Systems Engineer – Digital Key and Vehicle Access

Post Date

Mar 18, 2026

Location

Palo Alto,
California

ZIP/Postal Code

94304
US
May 18, 2026 Insight Global

Job Type

Contract-to-perm

Category

Electrical Engineering

Req #

SJC-3742d8bc-4133-499f-99c8-13a121536ec1

Pay Rate

$73 - $91 (hourly estimate)

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to lead system definition for digital key, vehicle access, immobilizer, and starting features. This role focuses on end-to-end system architecture, requirements, and validation for secure, phone-centric vehicle access systems across embedded, wireless, and cloud-connected environments.
This is a systems and architecture role with a strong emphasis on wireless technologies and embedded automotive systems. It is not a firmware or application software position.

Responsibilities
- Define system architectures, requirements, and interfaces for digital key and vehicle access features
- Develop use cases, scenarios, state machines, and sequence diagrams
- Own system behaviors across normal, degraded, and failure conditions
- Define and manage requirements in a requirements management system
- Support feature development across Bluetooth, UWB, NFC, CAN, and Automotive Ethernet
- Debug system-level issues across embedded and wireless domains
- Define validation strategies, test specifications, and requirements coverage
- Support simulations and software-in-the-loop verification
- Collaborate closely with software, hardware, cloud, integration, test, HMI, and cybersecurity teams
- Contribute to architecture trade studies and semiconductor integration using automotive-grade components

Day-to-Day Work
- Define system use cases and feature scenarios
Refine system architecture details and interfaces
- Debug connectivity and performance issues
- Adjust wireless and vehicle network parameters
- Review test results and support issue resolution
- Collaborate with cybersecurity teams on secure access concepts
- Write system documentation, simulations, and test specifications
- Approximately twenty percent of the role involves coding, primarily in Python.

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to HR@insightglobal.com.To learn more about how we collect, keep, and process your private information, please review Insight Global's Workforce Privacy Policy: https://insightglobal.com/workforce-privacy-policy/.

Required Skills & Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
- Five or more years of experience in automotive systems or embedded systems engineering
- Strong experience with wireless technologies including Bluetooth, UWB, and NFC
- Experience with vehicle networks including CAN and Automotive Ethernet
- Experience writing system requirements and defining interfaces
- Strong understanding of system behaviors, state machines, and embedded architectures
- Solid electrical engineering fundamentals with hands-on debugging experience

Nice to Have Skills & Experience

- Experience with digital key or phone-as-a-key systems
- Familiarity with Car Connectivity Consortium digital key specifications
- Experience with passive entry, passive start, remote access, or immobilizer systems
- Exposure to cloud-connected vehicle features and automated test workflows
- Experience with automotive-grade semiconductor platforms
- Python required, C helpful for embedded understanding

Benefit packages for this role will start on the 1st day of employment and include medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as HSA, FSA, and DCFSA account options, and 401k retirement account access with employer matching. Employees in this role are also entitled to paid sick leave and/or other paid time off as provided by applicable law.