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Manager, Hardware Core

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:

The Manager, Hardware Core position leads the development of foundational electronic architectures and design for power supply, SIP, Memory, SIP/SoC interfaces, high-speed PCB design and overall power management systems, ensuring scalable and high-performance hardware solutions. This role drives technical excellence, compliance with automotive and industry standards, and seamless cross-functional integration with software and manufacturing teams. The Manager, Hardware Core role is responsible for strategic planning, risk management, and fostering innovation in hardware development to deliver cost-effective and competitive solutions.

Role Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

  • Define and drive the long-term strategy for the Hardware Core team, ensuring alignment with business objectives and emerging technology trends in automotive and embedded systems
  • Mentor and develop engineering talent, fostering a high-performance culture that encourages technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning
  • Establish and maintain partnerships with key component suppliers and technology providers to ensure cost-effective sourcing and access to state-of-the-art solutions.
  • Optimize resource allocation, balancing hardware development costs, timelines, and team capabilities to ensure on-time delivery of high-quality products
  • Champion best practices in hardware development, integrating modern design methodologies, tools, and processes to drive efficiency and innovation

Technical Guidance 

  • Lead the development of foundational electronic architectures, including SoC/SIP, power management systems, high-speed PCB layouts, interfaces and signal integrity optimization.
  • Ensure strict adherence to industry regulations (e.g., ISO 26262, ASPICE, EMI/EMC, automotive safety and reliability standards), managing validation and compliance efforts
  • Proactively identify and mitigate risks in hardware design, conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions to ensure system stability and reliability
  • Collaborate closely with software, mechanical, and integration teams to optimize overall system performance, ensuring seamless interaction between hardware and software layers

General Skills

  • Technical leadership skills, including guiding cross-functional teams and aligning hardware development with business goals
  • Strong analytical and conceptual thinking, with the ability to translate complex technical challenges into strategic solutions
  • Exceptional communication skills—verbal, written, and presentation—to effectively collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Strong organizational and delegation skills, ensuring effective project execution and accountability
  • Strategic and visionary mindset, capable of anticipating future technology trends and aligning them with business needs

​Required Specialized Skills:

  • Proven technical leadership experience, with the ability to drive collaboration between hardware, software, and integration teams in complex development environments
  • Deep expertise in EE development processes, including ASPICE, ISO 26262 (functional safety), and high-speed PCB design
  • Experience in launching high-volume hardware platforms into mass production, including supplier and manufacturing engagement
  • Demonstrated ability to apply agile methods and processes in hardware development across global, distributed teams
  • Ability to balance cost, performance, and reliability when making design and sourcing decisions
  • Track record of leading successful international collaborations across cultural and organizational boundaries
Desired Skills:
  • Experience working within the Volkswagen Group, with an established network across hardware and R&D teams
  • Experience with automotive infotainment, SoC development, or vehicle connectivity solutions

​Workplace Flexibility:

  • Occasional travel (up to 25%) to international and domestic locations for technical workshops, supplier coordination, and project reviews

​Years of Relevant Experience:

  • 8+ years of experience in hardware development
  • 2+ years of leadership experience in the automotive industry, semiconductor industry, technology industry, or related industries
  • Proven experience in delivering complex hardware solutions from concept to production, with a focus on high-performance and cost-effective design

​Required Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field

​Desired Education: 

  • MBA and/or Master’s Degree in Electrical/Software Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field
  • Program Management certificate is strongly preferred

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 $185,400 - 241,020.

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. 

Employment with Cariad Inc. is contingent upon the successful completion of this screening process. We emphasize the importance of compliance with export control and sanctions laws as a fundamental aspect of our operations. Our company is dedicated to adhering to these regulations to ensure the lawful and ethical conduct of our business activities. Employment with our company is contingent on either verifying U.S. citizenship or U.S. lawful permanent resident status or obtaining any necessary license or confirming the availability of an applicable exemption or license exception. You, the applicant, will be required to answer certain questions for export control purposes, and that information will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law. Cariad Inc. may choose not to apply for a license or use an applicable license exception (if available) for such individuals whose access to export-controlled technology or software source code may require authorization and may decline to proceed with an applicant on that basis alone.

 By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree to participate in the export control and sanctions compliance screening process. Your cooperation in this matter is essential to our shared success and the integrity of our operations. Thank you for your understanding and commitment to upholding these important standards.

 

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