How to apply for System Engineer

About Exponent Energy

Exponent Energy is pioneering rapid charging technology for electric vehicles with their unique 15-minute full charge solution, making them a disruptive force in the EV infrastructure space. Working here means contributing directly to solving one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption globally, with a focus on practical, scalable engineering rather than just theoretical research.

About the role

This System Engineer role is central to Exponent's hardware-software integration, specifically designing and validating low-voltage electrical systems and firmware that enable their rapid charging technology. You'll be the bridge between electrical design and firmware implementation, ensuring reliable vehicle interfaces that are critical for their 15-minute charge promise to work consistently across different OEM platforms.

A typical day

You might start by reviewing validation data from overnight charging tests, then collaborate with firmware engineers on optimizing a control algorithm based on that data. In the afternoon, you could be debugging a CAN communication issue with an OEM's test vehicle while preparing documentation for system-level validation reports.

Who Exponent Energy is looking for

• Has 5+ years of hands-on experience with LV electrical systems in automotive/EV contexts, not just general embedded systems
• Can demonstrate specific projects involving CAN/LIN protocols and power electronics in vehicle charging or battery management systems
• Has practical experience debugging at the system level where electrical hardware and firmware interact, not just isolated component testing
• Has worked directly with OEM teams on integration projects and understands the compliance and reliability requirements of vehicle interfaces

Tips for this application

• Quantify your 5+ years experience with specific metrics: e.g., 'Designed LV systems for 3 EV models' or 'Reduced fault analysis time by 40% through improved diagnostic tools'
• Highlight any experience with rapid charging systems or battery management systems specifically, not just general automotive electronics
• Mention specific tools you've used for embedded firmware debugging (like Lauterbach, Green Hills, or specific oscilloscopes/protocol analyzers for CAN/LIN)
• Include examples of collaborating with firmware engineers on control algorithms - show you understand the software-hardware interface deeply
• Tailor your resume to show progression in system-level validation, not just component-level work, with emphasis on fault analysis in LV platforms

What to cover in your cover letter

["Explain why you're specifically interested in Exponent's 15-minute charging technology and how your experience relates to making that reliable at scale", 'Provide a concrete example of a system-level debugging challenge you solved involving both electrical hardware and firmware', 'Demonstrate understanding of the OEM integration aspect by mentioning past experience with vehicle interface standards or compliance requirements', 'Connect your power electronics and control systems knowledge directly to EV charging applications']

Research before applying

• Exponent's specific 15-minute charging technology and how it differs from conventional EV charging systems
• Their announced partnerships with OEMs and what vehicle platforms they're currently working with
• Their product stack architecture as described in their technical blogs or presentations
• The specific challenges of scaling rapid charging infrastructure in the Indian market context

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Detailed questions about your experience with CAN/LIN protocols in actual vehicle integration projects, not just theoretical knowledge
• Scenario-based questions about debugging a charging fault that could involve either electrical hardware, firmware, or their interaction
• Discussion of specific power electronics challenges in rapid charging systems and thermal management considerations
• Questions about your approach to working with OEM teams who might have different requirements or constraints
• Deep dive into your experience with control algorithms for charging systems and how you've collaborated with firmware engineers on implementation

Common mistakes to avoid

• Having only theoretical knowledge of CAN/LIN without hands-on implementation experience in automotive projects
• Focusing only on embedded programming without demonstrating understanding of the electrical system integration aspects
• Presenting experience that's purely in consumer electronics or non-automotive embedded systems without making clear connections to EV applications