Sr Software Engineer, Integration

CARIAD, Inc.; United States; Hybrid; USD 128,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k with employer match

Disability insurance

Life and AD&D insurance

Employee assistance program

Tuition reimbursement

Student loan repayment

Maternity leave

Adoption assistance

Employee referral program

Vacation and holidays

Vehicle lease program

Job summary

CARIAD, Inc. is seeking a Sr Software Engineer, Integration to fuse production C++ software, embedded middleware, and AI inference into our autonomous-driving stack.

You will own complex integration on platforms like Qualcomm 8797 and NVIDIA DRIVE Thor, writing adapters and glue code for reliable, real-time performance. You will collaborate with ML, hardware, and vehicle teams, perform embedded testing, bit-identical replay, and HIL validation, and help prepare software for deployment across VW

Qualifications

• 6+ years in C++ software development, embedded systems, or software integration.
• Experience integrating software with embedded middleware solutions (Apex.AI, AOS, or ROS).
• Hands-on experience with embedded AI compute platforms or development kits (e.g., Qualcomm 8797, NVIDIA DRIVE Thor).
• Experience with AI inference on embedded targets, including C++ adapters to models and runtimes.
• Experience with embedded testing, including recompute (bit-identical replay) and HIL validation.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain production-quality C++ software that integrates application components with embedded middleware.
• Develop C++ adapters and glue code for data exchange and lifecycle management.
• Integrate and debug on Qualcomm 8797 and NVIDIA DRIVE Thor development kits across software/hardware boundaries.
• Own integration issues from reproduction to verified resolution with cross-system coordination.
• Collaborate with ML, hardware, and vehicle engineering teams to ensure reliable integration.

Skills

C++ programming

Embedded systems

Software integration

Apex.AI

AOS

ROS

Embedded AI compute

QNN/TensorRT

HIL validation

Data adapters & glue code

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/EE

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Qualcomm 8797

NVIDIA DRIVE Thor

QNN

TensorRT

Job description

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.

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 Software Engineer, Integration integrates production C++ software, embedded middleware, and AI inference components into CARIAD’s autonomous-driving software stack. The role connects application software, inference runtimes, and embedded hardware to deliver reliable, real-time system behavior. Operating as a senior individual contributor, this engineer independently owns assigned complex integration deliverables on platforms such as Qualcomm 8797 and NVIDIA DRIVE Thor. The role develops C++ adapters and glue code, diagnoses issues across system interfaces, and validates integrated software through embedded testing, recompute with bit-identical replay, and HIL testing. The engineer will work closely with machine learning, embedded software, hardware, simulation, and vehicle engineering teams to resolve integration issues and prepare software for deployment .

Role Responsibilities:

C++ and Middleware Integration

• Design, implement, and maintain production-quality C++ software that integrates application componentswith embedded middleware such as Apex.AI, AOS, or ROS.
• Develop C++ adapters and glue code for data exchange, interface compatibility, component lifecycle, andruntime coordination.
• Integrate and debug software on Qualcomm 8797 and/or NVIDIA DRIVE Thor development kits, resolvingissues across software and hardware boundaries.
• Independently own assigned integration issues from reproduction and root-cause analysis through corrective implementation and verified resolution, escalating cross-system architectural decisions as appropriate.

Embedded AI Inference Integration

• Integrate AI models and inference runtimes into embedded applications, including input and output handling and execution interfaces.
• Implement and maintain C++ adapters connecting inference libraries with middleware and application software.
• Profile and resolve integration issues affecting inference correctness, latency, memory use, and runtime stability on target hardware.
• Collaborate with ML engineers to validate model behavior and runtime compatibility, using QNN or TensorRT where applicable.

Embedded Testing and Validation

• Develop and execute embedded integration on development kits, benches, and HIL systems.
• Implement and maintain recompute workflows for bit-identical replay under controlled inputs and execution conditions.
• Investigate replay mismatches and integration regressions using logs, traces, recorded data, and target-hardware evidence.
• Automate regression testing and document functional, timing, and resource-use results to support release

Technical Collaboration and Documentation

• Coordinate interface changes and integration dependencies with ML, embedded software, hardware, simulation, and vehicle engineering teams.
• Participate in design and code reviews, provide practical technical guidance to engineering peers, and document interfaces, configurations, integration procedures, and validation evidence.
• Improve integration tooling and share lessons learned to increase reliability, reproducibility, and development efficiency.

General Skills:

• Strong analytical and debugging skills across software, middleware, runtime, and hardware interfaces.
• Ability to independently own complex integration work and resolve issues using measurable evidence.
• Clear communication and effective collaboration with ML, embedded software, hardware, and vehicle engineering teams.
• Strong software engineering practices, including code review, testing, documentation, and reproducible validation.

Required Specialized Skills:

• Strong hands-on C++ programming skills are required, including production-quality embedded software development and debugging.
• Experience integrating software with embedded middleware solutions such as Apex.AI, AOS, or ROS
• Hands-on experience integrating and debugging software on embedded AI compute platforms or development kits (e.g., Qualcomm 8797 or NVIDIA DRIVE Thor).
• Experience integrating AI inference on embedded targets, including C++ adapters and glue code connecting models, inference runtimes, and application interfaces.
• Experience with embedded testing, including recompute (bit-identical replay) and hardware-in-the- loop (HIL) validation.

Desired Skills:

• Knowledge of QNN and TensorRT libraries for embedded AI inference integration.
• Experience integrating or debugging camera, radar, and lidar drivers.
• Experience with agentic workflows for implementation, debugging, testing, or documentation, with review and validation of generated output.

Workplace Flexibility:

• Hands-on work with embedded development kits, lab systems, HIL environments, and development vehicles mayrequire on-site presence when integration or validation activities cannot be performed remotely.
• Collaboration across U.S. and international time zones and occasional travel for integration activities or vehicletesting may be required.

Years of Relevant Experience:

• 6+ years of experience in C++ software development, embedded systems, or software integration.
• Hands-on experience integrating, debugging, and validating software on embedded target hardware.
• Experience independently delivering complex technical work from integration planning through implementationand validation.

Required Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Desired Education:

• Master's Degree inComputer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.

Compensation

Salary range is dependent on factors such as geographical differentials, credentials or certifications, industry-based experience, qualification and training. The salary range for this position is $128,369 - $185,858.

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, nationalorigin, 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.

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, nationalorigin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.

Employment with CARIAD Inc. is subject to export control and sanctions compliance. Some positions may involve access to technology and/or software source code subject to U.S. legal restrictions on release to certain foreign persons based on citizenship or permanent residence. To ensure compliance, applicants will be required to provide information for screening. Employment may be contingent on the outcome, including verification of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status, or confirmation that a license, exemption, or exception applies. CARIAD retains the discretion to decline to obtain a required license in any case. By applying, you acknowledge and agree to participate in this process.