Mission Summary:Our newly formed Design Release Engineering team, within the Vehicle Platform Engineering group, is seeking a highly motivated Staff Engineer to own the design release and integration of our autonomous vehicle's compute and connectivity subsystem. This role serves as the primary technical authority for the end-to-end design, release, validation, and production readiness of our high-performance compute hardware and associated controllers. You will ensure robust technical execution, manage supplier and cross-functional alignment, and drive hardware delivery that meets all performance, cost, and timing objectives.
What You'll Be Doing:- Own the complete design release of the high-performance compute and connectivity hardware, including the mechanical mounting, alignment, thermal management, electrical interface, and vehicle network integration.
- Drive technical execution for the full product lifecycle, from concept and architecture definition to sustaining engineering and continuous improvement.
- Oversee the generation and release of all engineering documentation, including models and drawings, Bills of Material (BOM), specifications, and test reports, ensuring alignment with vehicle-level design.
- Define and maintain the Design Verification Plan & Report (DVP&R), ensuring successful validation against system performance targets.
- Lead the Engineering Change (ECN) process for compute and connectivity hardware, ensuring traceability, cost impact analysis, version control, and full cross-functional buy-in.
- Act as the primary technical and program interface to suppliers (Tier 1 and Tier 2), tracking part maturity through DV, PV, and PPAP phases to ensure tooling and delivery readiness.
- Build strong partnerships across the Systems Engineering, Autonomy, Software Infrastructure, Quality, and Vehicle Integration teams to ensure seamless hardware integration and manufacturability (DFM/DFA).
- Lead technical program reviews and design readiness assessments, proactively developing risk mitigation plans to ensure compute hardware maturity aligns with program milestones and build events.
- Provide regular, concise updates to technical leadership on design maturity, validation progress, open issues, and timely closure metrics.
What We're Looking For:- 8+ years of experience in automotive hardware design and release engineering, with direct ownership of Domain Controllers, HPCs, or Telematics units.
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, or Systems Engineering (or a related field).
- Deep technical understanding of compute architectures, high-speed data buses, and wireless connectivity standards.
- Fundamental knowledge of validation documentation and processes, including DVP&R, DFMEA, and PFMEA.
- Expert-level experience with the manufacturing BOM and ECN processes, and a proven ability to manage technical discussions with external suppliers.
- Familiarity with CAD systems (e.g., NX, CATIA), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems (including requirement management tools such as Polarion), and engineering release workflows.
- Strong understanding of vehicle integration, packaging, and functional safety standards (ISO 26262).
- Proven ability to lead complex initiatives, manage cross-functional teams, and execute to aggressive program timelines with minimal oversight.
Bonus Points:- Experience with advanced in-vehicle prototypes and benchtop systems.
- Proven track record of driving goal-level impact across multiple teams or subsystems.
- Prior experience in a fast-growing autonomous vehicle or robotics company.
This role is based in our Pittsburgh office and requires in-office days each week.The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors including but not limited to specific skills, experience and expertise, role location, certifications, licenses, and business needs. The estimated compensation range listed in this job posting reflects base salary only. This role may include additional forms of compensation such as a bonus or company equity. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.
Candidates for certain positions are eligible to participate in Motional's benefits program. Motional's benefits include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, 401k with a company match, health saving accounts, life insurance, pet insurance, and more.
Salary Range
$144,000-$191,250 USD
