About Blue Bird Corporation
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit .
JOB SUMMARY
The Senior Vehicle Controls Integration Engineer owns the integration of intelligent vehicle control systems across a new commercial chassis platform from concept through production launch. This role serves as the technical authority for vehicle controls integration, embedded electronic systems, sensors, actuators, and electromechanical interfaces while ensuring seamless integration between hardware, software, electrical architecture, and mechanical systems. Responsibilities include developing system requirements, defining interfaces, supporting controls integration, and delivering production-ready vehicle functionality.
Working closely with other engineering teams, manufacturing, suppliers, and external engineering partners, this position is empowered to establish technical direction, make timely engineering decisions, and drive execution across the complete product lifecycle.
This is a high-impact role for an experienced engineer who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys solving complex integration challenges, and wants meaningful ownership over the intelligent systems that define vehicle capability, safety, and customer experience.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Vehicle Controls Architecture: Develop and own the vehicle controls architecture for embedded controllers, electronic actuators, sensors, and intelligent electromechanical systems supporting the commercial chassis platform.
- Systems Integration: Lead integration of electrical, software, and mechanical systems to ensure robust functionality, diagnostics, reliability, manufacturability, and production-ready performance.
- Requirements & Interface Definition: Develop and manage system requirements, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), communication interfaces, and functional interactions supporting vehicle controls and intelligent systems.
- Controls Strategy & Integration: Partner with controls software, electrical architecture, and systems engineering teams to define control strategies, diagnostics, fault management, and system behaviors that support overall vehicle performance.
- Supplier & External Engineering Leadership: Provide technical direction to suppliers and external engineering partners while maintaining ownership of system requirements, engineering decisions, integration quality, and production readiness.
- Validation & System Verification: Develop and execute validation strategies supporting Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), subsystem integration, vehicle validation, and production readiness.
- Diagnostics & Functional Safety: Support development of diagnostics, fault detection, system monitoring, cybersecurity considerations, and functional safety activities appropriate for commercial vehicle applications.
- Cross-Functional Technical Integration: Partner with Electrical Architecture, Propulsion Systems Integration, Chassis & Vehicle Integration, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program Management to ensure successful system integration from concept through launch.
- Prototype, Launch & Manufacturing Support: Support prototype builds, manufacturing launch, and early production by resolving controls integration issues and rapidly driving corrective actions to maintain program timing.
- Root Cause Analysis: Lead investigation and resolution of complex controls, communication, software, sensor, actuator, and electromechanical integration issues throughout development and production.
- Operate in Ambiguity: Create structure and drive execution where requirements, technologies, suppliers, and vehicle architectures evolve simultaneously.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES FOR SUCCESS
- Deep understanding of embedded vehicle controls, electromechanical systems, and vehicle systems integration
- Strong understanding of CAN, CAN FD, LIN, J1939, Automotive Ethernet, UDS diagnostics, and vehicle communication architectures
- Experience integrating ECUs, sensors, actuators, embedded software, and intelligent vehicle systems
- Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink, dSPACE, Vector CANoe, CANalyzer, CANape, or equivalent development and validation tools
- Experience developing system requirements, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), DVP&R, and systems validation strategies
- Strong understanding of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), functional testing, and root cause analysis
- Experience supporting prototype development, validation, manufacturing launch, and production issue resolution
- Ability to provide technical direction across internal engineering teams, suppliers, and external engineering organizations without direct authority
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and engineering decision-making skills
BASIC EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- 8+ years of experience developing embedded vehicle controls, electronic systems, mechatronic systems, or intelligent vehicle technologies for automotive, commercial vehicle, heavy-duty, or off-highway vehicle platforms
- All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
- Demonstrated ownership of complex vehicle control systems from concept through prototype development, validation, production launch, and field support
- Experience developing system requirements, interface definitions, diagnostics, and controls integration strategies across multiple engineering disciplines
- Experience directing technical activities for suppliers and external engineering partners while maintaining ownership of engineering decisions and system performance
- Experience making complex engineering decisions in fast-paced product development environments with evolving requirements and aggressive launch schedules
- Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Controls Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical discipline
- Experience with commercial vehicles, body-on-chassis platforms, vocational vehicles, or heavy-duty vehicle systems
- Experience developing embedded controls for braking, steering, suspension, body controls, or other intelligent vehicle systems
- Experience with ISO 26262, functional safety, diagnostics, cybersecurity, or AUTOSAR development methodologies
- Experience supporting clean-sheet vehicle development or accelerated product launches
- Experience integrating multiple electronic control systems within a common vehicle architecture
- Experience supporting production launch and field issue resolution for electronically controlled vehicle systems
WE’RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO
- Takes ownership of complex vehicle controls integration challenges and drives them to resolution
- Thrives in fast-paced environments where requirements, technologies, and priorities evolve rapidly
- Makes sound engineering decisions independently while balancing technical performance, manufacturability, reliability, safety, and launch timing
- Provides technical direction to suppliers and external engineering partners while maintaining ownership of engineering decisions and system performance
- Thinks at the complete vehicle level and understands how software, electronics, and mechanical systems interact
- Operates with urgency, embraces accountability, and creates structure where little exists
- Wants meaningful autonomy and the opportunity to influence the architecture, integration, and performance of a new commercial chassis platform
INCLUDES
- Continued Professional Development
- Benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays, vacation time and 401k matching
WORK CONDITIONS
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Office environment and production environment
- Must work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, cold and noise
- Fast-paced production area with moving objects and sheet metal
- Occasional periods of standing or sitting for extended periods of time
- You must wear appropriate PPE when and where required
- Frequent weeks working 40+ hours
- Frequent communication with people throughout the day
*The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
Blue Bird® is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We strive to have the best available talent in every job based on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities each person brings. Blue Bird is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Company operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination in all forms.
All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.
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