Senior Vehicle Communications Architect

About the role

May Mobility is transforming cities through autonomous technology to create a safer, greener, more accessible world. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, May develops and deploys autonomous vehicles (AVs) powered by our innovative Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) technology that literally reimagines the way AVs think. Our vehicles do more than just drive themselves - they provide value to communities, bridge public transit gaps and move people where they need to go safely, easily and with a lot more fun. We're building the world's best autonomy system to reimagine transit by minimizing congestion, expanding access and encouraging better land use in order to foster more green, vibrant and livable spaces. Since our founding in 2017, we've given more than 500,000 autonomous rides to real people around the globe. And we're just getting started. We're hiring people who share our passion for building the future, today, solving real-world problems and seeing the impact of their work. Join us.

Job Summary

The Senior Vehicle Communications Architect designs the end-to-end network, telematics, and in-vehicle connectivity frameworks that connect the critical components of May Mobility's Autonomous Driving Kit (ADK), defining how the vehicle's physical domains, central compute, and cloud systems communicate. As the company explores new platforms, this role delivers the design maturity needed to create secure, high-performance, and scalable systems that are reliable, cost-conscious, and suitable for collaboration with our OEM partners. Bridging hardware and software to enable AV features, the Senior Vehicle Communications Architect upholds functional safety and cybersecurity, drawing on deep experience in the automotive or autonomous vehicle space and a strong command of relevant industry standards such as ISO 26262, ISO 21448, ISO/SAE 21434, and UL 4600.

Essential Responsibilities

• Define the in-vehicle network architecture and roadmap across high-speed automotive Ethernet, Controller Area Network with flexible data rates, Local Interconnect Network, and Time-Sensitive Networking, scaling to the electronic control units, sensors, high-performance compute, and domain/zone controllers spanning the vehicle and the ADK.
• Architect connectivity infrastructure for over-the-air updates, telematics, and secure vehicle-to-cloud communications.
• Define the service-oriented architecture and middleware communication stacks (for example, Classic and Adaptive AUTOSAR and SOME/IP) to enable seamless communication between physical domains, central compute, and cloud systems.
• Enforce hardware and software interfaces that align with automotive cybersecurity, functional safety, SOTIF, and AV safety case requirements.
• Evaluate architecture trade-offs across performance, cost, reliability, safety, and security to deliver design maturity appropriate for OEM partner programs.
• use a system level understanding of our products and technologies to support cross-functional engineering efforts.
• Collaborate with systems engineering, controls, software, and OEM platform partners to align communication interfaces across programs.
• Evaluate industry and regulatory requirements for applicability to May Mobility products.
• Performing FMEA analysis, tracking findings to resolution.
• Follow safe work procedures.

Skills and Abilities

Success in this role typically requires the following competencies. Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills. Ability to multitask and adapt to shifting priorities in a fast-paced work environment. Understanding of agile startup and engineering principles and mindset. Expertise in automotive communication networks and in-vehicle network architecture, such as automotive Ethernet, Controller Area Network with flexible data rates, Local Interconnect Network, and Time-Sensitive Networking. Experience architecting service-oriented architectures and automotive middleware, such as Classic and Adaptive AUTOSAR and SOME/IP. Familiarity with OTA update, telematics, and vehicle-to-cloud connectivity architectures. Knowledge of network and embedded security principles for safety-critical systems.

Requirements

You define in-vehicle networks using automotive Ethernet, Controller Area Network with flexible data rates, Local Interconnect Network, and Time-Sensitive Networking in complex systems. You architect connectivity for over-the-air updates, telematics, and secure cloud links that protect operations. You model service-oriented designs with middleware such as AUTOSAR and SOME/IP for domain integration. You uphold functional safety, cybersecurity, SOTIF, and UL 4600 requirements in communication frameworks. You analyze trade-offs among performance, cost, reliability, safety, and security for production readiness. You collaborate closely with controls, software, systems engineering, and OEM partners on cohesive interfaces. You assess regulations and industry standards to determine fit for evolving mobility products. You conduct FMEA activities and resolve findings to strengthen communication architectures.

Nice to have

Experience with automotive startups and supplier programs that value speed and clarity.

Compensation & Role Details

Location: USA

Engagement: Full-time.

Compensation: $143,750.00 to $199,999.00 per year.

What you'll work on

Architecting secure, high-performance in-vehicle networks that span sensors, ECUs, and central compute for ADK. Designing roadmaps for automotive Ethernet, Controller Area Network with flexible data rates, Local Interconnect Network, and Time-Sensitive Networking as fleet capabilities evolve. Establishing service-oriented middleware and SOA patterns to link physical domains, compute, and cloud. Building OTA, telematics, and vehicle-to-cloud pathways that meet safety, privacy, and uptime expectations. Championing functional safety, cybersecurity, and industry standards throughout communication implementations. Partnering with OEM teams to align interfaces, validate requirements, and smooth integration efforts. Guiding evaluation of protocols, trade-offs, and maturity for scalable, cost-conscious vehicle programs. Supporting system-level analysis that connects products, controls, and cross-functional engineering goals.