HIL Engineer

Title: HIL Engineer (Multiple openings)
Location: Palo Alto, CA – -5 days onsite (Local Only)
Duration: 6-12+ Months Contract
Visa: TN, OPT
Interview Mode: Video

Job Description

wants them to have direct domain experience in one of the following.  That is where we have missed.  We are sending HIL Engineers but not with the direct domain experience

Low Voltage Systems (highest priority)
Body control
Power distribution (e.g., electronic fuses)
Motion Controls / Vehicle Dynamics
Thermal Systems
Zone Architecture environments

leading automotive engineering organization is expanding its Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) validation capability and is actively seeking experienced HIL Engineers to support the buildout of multiple new systems.
This role requires hands-on ownership of HIL environments, from initial setup through system integration and validation. The ideal candidate brings deep, practical experience and can immediately contribute in a fast-paced, highly technical environment.
This is not an entry-level or general test role—we are specifically looking for engineers who have built or stood up HIL systems from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

Design, build, and deploy HIL systems from scratch
Translate system requirements into test plans and validation strategies
Perform electrical integration, including:

Wiring schematics
ECU I/O mapping

Configure and integrate vehicle communication interfaces:

CAN, LIN, Ethernet

Develop and maintain MATLAB / Simulink models
Execute test development, automation, and debugging
Support system-level validation and issue triage
Collaborate across systems, controls, and hardware teams

Required Qualifications (Must Have)

4–5+ years of HIL engineering experience
Demonstrated experience building or standing up a HIL system from scratch
Strong hands-on experience with:

dSPACE (required)

Experience working in system-level validation environments

Technical Environment
Core Tools

dSPACE (required)
Vector tools (CANoe, CANalyzer – preferred)

Modeling

MATLAB / Simulink

Interfaces

CAN
LIN
Ethernet

Preferred Experience Areas
Candidates may come from various domains, but strongest alignment includes:

Low Voltage Systems (high priority)

Body control
Power distribution (e.g., electronic fuses)

Vehicle Motion Controls / Dynamics
Thermal Systems
Zone Architecture

Additional Preferred Qualifications

Experience with vehicle diagnostics
Prior role/title as a HIL Engineer
Background in highly hands-on programs such as:

Automotive research or prototype programs
Competitive engineering teams (Formula SAE, etc.)

What Success Looks Like
Strong candidates can clearly explain:

A HIL system they have built or owned end-to-end

Including:

Requirements gathering
Test planning
Electrical integration (wiring, I/O mapping)
System architecture decisions
Modeling approach (MATLAB/Simulink)
Execution and validation strategy

Candidates lacking this depth of ownership will not be a fit.

Additional Details

High urgency—candidates must be able to ramp quickly
Opportunity to support multiple system builds with potential for ongoing work
Exposure to next-generation vehicle architectures and validation environments