Systems Integration Engineer- Audio

Rivian and VW Group Technology • Palo Alto, CA

82d

About The Position

We are looking for a passionate and meticulous Systems Integration Engineer to craft the
signature sound experience in our vehicles. This role is central to ensuring our audio
features—from immersive music and media to crystal-clear voice commands and safety
alerts—achieve the highest standard of quality and performance.
You will be the critical link between software development and the in-vehicle experience. You'll
be responsible for integrating complex audio software, developing sophisticated test
environments, and performing the hands-on tuning and validation that transforms a good audio
system into a great one. If you have a critical ear, love solving complex technical puzzles, and
are obsessed with audio fidelity, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 3-5+ years of experience in software integration, audio engineering, or system validation, preferably in an automotive or consumer electronics environment.
• Strong proficiency in a scripting language, particularly Python, for automation and data analysis.
• Experience working with embedded operating systems such as QNX, Android, or Linux and using shell scripting for system-level debugging.
• A deep understanding of digital audio principles and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) concepts (EQ, compression, limiters, crossovers, delay).
• Hands-on experience with objective audio measurement tools (e.g., Audio Precision, HEAD acoustics, spectrum analyzers) to evaluate system performance.
• Proven debugging and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex technical challenges across the entire audio signal path.
• A valid driver's license and a clean driving record.

Nice To Haves

• Experience tuning and validating advanced audio features like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) or Engine Sound Enhancement (ESE).
• Familiarity with audio-related technologies and protocols, such as Bluetooth (A2DP, HFP), Wi-Fi, and media streaming.
• Knowledge of automotive communication networks like CAN, LIN, or Automotive Ethernet (AVB/TSN) and analysis tools (e.g., CANoe, Wireshark).
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and tools like Jenkins or GitLab.
• A critical ear for music and audio quality, with experience in subjective listening tests and audio evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Develop Automation Frameworks: Design and maintain a robust automation framework in Python to validate audio features, performance, and stability.
• Scale Test Harnesses: Build and manage hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) benches that accurately simulate the vehicle's acoustic and infotainment environment.
• In-Vehicle Tuning & Testing: Conduct hands-on subjective and objective audio tuning and validation in prototype and production vehicles. Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve integration issues related to audio quality and system performance.
• Troubleshoot & Debug: Perform deep-dive analysis of system logs and traces to debug complex issues related to audio drivers, DSP algorithms, media playback, and network streaming. Isolate issues related to pops/clicks, latency, and synchronization.
• Voice & Microphone Performance: Integrate and validate microphone array performance, Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC), and Noise Reduction (NR) algorithms to ensure flawless hands-free calling and voice assistant reliability.
• Define Quality Standards: Collaborate with acoustic engineers and cross-functional partners to establish and enforce objective performance targets (THD+N, SNR, latency) and subjective quality benchmarks for all audio products.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Partner closely with software developers, QA engineers, and hardware teams to define integration strategies, create detailed test plans, and ensure seamless feature delivery.
• Documentation: Create clear documentation for test cases, automation scripts, tuning results, and bug reports to ensure reproducibility and knowledge sharing.

Benefits

• Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26.
• Full Time Employee coverage is effective on the first day of employment.
• Part-Time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees