Principal Software Engineer AI
Job Summary
The Principal Software Engineer for Vehicle AI serves as the technical lead for smart cabin initiatives. You will design, architect, and deploy high-performance AI software for edge automotive hardware. The role involves cross-functional collaboration to deliver intelligent features such as voice assistants and driver monitoring systems.
Responsibilities
- Design real-time AI architectures for automotive compute platforms
- Lead optimization and deployment of ML models on edge devices
- Integrate AI pipelines with Android Automotive OS and QNX
- Mentor senior engineers and define technical roadmaps
- Collaborate with hardware and product teams for feature delivery
Required Skills
- 10+ years software engineering experience
- Expert C++ and Python proficiency
- Experience with embedded systems and Edge AI/ML
- Knowledge of POSIX, Linux, and RTOS
- Leadership in architectural design
Job Details
### Responsibilities
- Architectural Leadership: Design scalable, secure, and real-time software architectures for AI-driven features running on automotive-grade compute platforms (e.g., Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis, NVIDIA DRIVE).
- Edge AI Optimization: Lead the deployment and optimization of machine learning models (LLMs, computer vision, audio processing) for resource-constrained edge devices using TensorRT, ONNX, or similar frameworks.
- System Integration: Oversee the integration of AI pipelines with foundational infotainment operating systems, particularly Android Automotive OS (AAOS) and QNX.
- Cross-Functional Strategy: Partner with product managers, data scientists, and hardware engineers to balance feature ambition with compute constraints.
- Mentorship & Excellence: Elevate the engineering culture by establishing best practices for code quality, CI/CD, rigorous testing, and system performance profiling.
- Prototyping: Rapidly prototype new AI concepts and evaluate emerging frameworks.
### Required Qualifications
- Experience: 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with at least 3+ years in a technical leadership or architectural role.
- Programming: Expert-level proficiency in modern C++ (C++14/17/20) and Python.
- Domain Expertise: Proven track record of shipping commercial software in automotive infotainment, robotics, consumer electronics, or other deeply embedded systems.
- AI/ML Deployment: Hands-on experience optimizing and deploying ML models to edge hardware (NPU/GPU/DSP utilization, quantization, pruning).
- OS Knowledge: Deep understanding of POSIX-compliant operating systems, Linux internals, or RTOS (QNX, VxWorks).
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
### Preferred Qualifications
- Extensive experience with Android Automotive OS (AAOS), specifically Vehicle HAL (VHAL) and native C++ services.
- Experience building or integrating advanced Voice Assistants (ASR, NLU, TTS) or Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) into embedded environments.
- Familiarity with automotive functional safety standards (ISO 26262, ASIL) and cybersecurity protocols.
- Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or Embedded Systems.