Staff Hardware Engineer, Electrical Distribution System / Harness

About the Role:

The Hardware Engineering team is responsible for the engineering, manufacturing, and testing of the complete autonomous vehicle, encompassing both components and fully assembled vehicles. This responsibility extends to the base vehicle platform as well as the discrete modules that constitute Stack’s Automated Driving System.

As an integral member of the hardware engineering team, you will own the electrical distribution system (EDS) and wiring harness design for autonomous vehicle platforms. You will translate system and vehicle requirements into robust power, grounding, signal, and communication architectures, and carry the design through schematic definition, 3D packaging, release, build, validation, and production support.

The ideal candidate is located in Pittsburgh, PA with the expectation of regular onsite presence at our New Stanton, PA site. Consideration will be given to remote employees on a case-by-case basis. This position will also require occasional travel to manufacturing, supplier, and partner sites.

Responsibilities:

• Own the EDS and wiring harness architecture, including power distribution, grounding, circuit protection, signal integrity, and network interfaces.
• Develop and release schematics, wiring diagrams, pinouts, harness drawings, bill of materials, and installation documentation using appropriate ECAD/MCAD and PLM tools.
• Perform wire sizing, voltage-drop, current-capacity, fuse, relay, connector, terminal, and grounding analyses for low-voltage and, where applicable, high-voltage circuits.
• Partner with systems, electrical, mechanical, firmware, manufacturing, and supplier teams to resolve integration issues and deliver buildable harness designs.
• Lead design reviews, electrical interface definition, change control, and configuration management from early concept through production-intent hardware.
• Define and execute harness verification and validation plans, including continuity, insulation, hipot where applicable, network, EMI/EMC, environmental, and vehicle-level testing.

Qualifications: 

• BS in electrical engineering, electrical engineering technology, computer engineering, automotive engineering, or a related field; advanced degree is a plus.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant electrical distribution system, wiring harness, automotive, commercial vehicle, aerospace, robotics, or industrial equipment experience; 8+ years preferred for Staff-level scope.
• Certifications and Standards: IPC/WHMA-A-620 training or certification, SAE/AIAG credentials, Six Sigma, or equivalent manufacturing and wiring-harness credentials are a plus.
• Demonstrated experience taking vehicle or complex-machine harnesses from requirements and architecture through design release, prototype builds, validation, and production support.
• Expertise with EDS architecture, circuit protection, wire sizing, voltage drop, grounding, connectors and terminals, shielding, splices, routing, retention, service loops, and harness packaging.
• Proficiency with electrical schematics and harness design tools such as Capital, CATIA, Siemens NX, Zuken, AutoCAD Electrical, or comparable ECAD/MCAD and PLM systems.
• Working knowledge of CAN/CAN FD, LIN, Automotive Ethernet, J1939, vehicle diagnostics, EMI/EMC, and relevant SAE, USCAR, IPC/WHMA-A-620, ISO 26262, and IATF 16949 practices.
• Experience with DFM/DFA, APQP/PPAP, FMEA, supplier collaboration, and developing engineering processes in a startup or greenfield environment is desired.
• Strong troubleshooting, systems thinking, technical documentation, and data-driven problem-solving skills, with sound engineering judgment in ambiguous situations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to influence cross-functional teams, suppliers, and manufacturing partners.

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