Staff Functional System Architect – Propulsion Thermal
Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to the Milford Proving Ground in Milford, MI three times per week, at minimum.
The Role
The Staff Functional System Architect (FSA) – Propulsion Thermal is responsible for defining and driving the architectural vision, requirements, and system integration strategies for propulsion thermal systems for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), within an Agile Release Train (ART). This role serves as a pivotal support function for the Product Team, which consists of the Product Manager, Engineering Lead, Systems Lead, and Program Manager.
The FSA collaborates closely with these key stakeholders to ensure seamless software-hardware alignment, system functionality, and compliance. Additionally, the FSA leads efforts in requirements decomposition, solution definition, and innovation initiatives while supporting the execution of Agile processes.
What You’ll Do
Define and Drive the Vision
Develop and implement the system control requirements and ART solution for propulsion thermal systems, ensuring alignment between system functionality and software implementation.
Create thermal systems architecture diagrams, run component or sub-system level analyses, and provide high quality documentation of results for battery electric vehicles (BEV) and Plug-in-Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV) applications.
Analyze thermal controls architecture and provide recommendations to improve the overall performance and reliability of the software controls.
Analyze EPIC workload, break down into ART deliverables, and create ART features in Jira.
Lead epic decomposition, rolling down requirements from FTS, STS, Portfolio Epics, and Product Teams into structured architecture.
Define and maintain the DOORS/DNG Module Topology while ensuring ILM compliance.
Facilitate seamless integration between ART solutions and hardware components through cross-ART collaboration.
Lead discussions with Product Managers, Program Managers, System Engineers, and Technical Specialists to define ART functional architecture, feature decomposition, and prioritization.
Support software bill of materials (SW BOM) definition, deployment strategies, and solution interfaces.
Drive innovation initiatives within the domain.
Own the FMEA cross-functional linkage for propulsion thermal systems.
Communicate and Disseminate the Vision
Mentor and coach Sub System Lead Engineers (SSLE) in developing and refining requirements while ensuring alignment with Agile principles and technical ownership.
Audit the quality of requirements, participating in Triad reviews as needed.
Lead ART-level SSLE Community of Practice (CoP)/Sync meetings to ensure best practices in requirements management.
Work with Global Technical Specialists, Calibration TS, BFO, Diagnostic System Architects, and Software Architects to cascade architectural requirements into ART features and stories for implementation.
Provide technical direction and oversight to agile development teams.
Support PI planning and pre-PI planning to ensure technical feasibility and resource alignment.
Support and Sustain the Vision
Serve as the subject matter expert on propulsion thermal system requirements and architecture within the ART.
Provide technical guidance on Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) requirement management, diagnostic development, FMEA development, and acceptance criteria definitions.
Actively participate in ART and Scrum meetings as part of Agile software development.
Contribute to the development of subsystem requirements and validate system performance against architectural expectations.
Collaborate with the Product Team to refine backlogs, assess technical feasibility, and estimate work sizing.
Lead resolution efforts for critical functional, regulatory, compliance, and customer satisfaction issues, including PRTS resolution.
Participate in Communities of Practice (CoP) such as System CoP, Solution Intent CoP, and Architecture Sync.
Additional Job DescriptionYour Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Physics, Math, Computer Science, Information Technology, Chemistry, or related technical degree.
10+ years of professional experience in automotive thermal systems design, and analysis with 5+ years of experience in BEV thermal system control engineering.
Experience with building thermal system simulation environments and plant modeling for testing or requirements generation (Matlab/Simulink, CarSim, D-Space, ETAS, Star-CCM+, etc.).
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to make independent, high-impact decisions.
Proven ability to prioritize work and manage tasks with minimal direction.
Expertise in Agile methodologies, ART processes, and SAFe frameworks.
Proficiency in DOORS/DNG, Jira, and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
Strong technical leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Experience in software-hardware integration, FMEA development, and compliance oversight.
What Can Give You a Competitive Advantage (Preferred Qualifications)
Master’s degree or PhD in Control Theory
5+ years of embedded software development experience
Previous leadership or mentorship experience
A company vehicle will be provided for this role with successful completion of a Motor Vehicle Report review.
This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.
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