Wireless Software Engineer, WiFi
Palo Alto, CA - USA
Job Summary
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotives next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions were addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.
The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity AI security and more well map a new way forward. Working together well create a future thats more connected more intelligent more sustainable for everyone.
Wireless phone projection is one of the most visible connectivity features in the vehicle and it lives or dies on the Wi-Fi and networking layers underneath it. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto place demanding requirements on the vehicle: SoftAP hosting and session setup strict connection timing and retry behavior defined by the CarPlay and Android Auto specifications country code transitions across the wide range of global regulatory domains our vehicles ship in and correct IPv6 routing and firewall behavior all in an RF-constrained automotive environment where antennas are shared between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Most of this work sits above the vendor driver and firmware. Youll drive the Wi-Fi subsystem through the Android Wi-Fi framework with targeted vendor-level integration where Androids abstractions dont suffice and youll own the connection-management and network-management behavior that projection depends on. When issues surface at the driver or firmware level youll isolate them analyze the evidence and work them to resolution with our silicon and module vendors. Youll be a technical authority the rest of the org leans on for Wi-Fi working closely with platform integration infotainment and certification teams.
Bring up and enable Wi-Fi on our next-generation platform through the Android Wi-Fi stack (framework APIs supplicant/hostapd configuration HAL/vendor integration where needed) and validate behavior on bench and vehicle.
Own the connection-management logic behind wireless projection: SoftAP hosting for wireless CarPlay and Android Auto and the connection setup retry and timeout behavior required to meet Apple and Google specifications.
Own the network-management layer for the Wi-Fi subsystem: IPv6 configuration routing and iptables/firewall rules plus country code transitions and correct behavior across the many regulatory domains our vehicles support worldwide.
Design for the platforms RF realities: channel selection and DFS multiple concurrent APs and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth antenna sharing and coexistence.
Isolate and drive driver- and firmware-level issues with our Wi-Fi silicon and module vendors: reproduce capture and analyze logs and OTA traces interpret vendor findings and validate fixes.
Lead our Wi-Fi Alliance certification readiness: pre-test the stack coordinate with authorized test labs and drive fixes for what certification shakes out.
Support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto certification efforts as the wireless subject-matter expert.
Build out validation and automation: projection session scenarios throughput/RVR reboot and OTA cycling extending our nightly test coverage.
Write clear design docs and reviews mentor engineers on the team and raise the orgs overall Wi-Fi expertise.
Minimum Qualifications:
6 years of embedded software experience with substantial depth in Wi-Fi. Youve taken Wi-Fi features from bringup to production and know what it takes to get from it connects to it ships.
Strong experience with the Android Wi-Fi stack (Wi-Fi framework/APIs wpasupplicant hostapd and the vendor HAL boundary) or deep embedded Linux Wi-Fi experience with the ability to come up to speed on Android quickly.
Strong C/C skills with working comfort in Java/Kotlin at the Android framework layer.
Solid Linux networking fundamentals: IPv6 routing iptables/netfilter DHCP/DNS.
Solid 802.11 protocol knowledge (n/ac/ax) including AP and station operation and WPA2/WPA3.
Proven wireless debugging skills: OTA sniffer captures framework and driver logs and a methodical evidence-driven approach to isolating problems across the stack including issues that ultimately land in vendor driver or firmware code.
Experience collaborating with Wi-Fi silicon or module vendors on issue resolution and feature enablement.
Clear written communication and the ability to lead technical work across teams.
Preferred Qualifications
Direct experience with wireless Apple CarPlay and/or wireless Android Auto (or similar Wi-Fi-based projection/streaming systems).
Experience with Qualcomm Wi-Fi solutions.
Wi-Fi Alliance certification experience (test plans authorized test labs pre-certification).
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi coexistence and shared-antenna tuning experience.
Automotive or other regulated embedded domains (homologation regional regulatory partner certification).
Test automation for wireless systems (RVR rigs attenuators channel emulation).
We build the exceptional and we believe the people doing that work should be rewarded addition to a competitive base salary full-time positions may be is eligible to participate in our annual company performance bonus program.
Payments are discretionary and not guaranteed; actual amounts depend on company results and the terms of the plan in effect and require active employment at the time of payout. This role is also eligible for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) subject to board approval and the terms of our equity incentive plans including applicable vesting requirements.
In addition to our compensation programs we invest in our people with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health wellbeing and financial future for full-time employees including health coverage retirement savings time off and family planning programs. Offerings vary by country. Learn more about our global benefit programs.
External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site ( If you are a current employee please apply through our internal job board.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion national origin ancestry sex sexual orientation gender gender expression gender identity genetic information or characteristics physical or mental disability marital/domestic partner status age military/veteran status medical condition or any other characteristic protected by law. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process please email us at
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may collect use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (Candidate Personal Data). This data includes contact demographic communications educational professional employment social media/website network/device recruiting system usage/interaction security and preference information. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process including assessing you and your application and conducting employment background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.
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Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.
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Please note this job posting represents an open active vacancy. Additionally we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.
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About Company
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter.