12v System Design Engineer

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