Connected Car Engineer

The Connected Car Engineer plays a key role in the design, development, and system-level validation of connected car services and infotainment platforms from an OEM perspective. This role focuses on end-to-end vehicle infotainment system architectures, embedded systems, and remote services, ensuring high-quality, scalable, and secure solutions for North American connected car and infotainment systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop connected car and infotainment products from an OEM perspective, with a focus on user profiles, diagnostics, vehicle activations, and other Connected Car Services (CCS) features.
• Perform system-level testing and validation of CCS and infotainment functions to meet requirements and responsibilities for the IDD team.
• Conduct system-level validation on connected car services such as user profiles, vehicle activation, remote services, diagnostics, maintenance, and related features.
• Lead North American connected car services and infotainment system development and validation efforts, including specification review, creation of validation procedures, bench testing, vehicle field validation, and tracking development progress.
• Conduct studies and clinics, evaluate competitive systems, revise and create specifications, and troubleshoot vehicle sub-system interactions to improve system performance.
• Manage projects to meet milestone timing for vehicle development, ensuring deliverables are completed on schedule.
• Create innovative technologies for research and potential implementation into vehicle platforms, focusing on cost savings and technical roadmaps to enhance infotainment solutions.
• Support the development and validation of user profiles, diagnostics, vehicle activation, in-car payment, connected garage (myQ), navigation, over-the-air (OTA) updates, and infotainment systems.
• Support port interface audits, quality gate audits, field issue resolution, and meetings with business teams to ensure system quality and alignment with requirements.
• Contribute to server validation as part of the overall end-to-end development process, preferably using knowledge of GSM, CDMA, LTE, and 4G/5G technologies.
• Create clear and detailed technical reports for presentation to management and other stakeholders.
• Apply effective root cause analysis to solve complex design issues and improve system reliability.
• Utilize automated tool sets to execute efficient and effective testing of infotainment aspects and connected car services.
• Interface and collaborate with cross-functional departments such as infotainment software, electrical design, product strategy, and autonomous teams.
• Work with end-to-end vehicle infotainment system architectures, mobile and wireless systems, systems engineering, software engineering, and software design.
• Contribute to the design and release of electrical-related structures and components associated with infotainment and connected car systems.
• Prioritize tasks effectively and take initiative to complete assignments with minimal supervision.

• Minimum 2 years of experience developing specifications and design verification test plans for infotainment platforms.
• At least 1 year of experience in infotainment system hardware and software design and/or validation.
• Experience in the design and release of electrical-related structures and components.
• Strong experience with connected car services, infotainment systems, and system-level testing.
• Knowledge of validation processes for embedded systems and infotainment platforms.
• Understanding of server development and its role in connected car and infotainment ecosystems.
• Experience executing and validating scalable, reliable, and secure software solutions.
• Knowledge of in-vehicle communication protocols used in infotainment and connected car systems.
• Experience with end-to-end vehicle infotainment system architectures, mobile and wireless systems, systems engineering, software engineering, and software design.
• Ability to perform effective root cause analysis and solve complex design issues.
• Ability to prioritize work and demonstrate strong self-initiative in completing assignments.
• Valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.

• Preferred experience in software development related to infotainment or connected car services.
• Experience with remote services and over-the-air (OTA) update functionality.
• Familiarity with GSM, CDMA, LTE, and 4G/5G technologies to support server and end-to-end system validation.
• Experience supporting user profile management, diagnostics, vehicle activation, in-car payment, connected garage (myQ), navigation, and infotainment features.
• Ability to conduct studies and clinics, evaluate competitive systems, and contribute to specification creation and revision.
• Experience creating technical reports and presenting findings and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Comfort working with automated test tools to improve validation efficiency for infotainment and connected car features.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams including infotainment software, electrical design, product strategy, and autonomous systems.

This role operates in a technology-focused automotive environment centered on connected car services and infotainment systems. Work typically involves a mix of office-based tasks such as specification review, test plan creation, and report writing, as well as hands-on activities including bench testing and vehicle field validation. The engineer works with embedded systems, infotainment hardware and software, in-vehicle communication protocols, mobile and wireless technologies, and server-side components. Collaboration with software, electrical design, product strategy, and autonomous teams is frequent, requiring clear communication and coordination across disciplines. The position may require driving test vehicles for validation activities, making a valid driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record essential. Hours generally follow standard business schedules, with flexibility to meet project milestones and support audits, field issues, and cross-functional meetings as needed. Attire is typically professional and suitable for both office work and occasional work in laboratory or vehicle testing environments.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Ypsilanti, MI.

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $40.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a hybrid position in Ypsilanti,MI.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 15, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Salary : $35 - $40