The
12V Systems Design Engineer is a key contributor within the Product Development & Technology (PDT) organization, operating in the Electrified Hardware Engineering (EHE) and Hardware Engineering (HWE) perimeter. The role supports the design, integration, validation, and vehicle-level performance of the
12V Energy Provider subsystem.
This position is responsible for defining robust, cost-effective, and innovative 12V electrical system solutions by ensuring alignment between vehicle needs, system and subsystem strategies, and architectural constraints. The engineer works cross-functionally on system architecture, requirements definition, component sizing, vehicle testing, diagnostics, and validation to ensure correct vehicle behavior and customer satisfaction.
Hands-on experience with vehicle electrical systems, communication networks, testing tools, and data analysis is essential.
Key Responsibilities:System Engineering & Architecture- Gather, analyze, and consolidate stakeholder inputs from vehicle systems and 12V sub-domains
- Identify and manage environmental, operational, and architectural constraints
- Define and manage upper-level 12V system requirements, constraints, and use cases
- Define functional system architectures aligned with Quality, Cost, Timing, and Performance (QCTP) objectives
- Perform functional decomposition and allocation across hardware, software, and processes
- Provide system-level synthesis of system behavior, operating strategies, and vehicle interactions
Electrical Power System Design & Sizing - Perform battery sizing calculations based on vehicle load profiles, duty cycles, and customer usage scenarios
- Perform alternator sizing and capability analysis to ensure adequate power generation under all operating conditions
- Conduct Ignition Off Draw (IOD) and parasitic load analysis, including network and module sleep behavior
- Support definition and optimization of charging and power management strategies
Requirements & Functional Specification - Define high-level functional and technical requirements for hardware, software, and validation teams
- Ensure full requirements traceability throughout the development lifecycle
- Ensure clear understanding, alignment, and acceptance of system requirements across stakeholders
- Support diagnostics and functional behavior definition related to the 12V system
Vehicle-Level Testing & Validation - Define and execute system-level and vehicle-level validation plans for the 12V electrical system
- Plan, set up, and conduct vehicle tests covering:
- 12V lead-acid and future lithium battery systems
- Alternators and charging systems
- 120V / 230V DC/AC inverters
- Battery sensors and intelligent power components
- LIN- and CAN-based loads and control modules
- Execute testing under various environmental and operating conditions (hot, cold, key on/off, high load, charging, sleep modes)
- Review, approve, and document system validation and test results
- Ensure system strategies are correctly implemented and validated to achieve expected vehicle behavior
Diagnostics, Communication & Issue Management - Use CANoe and CANalyzer to analyze CAN and LIN communication, signal behavior, and diagnostics
- Validate network behavior during key-on, key-off, and sleep transitions
- Diagnose LIN communication issues including wake-up behavior, timeouts, and configuration issues
- Use PICO Scope and oscilloscopes to analyze voltage, current, ripple, transients, and communication signals
- Perform root cause analysis of electrical, communication, and sleep current issues
- Track, manage, and resolve issues and deviations across the development lifecycle
Cross-Functional & Supplier Collaboration - Work closely with systems, software, hardware, and validation teams to align architecture and requirements
- Support supplier coordination for batteries, alternators, inverters, sensors, and LIN/CAN-controlled components
- Participate in design reviews, technical reviews, issue resolution meetings, and program milestones
Documentation & Process Compliance - Create and maintain technical documentation including system analyses, requirements, test plans, and reports
- Support compliance with internal development processes, system engineering methodologies, and automotive standards
- Contribute to continuous improvement of system engineering and validation processes
Basic Requirements:- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline
- A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
- Experience in system engineering, electrical architecture, or vehicle integration
- Hands-on experience with vehicle-level electrical testing and troubleshooting
- 12V electrical power systems and energy storage experience
- Root cause analysis and risk assessment experience
Preferred Requirements:Skills & Competencies - Battery and alternator sizing
- Ignition Off Draw (IOD) and vehicle sleep behavior
- DC/DC converters, DC/AC inverters, and other power electronics
- CAN & LIN communication and diagnostics
- Functional analysis, requirements management, and validation strategy
Tools & Languages - PICO Scope and electrical measurement equipment
- Vehicle data logging and test instrumentation
- Microsoft Office (Teams, Outlook, Excel, Visio)
