Functional System Architect (FSA) – Vehicle Motion Embedded Controls
Job Description
The Role:
Join the VMEC Chassis Controls group as a Functional System Architect (FSA) in charge of understanding and defining functional system requirements and architectures. As an FSA, you are the technical leader of a large group of engineers to define all aspects of your domain. You will provide mentoring and guidance to the function engineers’ work products in your domain.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead the requirements architecture vision and ART solution context for Chassis Systems within your domain.
- Translate FTS, STS, Portfolio Epics, and Product Team intent into clear, customer-facing functional requirements and ART features in Jira (including NVH, performance, diagnostics, and remedial actions).
- Ensure seamless vehicle-level integration of Chassis Systems, including interfaces with steering, propulsion, active safety, and other domains.
- Define and maintain the functional architecture and solution context, including interfaces, APIs, supporting technologies, and end-to-end requirements.
- Act as the lead technical contact for the Engineering Pillar, partnering with Product Teams and Systems Engineering to prioritize the Functional Rollout Plan and align timing to TFRP and other key milestones.
- Directly support Chassis ART scrum teams, providing day-to-day requirements clarification, technical guidance, and mentoring/coaching of SSLEs.
- Own and lead System/Subsystem DFMEAs, FMEA cross-functional linkage, and alignment with System Safety Hazard Analysis and applicable regulations.
- Define comprehensive functional and hardware requirements, including interfaces, signal/data retention, use cases, measurable performance targets, diagnostics, degraded-state behavior, remedial actions, recovery, and acceptance criteria.
- Support MBSE and simulation-based development, using tools such as Rhapsody, MBSE Central, Matlab/Simulink, CarSim, D-Space, or ETAS for analysis, fault insertion, and requirements generation.
- Help resolve critical functional, regulatory, compliance, and customer satisfaction issues while driving innovation within the chassis domain.
Your Skills and Abilities (Required Qualifications):
- Bachelor’s Degree in engineering
- Minimum of 5 years of experience with chassis systems and vehicle dynamics/kinematics
- Minimum of 5 years of experience with ASIL D safety-critical automotive systems, including application of functional safety concepts and FMEA/FIT methods
- Expert understanding of the physics related to the associated systems
- High level of analytical problem-solving ability, including independent judgment and decision-making skills, where problems are very ambiguous
- Demonstrated experience with systems engineering and functional architecture, including decomposing vehicle- and system-level intent into functional requirements and interfaces
- Experience applying Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) concepts (e.g., context and functional architecture diagrams, state machines, or Rhapsody-based models) to describe end-to-end solutions
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills to lead large engineering teams and collaborate cross-functionally, including suppliers and GM controls/software groups.
- Proficient with requirements and architecture tools (e.g., DOORS Next/DNG, Confluence) and work/change management tools (e.g., Jira, Jira Align).
- Experience using simulation and plant modeling environments (e.g., Matlab/Simulink, CarSim, D-Space, ETAS or similar) for fault insertion, testing, and requirements generation.
What Can Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications):
- Masters or PhD in engineering with an emphasis on Controls or mechatronic systems
- Experience with OBD regulations/requirements and regional/federal regulatory requirements
- Experience working in an embedded controls/software organization
- Experience leading cross-functional feature or solution architecture efforts in an agile/SAFe environment
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