Principal ADAS/AD Software Architect - Cloud-Native Automotive AI Web Technologies (all genders)

understand.ai; Karlsruhe; Hybrid; EUR 120.000 - 180.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Hybrid working model

EGYM Wellpass

BusinessBike

Workation opportunities

Zusammenfassung

understand.ai in Karlsruhe, Germany, seeks a visionary Principal Software Architect to shape the technical direction of our flagship AD/ADAS test and validation product. You will own architectural decisions, influence engineering teams, and collaborate with stakeholders across the organization, including steering groups within our parent company dSPACE.

You will drive scalable verification strategies for SiL, HiL, and cloud-native platforms, design resilient software architecture, mentor

Qualifikationen

• Expert in validation/verification of AD/ADAS systems and scenario-based testing.
• Experience defining large-scale testing strategies and intelligent test selection.
• Extensive automotive AD/ADAS development experience and systems engineering knowledge.
• Hands-on with SiL/HiL and virtual testing frameworks.
• Knowledge of cloud-native technologies and modern software platforms (Kubernetes, microservices, CI/CD).
• Familiarity with safety standards (ISO 26262, SOTIF) and regulatory frameworks.

Aufgaben

• Architect and drive large-scale testing and validation for AD/ADAS across SiL, HiL, and cloud environments.
• Lead and mentor engineering teams, promoting technical excellence and ownership.
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and stakeholders to translate requirements into scalable solutions.
• Represent engineering in steering committees and contribute to high-level decisions.
• Identify opportunities for innovation across the product lifecycle.

Kenntnisse

AD/ADAS validation

Leadership & mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Requirements engineering

System architecture

Tools

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Microservices

Jobbeschreibung

We’re seeking a visionary Principal Software Architect to architect and drive the development of our flagship AD/ADAS test and validation product. In this role, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the product’s technical direction, influencing engineering teams, and collaborating with stakeholders across the organization—including steering groups within our parent company dSPACE.

This is a functional leadership role for someone who thrives on ownership, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration that reports to the Head of Engineering.

• You drive and evolve concepts, methodologies, and frameworks for large-scale testing and validation of autonomous driving functions across Software-in-the-Loop (SiL), simulation, and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) environments
• You define and implement scalable verification and validation strategies, ensuring efficiency, quality, and traceability throughout the development lifecycle
• You design and continuously improve the software architecture of our cloud-native web platform, focusing on scalability, performance, and maintainability
• You evaluate emerging technologies, industry trends, and innovations in AD/ADAS and AI, integrating relevant advancements into our product and technology roadmap
• You lead and mentor engineering teams, fostering a culture of technical excellence, ownership, and continuous learning
• You collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and stakeholders to translate customer and business requirements into scalable technical solutions
• You represent engineering in strategic steering committees and contribute to high-level product, technology, and architectural decisions
• You proactively identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement across the product lifecycle by leveraging customer engagement

What will you need to be successful?

• You have deep expertise in validation and verification of AD/ADAS systems, including scenario-based testing, data replay testing, Real2Sim methodologies, and neural reconstruction techniques
• You have proven experience defining and implementing large-scale testing strategies, including test coverage analysis, risk-based validation, intelligent test selection, and smart testing approaches
• You have extensive experience in automotive AD/ADAS development and robotics as well as a strong understanding of system behavior, requirements engineering, validation methodologies, and end-to-end development processes
• You have hands-on experience with simulation-based validation environments, including Software-in-the-Loop (SiL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL), and virtual testing frameworks
• You have strong expertise in cloud-native technologies and modern software platforms, including Kubernetes, microservices, CI/CD, and cloud infrastructure
• You have sound knowledge of safety and regulatory standards for autonomous driving systems, including ISO 26262, ISO 21448 (SOTIF), ISO 8800, and related homologation frameworks and compliance standards such as ISO 34501-34507
• You have proven experience in software architecture and technical leadership within larger engineering organizations
• You are an excellent communicator and collaborator, capable of influencing stakeholders across teams, functions, and management levels

What we offer

• A company where you can make a difference
• A crucial role in a dynamic, and fast-growing environment that fosters trust, respect, and personal growth
• Being part of a German high tech success story on AD/ADAS and AI/ML
• Competitive salary package, flexible working hours, hybrid working model
• EGYM Wellpass
• BusinessBike
• Up to 30 Days Workation all around the world

Overview of our tech stack

• Frontend: TypeScript, React, Jest,

About us

Since our founding in 2017 in the vibrant city of Karlsruhe, Germany, we have established ourselves as the premier partner for visionary companies revolutionizing the autonomous vehicle landscape. With a wealth of expertise gained from over 8+ years of ADAS/AD project experience, we have honed our skills to transform complex validation challenges into seamless, real-world solutions that accelerate your project timeline. As part of the dSPACE family, we combine our specialized expertise with the capabilities of a global technology leader in simulation and validation – supporting the full innovation chain from initial concept to series production.