Principal Systems Engineer, Infotainment ECU

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 Principal Systems Engineer, Infotainment ECU leads system-level execution, integration, and validation of infotainment ECUs across hardware, SoC, board, software, and vehicle networks.

This role drives system requirements, performance modeling, integration planning, supplier coordination, and validation activities to ensure robust ECU delivery within vehicle programs. The Principal Systems Engineer provides technical leadership to cross-functional teams and suppliers within the infotainment ECU scope.

Role Responsibilities:

Architecture, Requirements, and Performance Estimation

• Lead system requirements gathering and traceability for infotainment ECU features, diagnostics, and compliance. Contribute to architecture trade-off analysis, performance and power estimations, and capacity planning; validate against user experience and vehicle constraints.
• Assist with build and maintain performance models to guide design choices; drive cross-functional reviews and support domain signoffs with domain owner

Hardware & Board-Level Collaboration

• Partner with hardware leads to define and refine system-level hardware requirements and constraints for the infotainment ECU (power, high-speed interfaces, memory, connectivity, audio/display) and ensure they flow to silicon and PCB vendors.
• Review schematic/PCB progress, DFM/DFT readiness, and EVT/DVT/PVT builds; surface and track thermal, EMC/EMI, and reliability risks with the hardware team.
• Coordinate lab bring-up activities and issue tracking with responsible domain teams, ensuring hardware owners stay in the loop and own fixes.

Vehicle-Level Integration & Validation

• Lead ECU integration into vehicle networks (CAN/CAN FD, LIN, Ethernet as applicable) in partnership with network owners.
• Define and execute system integration tests across bench, HIL, and in-vehicle with cross-domain peers; triage issues across hardware, firmware, and applications with clear ownership and hand-offs.
• Coordinate supplier deliverables (SoC vendors, ODMs, contract manufacturers) with clear requirements, acceptance criteria, and documentation; escalate risks early with supplier leads.

SoC, BSP, and Software Integration

• Partner with SoC, BSP, and middleware leads on SoC selection, boot chain (UEFI/U-Boot, secure boot), BSP, middleware, and driver integration; co-evaluate performance/power targets and trade-offs.
• Support roadmap alignment with HMI, connectivity, and cloud teams; jointly validate audio, video, display, and storage pipelines through system-level test plans.
• Ensure diagnostics, logging, security features, and OTA readiness at ECU level with contributors from each discipline, keeping ownership with respective domain leads.

General Skills:

• Thoughtful Problem Solver & Communicator : Thinks analytically, critically & creatively and communicates with clarity, direction & purpose.
• Attentive Listener : Listens actively while withholding judgment and advice. Clarifies intentions & motivations to anticipate and address potential conflicts & avoid misunderstanding.
• Drives Diversity : Acts from a deep-rooted belief that we build better teams & products when we empower & learn from the broadest spectrum of humanity.
• Leads with Integrity : Speaks up with compassion & empathy to firmly stand by our values, principles, rules & regulations.
• Thrives in Ambiguity: Approaches challenges with an open and curious mindset and a strong bias towards action. Zooms out to systematically map out the situation and is comfortable making high impact decisions based on limited or conflicting information.
• Creates Clarity & Momentum : Aligns people, processes and systems to create forward momentum. Anticipates and removes impediments. Motivates teams to joint action to achieve common goals across organizational boundaries & cultural differences.
• Highly Accountable : Assumes personal responsibility for making and keeping realistic agreements. Openly owns mistakes and consequences. Demonstrates strong commitment and consideration for the larger interests of society, the environment, the company, and the team.
• Develops Strategy, Partnerships & Business : Strong empathy, influencing and negotiation skills that help create alignment around product vision, budgets, resources, program planning, etc.

Required Skills:

• Experience in developing strategies for automotive safety
• Strong ARM SoC, DDR/flash, PMIC, PCIe/USB, audio/video/display understanding.
• Proficient in BSP/bootloader/kernel fundamentals and embedded Linux/RTOS.
• Skilled in schematic/layout review, bringup, validation, and triage across domains.
• Strong knowledge of vehicle networks (CAN/CAN FD, LIN, Automotive Ethernet).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities; clear communicator with cross-functional teams and suppliers.
• Ability to lead ambiguous hardware/software/system investigations and drive to closure.
• Self-driven, organized, and comfortable coordinating multi-partner deliverables.

Desired Skills:

• Experience with automotive safety (ISO 26262) and cybersecurity (ISO/SAE 21434).
• Background with Android Automotive, QNX, or embedded Linux infotainment stacks.
• Exposure to audio tuning, display/graphics optimization, and validation
• Familiarity with OTA campaign orchestration and security hardening.

Years of Relevant Experience:

• 12+ years of Systems Engineering experience with an emphasis in embedded/infotainment ECU development across SoC, board, and system integration.

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics or related technical field

Work Flexibility:

• Occasional travel (10-20%) and cross-time-zone collaboration.

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, CA, the salary range for this position is $194,670 - $282,735.

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.