Embedded Software Engineer, Vehicle Access
Palo Alto · Irvine · USD 150,000-170,000 · 8+ years experience · Full-time · Remote · Posted Sep 28, 2026
At a glance
- Experience
- 8+ years experience
- Employment
- Full-time
- Workplace
- Remote
- Location
- Palo Alto · Irvine
- Salary
- USD 150,000-170,000
About the role
- We are looking for a Senior Software Engineer to take full functional ownership of the vehicle access authentication path and the customer-facing vehicle functions built on top of it.
- You will help drive this stack from architecture through vehicle bring-up and post-launch support, working with wireless and embedded technologies including Bluetooth, UWB, NFC, and RF connectivity.
Responsibilities
- Own implementation of one or more components of the vehicle access authentication path, including transaction authorization, lock/unlock, start authorization, and/or remote functions across Digital Key and Key Card.
- Architect and develop embedded software for Vehicle Access systems running on ECUs and real-time embedded platforms.
- Design, implement, and maintain Digital Key functionality based on Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) standards, alongside Key Card authentication flows.
- Develop software supporting vehicle access features utilizing Bluetooth, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), NFC, and RF communication technologies.
- Lead collaboration with systems, hardware, validation, cybersecurity, and mobile application teams to deliver end-to-end vehicle access and vehicle function solutions.
- Write and enhance embedded software in C, leveraging Python for automation, testing, and validation activities.
- Define software architecture, interfaces, and communication frameworks between vehicle systems, key credentials (Digital Key and Key Card), and external devices.
- Support vehicle integration, debugging, and bring-up activities on prototype and production vehicles.
- Diagnose complex software, connectivity, and RF-related issues across vehicle and mobile ecosystems.
- Use AI-assisted development tools (such as VS Code with GitHub Copilot or other approved AI coding assistants) to accelerate coding, code review, debugging, documentation, and test-case generation, while critically validating all AI-suggested code against automotive safety, security, and coding standards (e.g., MISRA).
Requirements
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
- 8+ years of professional experience developing embedded software.
- Strong proficiency in Embedded C programming.
- Strong Python scripting and automation experience.
- Hands-on experience with complex embedded software projects, such as Vehicle Access systems, Digital Key, or Key Card technologies.
- Experience working with complex industry standards, e.g., Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) standards.
- Understanding of Bluetooth, UWB, NFC, RF communication, and wireless connectivity architectures.
- Experience developing software for automotive ECUs and embedded real-time systems.
- Demonstrated ability to own a system end-to-end, from architecture through post-launch support, with minimal supervision.
- Practical experience using modern AI-assisted development tools (e.g., VS Code Copilot, Claude Code, or similar) to improve coding efficiency, accelerate debugging, and support test/documentation generation, paired with sound judgment on responsible use of AI-generated output.
Preferred qualifications
- Automotive experience implementing CCC Digital Key vehicle access technology, and/or Key Card authentication systems.
- Experience developing software for Body Control Modules (BCM) or Vehicle Access ECUs.
- Knowledge of cybersecurity concepts related to vehicle access, transaction authorization, and secure authentication.
- Familiarity with CAN, Automotive Ethernet, diagnostics, and vehicle communication protocols.
- Experience with vehicle integration, validation, and launch activities.
- Understanding of embedded Linux and RTOS-based systems.
- Familiarity with ISO 26262, ASPICE, MISRA, or automotive software development processes.
- Experience establishing or contributing to team guidelines for the safe and efficient use of AI coding assistants in safety-critical or regulated software environments.
Workplace
- On-site, Monday-Thursday.
- REMOTE on Friday.
Skills
- C
- Python
- Bluetooth
- UWB
- NFC
- RF
- CAN
- Automotive Ethernet
- Embedded Linux
- RTOS
- VS Code
- GitHub Copilot
Show all 13 skills
- Claude Code
