---
title: 'Senior Systems Engineer at Parallel Systems'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-systems-engineer-parallel-systems-los-angeles-km0at0ea3z8j'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-05'
---

# Senior Systems Engineer at Parallel Systems

- **Company:** Parallel Systems
- **Location:** Los Angeles, CA
- **Compensation:** $163k–$180k
- **Posted:** 2026-09-01
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-05
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/parallel/jobs/5226903007?gh_jid=5226903007

## Job description

Parallel Systems is pioneering autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles designed to transform freight transportation by shifting portions of the $900 billion U.S. trucking industry onto rail. Our innovative technology offers cleaner, safer, and more efficient logistics solutions. Join our dynamic team and help shape a smarter, greener future for global freight.

Senior Systems Engineer

Parallel Systems is building autonomous, battery-electric rail vehicles to modernize freight transportation. We are looking for a hands-on Senior Systems Engineer to interface with customers and end users to define the product.  You’ll architect the system and use best Systems Engineering practices to define requirements, lead design reviews, and execute validation campaigns.

This position straddles the vehicle hardware and the end user command and control software. You will have a critical role in integrating to existing train control systems, and will participate in crafting the next generation of advanced autonomous rail operations.

## Responsibilities

- Define high level needs, goals, and objectives based on business and customer desires
- Develop product plans and roadmaps and guide team execution to those plans
- Lead trade studies to determine best implementation of product
- Develop system architecture, concepts of operation, and requirements
- Decompose system level requirements to subsystems requirements with all engineering disciples (mechanical, electrical, system/software)
- Manage and maintain requirements traceability from system requirements through validation evidence using a structured requirements database
- Develop interface control documents (ICD)
- Develop compliance matrix, verification and validation plan, integration plan and design verification test (DVT) plan/procedure
- Lead and perform Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
- Provide feedback across the design lifecycle to improve testability, reliability, and system robustness
- Provide technical guidance for engineering best practices

Success in This Role

- After 30 Days: Understand the vehicle architecture, command and control software, railroad operating environment, subsystem interfaces, and existing requirements. Identify the highest-priority gaps in requirements, traceability, integration, and validation.
- After 60 Days: Own key system and subsystem requirements and interfaces. Lead cross-functional design reviews, improve requirements traceability, and begin driving trade studies and integration issue
- After 90 Days: Independently lead systems engineering for a major vehicle or operational capability. Establish clear requirements, interfaces, risks, and verification plans, and drive integration and validation to produce structured, audit-ready evidence.

## Basic Qualifications

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Controls, Aerospace, Computer Science, or related field
- 5+ years of experience working on complex hardware systems
- Direct experience testing electromechanical systems that integrate hardware, firmware, and software interfaces
- Strong foundation in electromechanical fundamentals and system integration
- Experience with system and subsystem validation such as acceptance testing, environmental validation, integration testing, and deployment testing
- Experience with existing railroad operations and train control software
- Demonstrated ability to create structured, audit-ready documentation for safety and compliance purposes

## Preferred Qualifications

- Experience with classical systems engineering practices including requirements management, functional architecture, and DFMEA
- Experience managing or administering a requirements database and maintaining verification traceability
- Experience integrating hardware and software systems in a regulated or safety-critical environment
- Track record of implementing process improvements across engineering or manufacturing systems
- Experience with Python or similar programming languages
- Familiarity with CAD tools such as SolidWorks

We are committed to providing fair and transparent compensation in accordance with applicable laws. Salary ranges are listed below and reflect the expected range for new hires in this role, based on factors such as skills, experience, qualifications, and location. Final compensation may vary and will be determined during the interview process. The target hiring range for this position is listed below.

Target Salary Range: $163,000—$180,000 USD

Parallel Systems is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any discriminatory factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. We work to build an inclusive environment in which all people can come to do their best work.

Parallel Systems is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Parallel Systems will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact your recruiter.

## About Parallel Systems

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Parallel Systems develops autonomous, battery-electric rail vehicles to convert freight from truck to rail, enabling railroads to serve new markets with a cleaner, more flexible, and cost-effective alternative to short-haul trucking.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B)
- **Headquarters**: Los Angeles, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2020
- **Founders**: Matt Soule (Founder and CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Railroad Equipment Manufacturing, Autonomous Freight, Clean Logistics
- **Target Customers**: Railroads, freight operators, ports, distribution centers, and logistics companies (B2B, Enterprise)
- **Mission/Purpose**: To provide a safer, more efficient, and sustainable alternative to short-haul trucking by seamlessly integrating autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles with existing rail operations, decongesting highways, and reducing shipping costs and pollution.

## Products & Services
- **[Autonomous, Battery-Electric Rail System](https://moveparallel.com/product/)**: A fleet of self-propelled, autonomous rail vehicles designed to haul intermodal containers up to 500 miles on a single charge. Key features include:
  - **No couplers**: Vehicles self-sort and assemble into platoons, eliminating manual coupling and enabling instant rerouting.
  - **Platooning & Aerodynamics**: Patented technology yields unprecedented range and energy efficiency.
  - **Advanced Braking**: Self-contained, adaptive braking with automatic parking brakes for shorter stopping distances.
  - **Integrated Systems**: Software platform seamlessly integrates with existing railroad train control and business systems, providing real-time data via APIs.
- **Solutions for Rail**: New line hauls (city-to-city), port shuttles (reducing drayage), and direct-to-customer service (small-footprint terminals at warehouses).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding – **USD 91,349,995** ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallelsystems))
- **Funding History**:
  - Seed Round (June 2020): $3.8M – led by Congruent Ventures
  - Series A (Jan 2022): $49.5M – led by Anthos Capital
  - Series B (May 2025): $38.0M – led by Anthos Capital
- **Notable Investors**: Anthos Capital, Congruent Ventures
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Employee headcount grew **44.7% year-over-year** to 45 employees (as of mid-2025)
  - **First commercial pilot** launched in April 2025 after receiving Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approval ([Pulse 2.0](https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallelsystems))
  - Currently in **second phase of testing on Genesee & Wyoming (G&W) in Georgia** ([Railway Age, July 2025](https://www.moveparallel.com/))
  - **14 active job postings** as of July 2025, with 75% year-over-year growth in listings

## Competitive Advantages
- **Autonomous, battery-electric technology** purpose-built for rail, offering a direct alternative to short-haul trucking (a massive market consuming 45 billion gallons of diesel annually).
- **No couplers** – enables instant, automated rerouting and packetized freight, greatly improving operational flexibility compared to traditional trains.
- **Long range (500 miles) on one hour of charge** via patented platooning aerodynamics.
- **Seamless integration** with existing railroad systems, reducing adoption barriers.
- **Small footprint** allows direct service to warehouse docks and small terminals, unlocking new low-density, short-haul lanes.

## Strategic Focus
- **Commercial deployment**: Moving from testing to revenue-generating pilot operations with partner railroads.
- **Scaling manufacturing and operations**: Growing the team (especially engineering and sales) to support commercial expansion.
- **Expanding market share**: Target shorter and lower density routes currently dominated by trucking, while also enabling port shuttles and direct-to-customer rail service.
- **Sustainability-driven growth**: Position rail as a lower-emission, cost-competitive alternative to reduce the 7% of U.S. emissions from trucking.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: "A team of curious, committed problem-solvers" with a focus on inclusion, ownership, and technical excellence ([Greenhouse careers page](https://boards.greenhouse.io/parallel)).
- **Impact**: Directly influence the future of freight by building autonomous, clean rail technology that can decongest highways and cut pollution.
- **Engineering Focus**: 45% of employees are in technical roles (robotics, autonomy, ML, mechatronics) – a strong engineering-led environment.
- **Location**: Based in Los Angeles, CA (Factory Place), with a small presence in India.
- **Growth Trajectory**: Rapidly scaling (44.7% headcount growth, new Series B funding, commercial pilot underway) offering significant career development opportunities.
- **Notable alumni destinations**: SpaceX, Tesla, Vast, Rivian, Anduril – reflects a high-caliber talent pool.

## Sources
1. [Parallel Systems Website](https://www.moveparallel.com)
2. [Parallel Systems Careers (Greenhouse)](https://boards.greenhouse.io/parallel)
3. [LinkedIn Company Page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallelsystems)
4. [Parallel Systems Product Page](https://moveparallel.com/product/)
5. [Pulse 2.0 on Series B](https://www.linkedin.com/company/parallelsystems)

## Other roles at Parallel Systems

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- [Senior Manufacturing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manufacturing-engineer-parallel-systems-los-angeles-k8kgpgb10vd4) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Executive Assistant](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assistant-parallel-systems-los-angeles-fxqj81m923a7) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Technical Documentation Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-documentation-specialist-parallel-systems-los-angeles-8t0hx5pc2k51) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Senior Robotics Software Engineer, Perception](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-robotics-software-engineer-perception-parallel-systems-los-angeles-f8ktf87f30gm) — Los Angeles, CA
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