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Sr. Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Mountain View, CA

We are CARIAD, an automotive software development team with the Volkswagen Group. Our mission is to make the automotive experience safer, more sustainable, more comfortable, more digital, and more fun. To achieve that we are building the leading tech stack for the automotive industry and creating a unified software platform for over 10 million new vehicles per year. We’re looking for talented, digital minds like you to help us create code that moves the world. Together with you, we’ll build outstanding digital experiences and products for all Volkswagen Group brands that will transform mobility. Join us as we shape the future of the car and everyone around it.

Role Summary:

 We are seeking skilled Senior Staff Software Engineers to lead key areas of the software design efforts for the future of CARIAD’s Infotainment software stack. You will be a key driver in envisioning, architecting, designing, and executing the next generation of Infotainment embedded software stacks. This is an opportunity to lead in a highly innovative, fast-paced environment, working closely with cross-functional teams to shape the future of automotive technology. 

The ideal candidate is a high achiever who thrives on exploring uncharted territories, challenging the status quo, and championing new ideas. As a member of CARIAD’s technical team, you will also interface with multiple stakeholders of VW Group’s technical team members.    

 Domains of expertise include:

• Graphic pipeline and GPU  

• Audio pipeline  

• Video pipeline and codecs 

• Displays pipeline and interfaces (DP, DSI, HDMI) 

• Networking stack 

• Security, cryptography and ARM Trust-Zone 

• Communication protocols over ethernet (SOME-IP, MQTT, others) 

• SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) 

• Hypervisor, Linux OS, Yocto 

• System performance, power management optimization 

• Over-the-air updates, partial software updates 

• Real-time embedded software and services  

Role Responsibilities:

 Embedded System Development 

  • Lead the architecture, development, testing, release, and maintenance of complex embedded software systems for Cariad Infotainment.
  • Own multiple software features end-to-end and deliver high quality, testable, and peer reviewed software components.  
  • Identify bottlenecks and optimize system performance through tuning of priorities, code complexity reduction, and system-level optimizations. 
  • Provide technical leadership during system-critical design reviews, offering guidance and deep technical insights to drive sound decision-making. 

System Integration 

  • Drive the integration of advanced software components into the overall infotainment system, ensuring compatibility with cross-functional and third-party systems.
  • Collaborating with diverse software teams and both internal and externalpartners to ensure seamless integration between software and hardware components. 
  • Lead integration testing, managing large test environments, and ensuring system reliability at scale.

Compliance and Standards 

  • Drive compliance initiatives to ensure the software aligns with automotive industry standards and regulations (e.g., ISO 26262). 
  • Staying up to date with emerging technologies and industry trends. 
  • Champion the implementation of advanced best practices for software development, quality assurance, and performance optimization

Testing and Quality Assurance 

  • Design and oversee comprehensive test plans to ensure software quality and reliability 
  • Conducting unit testing, integration testing and system testing. 
  • Lead cross-functional teams to resolve complex bugs and performance bottlenecks, driving continuous improvements.

Collaboration and Communication 

  • Lead cross-functional collaboration with software, hardware, and quality assurance teams, driving alignment across multiple geographies and time zones.
  • Serve as a key technical liaison, clearly articulating complex project status updates, technical challenges, and solutions to senior leadership.

Documentation 

  • Create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation including design specification, test reports, bug description, root cause and solution description, user guides, and release notes. 
  • Drive the creation of comprehensive user guides, release notes, and design documentation for large-scale projects.

General Skills:

  •  Analytical and debugging skills. 
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills. 
  • Ability to actively participate in technical meetings and provide feedback. 
  • Collaborate and work with multiple teams across geographies and time zones.  
  • Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.   
  • Ability to work independently and in a team environment.   
  • Experience and ability to work in a very past pace environment. 
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.  

Required Specialized Skills:

  • Proficiency in C/C++ programming languages.  
  • Knowledge in Rust programming language.  
  • Knowledge of scripting languages such as Python, Bash, or Perl.  
  • Experience using test automation in a Test-Driven Development (TDD) process is a plus 
  • Experience working with cross functional teams (product teams, system and validation teams, hardware teams). 
  • Experience developing software products using Agile process. 
  • Experience implementing software update mechanism for a complex and distributed embedded system 
  • Experience with secure boot, file system protection/encryption 
  • Experience implementing device drivers for standard I/O and high-speed interfaces on a complex SoC (UART, SPI, I2C, USB, I2S, PCIe) 
  • Experience working with cross functional teams (product teams, system and validation teams, hardware teams). 
  • Experience developing software products using Agile process. 

Desired Skills:

One or more of these specialized skills are desired: 

• Experience with Generative AI or LLMs to enhance software development efficiency and quality 

• Desired specialized skills based on expertise: 

• Video/audio codec implementation 

• Strong image processing knowledge 

• Picture quality improvement for embedded devices 

• Firmware development for DSP 

• Test automation in TDD process 

• Device driver implementation for HDMI, DP, DSI, SER/DES interfaces 

• Performance optimization for GPU/DPU drivers 

• Porting 3D gaming engines (Unreal, Unity3D) to Linux for embedded products 

• In-depth knowledge of Linux display and audio pipelines 

• TA development with ARM TrustZone 

• Implementation of cryptographic algorithms for encryption, decryption, authentication 

• Yocto Linux software build expertise 

• Graphic and video/audio pipelines with hypervisor and embedded Linux 

Workplace Flexibility:

  •  Calls, (virtual) meetings & workshops (overlapping with German/US business hours as needed) to align with leadership, development teams and partners. 
  • Occasional international and domestic travel to provide on-site support and planning/integration workshops with our internal and external stakeholders. 

Years of Relevant Experience:

  • 10+ years in developing embedded software
  • 5+ years in embedded Linux drivers or system software
  • 5+ years in embedded software development with RTOS
  • 5+ years of experience as a tech lead, significantly contributing in overarching system design and SW architecture matters

Required Education:

  •   Bachelor’s degree in computer/electrical engineering, Computer Science, or related field. 

Desired Education: 

  •  Master’s degree or PhD in Computer/Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field. 

Compensation

Salary range is dependent on factors such as geographical differentials, credentials or certifications, industry-based experience, qualification and training. In the city of Mountain View, California, the salary range for this position is $177,000 – 247,667.

CARIAD, Inc. provides performance based merits and annual bonus along with a competitive benefits package. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401k with employer match and defined contribution plan, short and long term disability, basic life and AD&D insurance, employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment plans, maternity and non-primary caregiver leave, adoption assistance, employee referral program and vacation and paid holidays. We also offer a unique vehicle lease program that covers registration and insurance fees. 

CARIAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws. 

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