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Sr. Electronics Design and Characterization Engineer (InfoConn)

Rivian & Volkswagen Group TechnologiesPalo Alto, CaliforniaTechnology and Innovation
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Salary
$121,500 - $181,600 USD
Job type
Full-time
Work mode
Remote
Posted
14 Sept 2026
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

The Senior Electronics Design and Characterization Engineer position at Rivian & Volkswagen Group Technologies in Palo Alto, California, is a full-time remote opportunity suited for experienced electrical engineering professionals specializing in automotive electronics. This role focuses on driving design review and hardware characterization for Infotainment and Connectivity electronic control units within next-generation electric vehicles.

Role Overview

The Electronics Test and Validation team handles module-level validation testing for all electronic control units to ensure proper design and manufacturing. In this capacity, the engineer conducts design reviews early in the development cycle, collaborates with the electrical engineering design team, and formulates verification procedures. Responsibilities span power integrity, signal integrity, radio frequency performance, and thermal management on advanced system-on-chip hardware.

Key Responsibilities

Formulate detailed design verification and characterization test plans alongside reliability, design, radio frequency, and firmware teams.
Execute bench-level characterization at the integrated circuit and printed circuit board assembly levels, observing power sequencing, transient responses, and standby currents.
Analyze high-speed interfaces at the connector, including camera and display serdes links, Universal Serial Bus, Peripheral Component Interconnect Express, and Automotive Ethernet.
Assess conducted radio frequency performance of integrated wireless radios such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, ultra-wideband, near-field communication, and global navigation satellite systems.
Evaluate protection and fault behavior including over-voltage, under-voltage, reverse polarity, and short conditions.
Provide early feedback to design engineers regarding testability, test point access, and necessary instrumentation hooks.
Write automation scripts and instrumentation drivers using Python, leveraging artificial intelligence tools to accelerate development while ensuring code quality.
Analyze large datasets using artificial intelligence tools to surface parametric drift, variation, and failure clustering.
Collaborate with software engineers to flash, test, and troubleshoot firmware, bootloaders, and test modes.
Participate in cross-functional root-cause analysis for non-compliance test results.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, or equivalent work experience in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
Seven or more years of experience in electronics design, characterization, and validation testing.
Proficiency using lab instrumentation such as high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, vector network analyzers, bit error rate testers, power supplies, electronic loads, digital multimeters, and source measure units.
Hands-on experience with spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers or generators, or wireless connectivity testers.
Strong understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals, circuit analysis, power integrity, signal integrity, and radio frequency fundamentals.
Experience in scripting and data analysis using Python.
Demonstrated use of artificial intelligence tools to write and refactor test code and analyze characterization datasets.

Nice to Have

Hands-on characterization experience with infotainment head units, cockpit compute, telematics units, or connectivity gateways.
Experience with radio coexistence and desense debugging, shielding, and layout mitigations.
Familiarity with low-level firmware, C programming, and vendor toolchains.
Comfort working at the Linux, Android, or QNX command line.
Experience with Altium Designer, vehicle electrical systems, communication buses, and diagnostic protocols.
Experience designing custom printed circuit board assemblies, high-speed interposers, radio frequency fixtures, or characterization breakout boards.
Experience with storage endurance, thermal instrumentation, Databricks, and electronic simulation applications like LTspice or PSpice.

Skills and Tools

Python
High-bandwidth oscilloscopes and probes
Vector Network Analyzer and Bit Error Rate Tester
Spectrum analyzers and wireless connectivity testers
Altium Designer
Artificial intelligence development tools

Salary and Benefits

Full-time employees receive a competitive base salary ranging from $121,500 to $181,600 USD per year. Eligible positions may participate in the annual company performance bonus program and receive equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units, subject to board approval and plan terms. A comprehensive benefits package is provided, covering health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs.

About the Company

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture bringing together industry leaders to advance electric vehicle architecture. The organization focuses on operating systems, zonal controllers, and cloud and connectivity solutions to shape the future of software-defined vehicles through connectivity, artificial intelligence, and security.

How to Apply

Interested candidates can apply directly through the official Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site.

Skills and tech stack

Python

Questions candidates ask

What is the salary range for this position?

The salary range for this position is $121,500 to $181,600 USD per year.

Is this job remote?

Yes, this position is listed as remote with a location base in Palo Alto, California.

What level of experience is required?

Candidates must have 7+ years of experience in electronics design, characterization, and validation testing.

What programming language is required for scripting?

Python scripting experience is required for this role.

What additional rewards are offered besides base salary?

Eligible full-time employees may participate in an annual performance bonus program, receive Restricted Stock Units subject to board approval, and access a comprehensive benefits package covering health, retirement, and time off.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Rivian & Volkswagen Group Technologies careers page.

Apply on company site