Job Description

The Mission

Tether is navigating an aggressive, high-stakes roadmap. We are actively executing Department of War (DoW) obligations on the USMC ROGUE platform while simultaneously laying the groundwork for a commercial autonomous trucking pilot. We are transitioning from early-stage R&D to aggressive commercial deployment, which requires a profound departure from traditional academic engineering. We operate with high intensity, minimize corporate bureaucracy, and give our small teams massive autonomy to execute.

Role Overview

We are seeking an elite Lead Drive-by-Wire (DBW) & Automotive Systems Engineer. You will be the absolute owner of the lowest level of our vehicle intelligence—the crucial layer where software meets physical actuation. You will architect, program, and integrate the embedded networks that control everything from hydraulic flow to throttle commands.

You will immediately take over the drive-by-wire operation and testing of our defense platforms (ROGUE) and architect the DBW integration for our incoming fleet of Class 8 semi-trucks. This is not a desk job; you will be in the shop, in the trucks, and running full-scale field tests.

Core Responsibilities

• Drive-by-Wire (DBW) Ownership: Assume total control over the DBW systems on the ROGUE military platform and architect the DBW integration strategy for our commercial Class 8 trucks.
• Low-Level Software & Firmware: Develop and maintain the embedded software across our entire system topology. You will program microcontrollers for many custom ECUs.
• Automotive Network Mastery: Design and implement robust CAN architectures. You will reverse-engineer, interface with, and manipulate vehicle networks (J1939, AUTOSAR), creating custom CAN gateways to send and receive commands to/from the vehicle's main network.
• ECU & Vehicle Integration: Reprogram and tune OEM truck ECUs (throttle, transmission) to seamlessly accept external autonomous commands. You must deeply understand commercial vehicle topology to execute full-system integration.
• Systems Architecture & Safety: Architect the electrical and system wiring topologies. Lead the development of system-level requirements, failure mode analysis (FMEA), and redundant safety architectures necessary for high-speed commercial deployment.
• Full-Scale Field Testing: Serve as the primary operator and test engineer for vehicle platforms. You will design the tests, run the scripts, operate the vehicle during high-stress field experiments, and act as a safety driver when required.

Requirements & Cultural Fit

• Deep Automotive Experience: You must have demonstrable, real-world experience in automotive systems engineering, specifically with commercial or heavy-duty platforms.
• Network Fluency: Absolute fluency in CAN bus systems, J1939 protocols (including PGN manipulation), and AUTOSAR architectures.
• Embedded Software Skills: Highly proficient in low-level embedded programming (C/C++) for vehicle control modules.
• Execution Mindset: You must be a hands-on operator. We do not want theoretical system architects who refuse to touch the hardware. You will wire systems, debug CAN buses with an oscilloscope, and get dirty in the shop.
• Adaptability: You will be stepping into complex, pre-existing proprietary architectures and must be able to reverse-engineer and adapt to them rapidly.

Compensation & Benefits To attract the "A-Team," we offer an aggressive, upside-driven compensation model and unparalleled operational freedom:

• Profit-Sharing: We execute a highly lucrative Profits Based Bonus Share Plan calculated from 15% of the company's Earnings Before Taxes (EBT), directly linking your technical execution to your financial upside.
• Healthcare: Employer-sponsored health insurance.
• Retirement & Savings: 401k matching and direct Employer Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions.
• Ultimate Flexibility: Three full weeks (15 days) of Paid Time Off (PTO) with no officially mandated corporate holidays, trusting you to manage your output and recovery like a high-value operator.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), applicants must be a "U.S. Person." A U.S. Person is defined as a U.S. Citizen, a U.S. National, a Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), or a Protected Individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). Tether cannot sponsor work visas or provide export licenses for this position. All candidates must be able to securely handle defense-related technical data and hardware.

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