Senior Vehicle Controls Engineer - Electrical

PACCAR · Kirkland, WA

Level: Senior
Team: Controls
Base pay: $104k–$163k
Experience asked: 5+ years
Industry: Automotive
Posted: 16 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A senior controls role at PACCAR (automotive) in Kirkland, WA. Identify, develop, and incorporate advanced vehicle technologies (Battery Electric Vehicle, Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems, Connectivity, etc.) into PACCAR products.

They ask for: 5+ years
Tools it names: Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), SolidWorks, CATIA / NX
Base pay: $104k–$163k
Day to day: some off-shift / weekend coverage

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Controls Engineer roles in Washington: typical posted base $100k–$135k. This one lists $104k–$163k.

Median of the low and high ends of 5 live postings that list pay, out of 7 controls engineer openings in Washington, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Washington plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 874 other live controls postings in the US.

Base pay: About 13% above similar roles
Experience asked: Typical (5+ years)

Skills these teams ask for most

Automation 73%
PLC 68%
Robotics 40%
✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 26%
Root cause 24%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for SolidWorks, CATIA / NX, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 5+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Off-shift / weekend coveragePromotion path mentioned

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at PACCAR
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

Full description from PACCARAs posted on their careers site.Show

Job Functions/Responsibilities

◆Identify, develop, and incorporate advanced vehicle technologies (Battery Electric Vehicle, Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems, Connectivity, etc.) into PACCAR products
◆Elicit

requirements

from customers, sales teams, government regulations, and industry standards to capture customer and business needs

✓Develop functional controls for advanced vehicle systems and software features including test

requirements

✓Define interactions between vehicle systems
✓Support electrical schematic development and design for systems and components being integrated.
✓Support electrical harness assembly, build, testing, and troubleshooting.
✓Create work plans for upcoming programs by establishing scope, identifying deliverables, and estimating resources
✓Up to 10% travel may be required

Qualifications

& Skills

✓B.S. in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field required; EIT certification and M.S. in Engineering or related field preferred.
✓5+ years of relevant experience is required; Heavy/medium-duty truck or passenger car experience is highly desired.
✓Knowledge of ISO26262 is preferred.
✓Experience with IBM DNG, IBM Rational Rhapsody, and IBM Rational Team Concert preferred.
✓Experience with MATLAB Simulink embedded programming.
✓Knowledge of and experience with J1939 and CAN networks.
✓Experience with automotive ethernet and LIN preferred.
✓Experience with Mentor Graphics and wire harness schematics.
✓Proficient in technical writing and reviewing engineering specifications.
✓Understands the design, development, and validation of automotive technologies.
✓Experience with agile software development.
✓Ability to communicate complex concepts or data in a simple-yet-accurate manner.
✓Requires independent judgment and effective decision-making skills.
✓Demonstrate initiative, flexibility, the ability to manage workloads, and the willingness to respond to shifting timelines and project demands.
✓Experience with data acquisition equipment.
✓Experience with simulation software, such as MATLAB, is preferred.
✓Experience with CAD software: Creo/ProE, SolidWorks, Catia, etc. is preferred.
✓Background in the automotive or heavy truck industry is preferred.
✓Desire to obtain CDL.

Why work for PACCAR/Kenworth?

✓Global Fortune 500 Company with a wide array of growth and development opportunities
✓Work alongside experienced goal-oriented colleagues recognized as experts in their fields
✓Support and/or design the commercial vehicles of the future with a focus on emerging technologies such as electric and autonomous trucks

As a U.S. PACCAR employee, you have a full range of benefit options including:

✓401k with up to a 5% company match
✓Fully funded pension plan that provides monthly benefits after retirement
✓Comprehensive paid time off – minimum of 10 paid vacation days (additional days are provided with additional seniority/years of service), 12 paid holidays, and sick time
✓Tuition reimbursement for continued education
✓Medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your family
✓Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings account (HSA)
✓Paid short-and long-term disability programs
✓Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
✓EAP services include wellness plans, estate planning, financial counseling and more

Additional Job Board Information

Show full description ↓

Company Information

PACCAR is a Fortune 500 company established in 1905. PACCAR Inc is recognized as a global leader in the commercial vehicle, financial, and customer service fields with internationally recognized brands such as Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF trucks. PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and manufactures advanced diesel engines, provides financial services and information technology, and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.

Kenworth Truck Company

Kenworth Truck Company, founded in 1923, is the manufacturer of The World’s Best® heavy and medium duty trucks. With an excellent heritage of quality, innovation and technology, Kenworth has played an essential role in the development of trucks that are more fuel efficient, productive, and economical to operate. Today, Kenworth is leading transportation innovation with the introduction of battery-electric vehicles, exploration of fuel cell electric powertrains, and autonomous driving systems. Kenworth is committed to fostering an environment of diversity, equality and inclusivity in the workplace.

Requisition Summary

Kenworth R&D is seeking an energetic, independent engineer with an interest in creating, defining, and verifying advanced technology-based vehicle controls and integrating electrical systems onto alternative, zero emission, and diesel powertrain vehicles. The R&D team is responsible for developing and integrating advanced powertrain systems onto PACCAR products according to the product planning roadmap.

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requirements

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