Autonomous Powertrain System Engineer

Powertrain Systems Owner

Inside the Role

As a Powertrain Systems Owner at Daimler Truck North America, you will be responsible for the end-to-end definition, integration, validation, and release readiness of autonomous and advanced vehicle powertrain systems. You will serve as the primary technical owner for powertrain functionality across vehicle programs, ensuring that software, hardware, calibration, diagnostics, cybersecurity, networking, and validation activities are aligned and delivered to support vehicle integration milestones.

Working at the intersection of systems engineering, software development, validation, and supplier management, you will coordinate across internal engineering teams, suppliers, and external partners to develop and release production-ready powertrain solutions. You will translate vehicle-level requirements into implementable component deliverables, drive issue resolution across a complex ECU ecosystem, and ensure compliance with program objectives, safety expectations, and customer commitments. In this role, you will act as the technical focal point for powertrain system readiness from concept through production release, enabling successful delivery of next-generation autonomous and advanced commercial vehicle platforms.

What You Drive at DTNA

• Own the technical development, integration, and release readiness of vehicle powertrain systems across autonomous and advanced vehicle programs.
• Define, manage, and coordinate powertrain system requirements across multiple ECU suppliers, software teams, and vehicle development organizations.
• Serve as the primary engineering point of contact for powertrain software releases, hardware updates, ECU compatibility, and system-level functionality.
• Drive delivery and signoff of customer, program, and vehicle-level requirements through coordination of suppliers, validation teams, and engineering stakeholders.
• Lead cross-functional issue resolution activities involving powertrain software, diagnostics, communications, cybersecurity, networking, and system integration.
• Coordinate software release planning for CPC, MCM, ACM, and TCM powertrain controllers to ensure vehicle build readiness and production support.
• Coordinate and maintain powertrain Autonomous specific Bills of Material (BOMs), release documentation, module definitions, and configuration management artifacts.
• Define and track powertrain readiness metrics, risks, blockers, dependencies, and critical-path activities for program leadership teams.
• Partner with validation organizations to develop and execute component, bench, HiL, vehicle-level, diagnostics, PCT, NCT, FCT, and end-to-end test strategies.
• Drive VEPS readiness activities, software charting, flash package development, production release preparation, and vehicle update planning.
• Coordinate change requests, defect resolution, feature implementation activities, and VMM/network communication updates required for vehicle integration.
• Evaluate impacts of software, hardware, calibration, cybersecurity, and networking changes across the powertrain ecosystem.
• Support vehicle build activities, workshop integration, field troubleshooting, validation campaigns, and prototype development efforts.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal development organizations across the US and Europe to secure deliverables, establish timelines, and remove program execution barriers.
• Communicate technical status, risks, recommendations, and readiness assessments to engineering leadership and program management teams.
• Capture lessons learned and continuously improve powertrain development, integration, and validation processes.

Knowledge You Should Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, and 0-2 years of experience, is required.
• Basic understanding of automotive powertrain systems, including engines, transmissions, emissions systems, controls, and vehicle communications.
• Experience working with embedded systems and networked electronic control units (ECUs).
• Knowledge of automotive software development, calibration, release…