Staff Design Release Engineer, Human-Machine Interface & User Experience at Motional

Mission Summary:

Our Design Release Engineering team, within the Vehicle Platform Engineering group, is seeking a highly motivated Staff Engineer to own the complete design release, engineering integration, and OEM orchestration of our Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and User Experience (UX) subsystem. 

This role fuses traditional Design Release Engineering with hands-on Product Management and Systems Engineering. As the primary engineering authority, you will drive the translation of high-level user experience concepts into actionable technical requirements, lead component procurement, and manage the complete release and vehicle integration of passenger and exterior-facing HMI systems.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Own the complete design release for all in-cabin and exterior HMI hardware components, including passenger displays, status indicators, buttons and key pads, and speakers and microphones.
• Drive requirements and product definition alignment by collaborating closely with internal teams to convert high-level driverless user experience concepts into detailed engineering specifications, interface control documents (ICDs), and functional requirements.
• Lead end-to-end technical execution for the full product lifecycle, from concept and architecture definition to sustaining engineering and continuous improvement.
• Oversee the generation and release of all engineering documentation, including drawings, Bills of Material (BOM), specifications, and test reports.
• Drive OEM platform integration by working directly with the vehicle manufacturer’s engineering teams to facilitate the mechanical, electrical, and software integration of Motional’s HMI suite into the OEM’s base vehicle architecture.
• Define and maintain the Design Verification Plan & Report (DVP&R), ensuring successful validation against system performance targets.
• Lead the Engineering Change (ECN) process for all HMI modules, ensuring traceability, cost impact analysis, version control, and full cross-functional buy-in.
• Act as the primary technical and program interface to suppliers (Tier 1 and Tier 2), tracking part maturity through DV, PV, and PPAP phases to ensure tooling and delivery readiness.
• Lead technical program reviews and design readiness assessments, proactively developing risk mitigation plans to ensure HMI hardware maturity aligns with program milestones and build events.
• Provide regular, concise updates to technical leadership on design maturity, validation progress, open issues, and timely closure metrics.
  
  

What We’re Looking For:

• 8+ years of experience in automotive hardware design and release engineering, with direct ownership of infotainment, displays, cabin electronics, or HMI platforms.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, or Systems Engineering (or a related technical field).
• Strong ability to bridge the gap between abstract UX/Product vision and rigorous automotive engineering requirements, with a proven track record of managing release timelines, vendor delivery, and OEM integration milestones.
• Deep technical understanding of automotive display technologies, touch interfaces, audio systems, lighting, and in-cabin communication protocols.
• Fundamental knowledge of validation documentation and processes, including DVP&R, DFMEA, and PFMEA.
• Expert-level experience with the manufacturing BOM and ECN processes, and a proven ability to manage technical discussions with external suppliers.
• Familiarity with CAD systems (e.g., NX, CATIA), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems (including requirement management tools such as Polarion), and engineering release workflows.
• Strong understanding of vehicle integration, packaging, and functional safety standards (ISO 26262).
• Proven ability to lead complex initiatives, manage cross-functional teams, and execute to aggressive program timelines with minimal oversight.
  
  

Bonus Points:

• Professional proficiency or fluency in Korean to facilitate direct technical and program communication with international vehicle manufacturing partners.
• Hands-on experience defining or testing passenger-facing UX/HMI modules specifically tailored for autonomous vehicles, robotaxis, or shared mobility fleets.
• Prior experience working within an automotive OEM (or managing large-scale platform integrations as a strategic Tier 1 partner), with a proven track record of navigating vehicle assembly plants, OEM launch milestones, and joint-venture automotive program delivery.