How to Boost your Career in Automotive Software?

Speakers:

Omkar Panse, Vice President and Head, Middleware Solutions, KPIT

The global automotive software market stood at $18 billion in 2018 and is expected to register gains at over 15% by 20251 . Such a trajectory is propelled by considerable demand for future-ready vehicles2 , and increased impetus3 to designing and developing the next- generation of connected, autonomous and electric vehicles. As the automotive world becomes more and more reliant on software, it seeks to involve those with a passion for cars, technology, research, engineering, and design. In this context, KPIT and Automotive World’s webinar on “How to boost your career in automotive software?” introduces the audience not just to the automotive ecosystem but also to how passion can lead to a career.

In his presentation, KPIT’s Omkar Panse showcases the automotive software sector, traces its evolution and current challenges and then deep dives into talent the organization seeks, the roles open, and the diverse expertise on board. Through this, the audience can learn how to fast-track a career at KPIT, which provides exposure to diverse technologies, tackling complex challenges, and continuous growth and upskilling through academic associations..

Evolution of Software in Cars

Vehicles have been around for over a hundred years with the earliest cars being mechanical, inefficient, and slow pieces of equipment. Post-1950, their successful mass production triggered rapid evolution. Today, cars are more than just a means of transport. With a multitude of software and electronic features, cars have transformed into software-defined vehicles that power driver-assist features, high tech navigation systems, Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity, than humans.

The focus now, is on CASE or Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric mobility which offers unparalleled driving experiences, unbeatable fuel-efficiency and immense environmental benefits.

References

1. https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/automotive-software-market

2. https://www.iea.org/commentaries/electric-cars-fend-off-supply-challenges-to-more-than-double-global-
sales

3. https://www.electronicdesign.com/markets/automotive/article/21807627/put-it-in-reverse-why-its-time-to-
design-connected-cars-backward

  • C: 77% of vehicles by 2030 will be connected to phones, the cloud, and via the telematics device
  • A: 15% of new cars by 2030, will be autonomous
  • S: 9% of global miles travelled will be via shared mobile systems — Uber, Ola, Blu.
  • E: nearly 145 million electric vehicles will be on the roads by 2030

The imperatives of this scenario translate into:

  • Increased software complexity
  • Clear hardware-software separation with changed E/E architecture
  • Enhanced security and software upgradability

Key Technical Expertise Required to Realize the CASE trend in Automotive Software

However, realising these imperatives and building future-ready cars from ground-up requires technical expertise and robust knowledge of not just the older microcontroller- based, real-time OS that was a simple, embedded system written in C but also, multiple established and emerging technologies – C++, Linux, QNX, Python, AUTOSAR, Machine Learning, iOS, Android or Java, RTOS and Kubernetes. This drives the search for talent in the automotive space. While clear-cut automotive experience is not a pre- requisite, a background in software engineering, the Cloud, and the ability to understand and switch between technologies is desirable from an architecture and implementation perspective.

How is KPIT is contributing to this?

KPIT is proactively working with its clients (OEMs and Tier- 1s) as well as partners in semiconductor, Operating System (OS) and Ccloud technologies to proactively address any issues which may arise due to significant increase in the software complexity. KPIT already offers a broad range of technical solutions and has a rich experience of supporting thousands of production programs for its aAutomotive clients. KPIT’s software integration capabilities across the domains of Autonomous Driving, Electric Powertrain and Connected Vehicle coupled with solutions in AUTOSAR, Diagnostics, and OTA (Over the Air) updates will help OEMs fast-track their journey towards creating a software defined vehicle.

With 7000 Automobelievers from 25+ nationalities across Munich, Pune, Bengaluru, Bangkok, Shanghai, the Americas, and Japan, specialising in embedded software, AI, and digital solutions, KPIT accelerates clients’ implementation of next-generation technologies and sets the pace for transforming mobility.

Growth Path at KPIT

KPIT understands that encouraging innovation and nurturing talent is key to realising timely and zero-defect deliveries and driving its customer-centric ethos. Given this, the organization offers its employees

  • Exposure to Diverse Technologies
  • Work related to Complex Challenges in Automotive Industry
  • A Steep learning curve in the Fast-evolving Software Technologies
  • Continuous Upskilling through Academic associations

Employees get to enhance their skills, work across geographies, and grow through a cycle of continuous learning while sharing knowledge, keeping commitments and celebrating success. With a gender-diverse workforce and a promise of lateral and vertical growth, KPIT strives to keep you ahead of the learning curve.

Find this interesting? Apply for a career in automotive software at https://developmentuat.kpit.com/careers-in-software-defined-vehicles

References

1. https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/automotive-software-market

2. https://www.iea.org/commentaries/electric-cars-fend-off-supply-challenges-to-more-than-double-global-
sales

3. https://www.electronicdesign.com/markets/automotive/article/21807627/put-it-in-reverse-why-its-time-to-
design-connected-cars-backward

FAQ

Automotive software consists of several applications such as Autonomous Driving, Connected Vehicles, In-vehicle Components, Cloud-based Solutions, Middleware and AUTOSAR, Electrification, and more. Technologies and skillsets, knowledge of which can prove beneficial for the above applications are listed below. We welcome experts who bring in these skillsets irrespective of whether they have prior experience in automotive. We strongly believe that engineers from non-automotive domains such as telecom, healthcare, or cybersecurity, can also add significant value to the automotive domain.

  • Embedded C
  • C++ Coding
  • Python
  • Linux OS
  • QNX OS
  • Android
  • iOS
  • CI/CD
  • 5G
  • ROS
  • RTOS
  • DDL
  • ML, etc.

There is immense growth in Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric domains of the automotive sector, as can be easily understood through some statistic predictions:

  • 77% vehicles on global roads to be Connected Vehicles by 2030: Boston Consulting Group
  • 15% of all new cars would be Autonomous Vehicles by 2030: McKinsey
  • 9% of all global miles traveled will be Shared Mobility by 2030: Statista
  • 145 million Electric Vehicles will be on global roads by 2030: International Energy Agency

Considering this, we can say that the potential for a career in the CASE trends is seemingly limitless at the moment. These trends will require the latest technical and programming know-how, along with a basic understanding of the domain and where it is headed. Once you decide to embark upon such a career, companies like KPIT can provide you with trainings, workshops, and upskilling opportunities to help you fast-track your career in the CASE trends. To know more, visit developmentuat.kpit.com/careers.

Relatively easily. Mechanical background is, of course, always useful even in automotive software domain. However, even those who come from a non-automotive background but have the software development skillsets and a passion to learn will find the automotive software domain very suitable for growth.Essentially, what is required is a passion to learn continuously and solve challenging problems. KPIT has several candidates joining from the non-automotive background, all of whom have had great success in their roles. We also provide a wide number of trainings and opportunities for upskilling through our academic collaborations, so non-automotive candidates can get up to speed.

With the increasing scope of the automotive software domain, KPIT has an ever-expanding number of opportunities. You can find your right fit at https://developmentuat.kpit.com/careers-in-software-defined-vehicles/ or developmentuat.kpit.com/careers.

There is certainly a lot of potential for exposure to new-age technology like IoT, AI/ML, and Cloud in the automotive domain. These technologies will determine the future of the software-defined vehicles.At KPIT, we have published several papers related to AI/ML-based predictive models, data science, and more. We have a robust Cloud-based Solutions portfolio, and partnerships with various Cloud infrastructure providers like Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. We also have several platforms such as Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, RUL Predictive Maintenance, Deep learning-based Battery RUL prediction, and more. Get in touch with us to know more at info@developmentuat.kpit.com

KPIT offers a wide variety of training and development programs, both technical and managerial, for freshers as well as laterals:

  • Comprehensive Learning & Development plans
  • Competency Development Framework for upskilling
  • Global academia collaborations for Master’s programs: Coventry University, Udacity, ECoDe
  • KAIZEN Certification Program
  • Grooming Young Managers (GYM)
  • Project Management & Agile Education
  • Symphony ECoDe Module for Culture of Excellence

The automotive software domain has ever-increasing complexity, with over 100 million lines of code. The domain is moving towards a centralized architecture, and requirements of frequent updates, cybersecurity, and hardware-software separation and other trends are contributing to increased complexity.Hence, the Mobility ecosystem needs talent that is ready to face these complexities and develop the necessary competence. At KPIT, we do our best to provide all the tools and support to our team to develop these skillsets and take on the challenges across the globe!

There are a variety of growth paths for technical professionals in the automotive software domain. While we can’t speak for the entire industry, here’s a glimpse of the career path at KPIT.

For instance, someone with an experience level of 8-10 years can be a Solution Architect, handling development for a solution. Growing with that role, he/she can progress towards a role of Senior Solutions Architect, Chief Architect, and Principal Architect- all the way up to the CTO. Alternatively, they can choose to become a Subject Matter Expert, and go on to become a Program Manager, a Delivery Manager, and end up as a Business Leader responsible for an entire business vertical!

Want to know more? Get in touch with us at info@developmentuat.kpit.com , or look for a suitable position at https://developmentuat.kpit.com/careers-in-software-defined-vehicles/ and take the next step towards fast-tracking your career in Automotive Software!

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