Director of Embedded System

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-on Director of Embedded Systems to lead the strategy, execution, and customer engagement for our embedded platforms in advanced automotive perception. Reporting directly to the VP R&D, you will manage the Embedded Software Team Lead (5 engineers) and the Software Architect, while also engaging closely with Tier-1/OEM customers and silicon vendors.

This role combines deep technical ownership, strong leadership, and customer-facing responsibilities in a fast-paced startup environment.

Requirements:

Qualifications

15+ years in embedded systems/software development, with 8+ years in automotive or Tier-1/OEM environments.
Proven track record in senior management roles (Director / Head of Embedded / Engineering Manager).
Hands-on technical depth in software architecture, embedded development, and safety-critical systems.
Strong programming background in C/C++; familiarity with Python and ML frameworks is a plus.
Experience with automotive communication protocols (CAN, LIN, Ethernet, FlexRay).
Deep knowledge of ISO 26262, ASPICE, AUTOSAR, and cybersecurity standards.
Advantage: Experience with TI TDA4 and NVIDIA platforms.
Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with ability to engage both executives and customers.
Advanced degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field preferred.
Startup mindset: hands-on, adaptable, execution-driven, while experienced in working with Tier-1/OEMs.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Growth

Lead the Embedded Software Team Lead and Software Architect, ensuring alignment between architecture, implementation, and delivery.
Set priorities, allocate resources, and oversee execution across embedded software development.
Act as the escalation point for complex technical or organizational challenges.
Build a high-performance, accountable, and collaborative culture.
Prepare for future team growth as the company scales.

Technical Ownership

Remain hands-on with design reviews, architecture decisions, and technical discussions.
Own the end-to-end embedded software vision for perception systems, balancing scalability, real-time performance, and safety.
Oversee architecture across heterogeneous compute platforms (CPUs, GPUs, NPUs, MCUs).
Ensure best practices in coding, reviews, testing, and integration in real-time, safety-critical environments.
Coordinate with 3rd-party partners on middleware, BSP, OS abstraction, and low-level drivers, with the ability to read and challenge design documentation.

Customer & Partner Engagement

Spend ~50% of your time outbound: lead technical discussions with Tier-1/OEM customers, support escalations, and represent embedded systems in workshops.
Manage relationships with silicon vendors (e.g., TI, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Renesas), staying aligned with their roadmaps.
Ensure embedded deliverables are integrated smoothly with broader system needs in perception, hardware, and validation.

Standards & Compliance

Own compliance with ASPICE, AUTOSAR, ISO 26262 (Functional Safety), and ISO/SAE 21434 (Cybersecurity).
Lead audits, reviews, DFMEA/DFA processes, and quality gates.
Define and enforce engineering processes and metrics across the embedded team.

Innovation & Roadmap

Track industry trends in embedded systems, AI acceleration, and automotive perception.
Shape the long-term roadmap for embedded platforms in collaboration with executives.
Evaluate and adopt new tools, frameworks, and hardware accelerators to enhance performance and safety.