Design Lead / Subject Matter Expert - Electrical System
Role summary
The Design Lead / Subject Matter Expert - Electrical System is the technical authority for vehicle electronic systems, responsible for end-to-end definition, integration, and governance. This role leads system architecture and functional design, translating stakeholder needs into robust, harmonized, and compliant solutions. Key responsibilities include defining system requirements, creating and governing system models using IBM Rational Rhapsody, managing technical specifications, ensuring traceability, and leading DFMEA processes. The role also involves providing technical leadership for feature definitions, validation strategies, and technology assessments, while mentoring engineering teams and collaborating across various departments and with suppliers.
The System Engineer – Design Lead / Subject Matter Expert is the technical authority responsible for the end to end definition, integration, and governance of vehicle electronic systems. This role leads system architecture and functional design activities, translating stakeholder needs into robust, harmonized, and regionally compliant system solutions.
The Design Lead / SME owns the system-level technical vision, ensures alignment across vehicle programs and global regions, and mentors engineering teams while collaborating closely with Product, Vehicle Integration, Homologation, HMI, Quality, Manufacturing, After Sales, and suppliers.
Main responsibilities will include:
- Lead and govern stakeholder requirement definition for assigned features, ensuring alignment across Product, Vehicle Integration, Homologation, HMI, Quality, and Manufacturing organizations.
- Own the definition of system level requirements from concept phase through production, ensuring technical robustness, feasibility, and global harmonization.
- Lead the creation, maintenance, and technical governance of System Level Models for vehicle electrical features using IBM Rational Rhapsody and ensure accuracy and consistency of vehicle functional documentation.
- Author, approve, and maintain system technical specifications, acting as the technical authority for system design decisions.
- Ensure full bidirectional traceability between stakeholder requirements, system requirements, and component level functional requirements using requirements management tools.
- Define and approve functional allocation across multiple ECUs, ensuring optimal distribution in alignment with vehicle E/E architecture, network strategy, and component constraints.
- Own and lead the System DFMEA, driving cross functional risk identification, mitigation strategies, and continuous improvement actions.
- Provide technical leadership for feature definitions in Use/Owner's Manuals, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
- Lead system level validation strategy, supporting test case definition, issue resolution, and technical discussions with suppliers and internal validation teams.
- Drive benchmarking and technology assessment activities to identify innovative solutions for value optimization, system robustness, and quality improvement.
Requirements:
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or related degree field
- 8 or more years of experience in automotive electrical/electronic systems or vehicle E/E architecture
- Strong system level understanding of automotive E/E architectures, networks, and ECU integration
- Proven expertise in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and SysML, preferably using IBM Rational Rhapsody
- Advanced experience with requirements management tools (DOORS® or equivalent)
- Deep working knowledge of DFMEA, system safety, and quality processes
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical discussions, influence cross functional teams, and mentor engineers
- Strong analytical, problem solving, and communication skills in multicultural environments
- Focus on technical details Ability to work in multi-cultural teams
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master of Science in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
- Experience leading system architecture or platform level designs
- Exposure to global vehicle programs and multi-region regulatory requirements