Embedded SDV - (Software defined vehicle)

Global Connect Technologies; Warrendale (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Connect Technologies is seeking an experienced SDV Lead to define and drive the Software-Defined Vehicle strategy, roadmap, and execution across vehicle platforms. You will lead cross-functional teams and manage initiatives that enable OTA, digital services, and monetization strategies.

The role requires strong program management, strategic planning, and an understanding of automotive software architecture, connected vehicle technologies, and lifecycle management.

Qualifications

• Experience in SDV strategy and program management within automotive software.
• Understanding of vehicle platforms, software architecture, and lifecycle management.
• Ability to translate goals into actionable initiatives and roadmaps.
• Proven capability to lead cross-functional teams and manage stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define SDV vision, strategy, and execution roadmap aligned with objectives.
• Translate goals into prioritized programs, milestones, and long-term plans.
• Lead SDV transformation across vehicle platforms and lifecycle capabilities.
• Identify SDV use cases including infotainment, OTA updates, digital keys, and services.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and business teams to set priorities and KPIs.
• Partner with engineering on SDV architecture, compute platforms, middleware, APIs, and OTA.
• Align SDV planning with ecosystem technologies and cloud platforms.
• Drive collaboration with global teams, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• Manage software lifecycle: OTA, feature activation, monetization, release, monitoring.
• Develop business cases, ROI models, and value realization plans.

Skills

SDV strategy

Program management

Automotive software

Vehicle platform transformation

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Executive reporting

ROI models

DevOps

Embedded software

Job description

We are seeking an experienced SDV Lead to define and drive the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) strategy, roadmap, and execution across vehicle platforms. The role requires strong program management, strategic planning, cross-functional leadership, and an understanding of automotive software architecture, connected vehicle technologies, and software lifecycle management.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and drive the SDV vision, strategy, and execution roadmap aligned with business objectives and global OEM strategies.
• Translate business goals into prioritized initiatives, programs, milestones, and long-term software innovation plans.
• Lead SDV transformation across vehicle platforms, applications, and lifecycle capabilities.
• Identify and prioritize SDV use cases, including infotainment, OTA updates, digital keys, voice user interfaces, and connected vehicle services.
• Collaborate with engineering, product management, business, and digital teams to establish program priorities, KPIs, milestones, and delivery plans.
• Partner with engineering teams on SDV architecture, including central compute platforms, zonal architecture, vehicle operating systems, middleware, APIs, cloud connectivity, and OTA infrastructure.
• Align SDV platform planning with technologies and ecosystems such as Arene, QNX, Android Automotive, and cloud platforms.
• Drive collaboration with global engineering teams, Tier-1 suppliers, technology partners, and business stakeholders.
• Manage vehicle software lifecycle capabilities, including OTA updates, feature activation, subscription-based features, software monetization, release management, and post-launch monitoring.
• Develop business cases and ROI models for ECU consolidation, cost optimization, software reuse, subscription revenue, and feature monetization.
• Track value realization against business objectives, vehicle volumes, pricing strategies, and customer lifetime value.
• Establish governance frameworks for milestone tracking, risk management, executive reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Assess organizational capability gaps across embedded software, cloud technologies, DevOps, engineering automation, and validation and testing.
• Support SDV innovation labs, prototyping environments, and simulation and validation platforms while promoting software development best practices.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Strong experience in SDV strategy, program management, automotive software, or vehicle platform transformation.
• Understanding of automotive SDV architecture, central compute, zonal architecture, middleware, vehicle operating systems, and hardware-software decoupling.
• Knowledge of connected vehicle technologies, OTA updates, digital services, and software lifecycle management.
• Familiarity with automotive software ecosystems such as Arene, QNX, Android Automotive, and cloud platforms.
• Experience in cross-functional program planning, stakeholder management, risk mitigation, and executive reporting.
• Ability to develop business cases, ROI models, KPIs, and value realization plans.
• Understanding of embedded software engineering, cloud technologies, DevOps, and software validation processes.
• Strong strategic thinking, communication, leadership, and decision-making skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with automotive OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, or connected vehicle technology partners.
• Exposure to subscription-based vehicle features, software monetization, and digital services.
• Experience leading large-scale automotive software transformation programs.
• Knowledge of industry trends, competitor benchmarking, and emerging SDV technologies.