Communicate status, blockers, risks, recovery plans, technical trade-offs, and decision needs with clear evidence and recommended next steps.
• Document issues, debug findings, configurations, test evidence, technical decisions, and closure rationale in a structured and traceable manner.
• Mentor engineers and improve lab practices, templates, checklists, and knowledge-sharing methods to strengthen repeatability and technical capability.

General Skills:

• Staff-level technical leadership across HIL architecture, hardware integration, validation infrastructure, and lab automation.
• Structured problem solving and disciplined hardware debug for ambiguous, cross-domain failures
• Clear written, verbal, and executive-ready communication with data-backed recommendations.
• Cross-functional influence across hardware, software, systems, validation, manufacturing, suppliers, and lab operations
• Ownership of standards, documentation, issue tracking, action follow-through, risk escalation, and closure criteria
• Ability to operate with urgency in a hands-on prototype lab environment while improving repeatability and safety
• Ability to convert ambiguous lab problems into scalable processes, owners, evidence, and durable corrective actions
• Process-oriented execution in complex, high-reliability systems programs with mentorship of less experienced engineers

Required Specialized Skills:

• Staff-level ownership of HIL architecture for embedded ECUs or comparable high-reliability systems, including architecture standards, signal/I/O mapping, fault insertion, load/sensor simulation, safety interlocks, and scalable bring-up methods.
• Embedded hardware integration and bring-up across power, reset, clock, boot, peripherals, firmware, BSP, drivers, test infrastructure, and HW/SW issue isolation, with ability to guide other engineers through complex investigations.
• Wire harness and ICD technical ownership, including connector/pinout definition, signal routing, shielding/grounding, continuity checks, electrical interfaces, protocols, timing, diagnostics, and coverage strategy.
• Ability to interpret schematics, datasheets, PCB/connector documentation, debug reports, supplier deliverables, and system requirements to define coverage and resolve integration issues. HIL bench and test fixture architecture/documentation, including benches, breakout/load boxes, fixtures, cable assemblies, configurations, readiness checklists, reuse strategy, and configuration control.
• Strong lab instrumentation and interface knowledge, including scopes, meters, power supplies, loads, logic analyzers, CAN/Ethernet/serial tools, JTAG, CAN, LIN, Ethernet, USB, UART, SPI, I2C, GPIO, analog/digital I/O, power/wake lines, and diagnostics. Python automation for instrument control, data capture, sequencing, log parsing, evidence collection, repeatable execution, and reusable automation libraries.
• Structured debug and AI-enabled lab automation, including MCP servers/APIs or comparable interfaces for equipment control, orchestration, artifact retrieval, triage, governance, rollout metrics, and traceable closure.
• Ability to define technical standards, mentor engineers, and influence lab practices across prototypes, harnesses, fixtures, benches, suppliers, and cross-functional engineering teams.

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.
• AI-agent lab workflow or AI roadmap experience, including setup checks, instrumentation control, failure clustering, evidence/report generation, tool interfaces, data architecture, governance, and measurable adoption.
• Familiarity with systems, requirements, verification, safety, cybersecurity, or automotive process standards such as ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288/29148, IEEE 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.
• Must be comfortable working directly with prototype hardware, lab wiring, bench configuration changes, controlled hardware test execution, and technical reviews in lab environments.
• Limited travel may be required for supplier support, build support, external test labs, or equipment/vendor reviews.

​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 discipline

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.