Senior Staff Software Engineer - Android Automotive

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 Sr Staff Software Engineer is a key technical expert responsible for architecting and contributing to the high-level design of the Volkswagen Group's Infotainment Platform. This role includes supporting the integration of Android OS, core services, System UI, Applications, and Platform Hardware Abstraction Layer, ensuring the architecture supports scalability, performance, and maintainability. 

The Sr Staff Software Engineer will create high-performance, scalable, and secure software systems, ensure data consistency and reliability, and perform security assessments. Additionally, the Sr Staff Software Engineer will define engineering fundamentals, including coding guidelines and infrastructure decisions for continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD). 

They will conduct system-critical design reviews, gather feedback, and incorporate lessons learned to enhance future designs. As a member of CARIAD’s senior technical team, this role will also interface with multiple stakeholders of VW Group’s technical team members. 

Role Responsibilities:

Architect the software stack

• Assist in the Design and Architecture 
• Contribute to the system architecture and high-level design of software projects. 
• Support the overall architecture of the Infotainment platform, including how Android OS, core services, System UI, and applications will integrate and interact with each other. 
• Ensure that the architecture supports scalability, performance, and maintainability of the entire platform. 

Create high-performance, scalable, and safe software system:

• Ensure data consistency and reliability through guaranteed message delivery and implements access control mechanisms to secure message flows. 
• Provide insight into system performance and health, enabling pro-active scaling based on real-time metrics and trends.
• Perform vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate security risks. 

Define the engineering fundamentals

• Confirm the fundamentals work together to create a well-defined software development process, leading to higher quality, more maintainable software, and faster delivery cycles.
• Make infrastructure decisions that support continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) processes.
• Verify that different modules or services work together as expected. 

Conduct system-critical design

• Present detailed aspects of the design, covering software architecture, major components, data flow, and control flow.
• Gather feedback on review process and identify areas of improvement. 
• Incorporate lessons learned into future design reviews to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency.

Required Skills:

• Understanding of how to structure software into layers. Design and implement microservices of modular, scalable, and maintainable systems. 
• Designing systems to handle large volumes of data and traffic efficiently.
• Expertise in designing and managing microservices or service-oriented architectures. 
• Proficiency in Agile and DevOps methodologies to enhance collaboration, integration, and deployment processes. 
• Expertise in integrating software with various automotive hardware components and communication protocols. 
• Conducting code reviews to ensure high standards of code quality and best practices 
• Leading architecture and design reviews, ensuring alignment with business goals and technical strategy.
• Designing and integrating complex systems that involve multiple components and services.
• Collaborating effectively with interdisciplinary teams, including software engineers, hardware engineers, and product managers. 
• Adapting to chaining technologies, methodologies, and business requirements.
• Approaching complex problems with a strategic and analytical mindset. 
• Deep expertise in customizing and extending Android Automotive OS for in-car applications.

Preferred Skills:

• Expertise in various programming languages and frameworks.
• Passion for creating user-centric software experiences.
• Knowledge of encryption, authentication, and access control mechanisms.

Years of Relevant Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in high-performance object-oriented software design and/or Android application 
• development
• 5+ years of experience as a tech lead, significantly contributing to overarching system design and SW architecture 
• matters. 
• 5+ years of experience with different (embedded) operating systems: Android, Linux, etc.
• 5+ years of professional experience in delivering complex software products to the end customer

Required Education:

• BSc in computer science, robotics, physics, engineering, numerical modeling or a related subject or equivalent work experience

Desired Education:

• MSc or PhD and relevant publications and/or patents

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, CA, the salary range for this position is 182,310 - 264,195.

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.