Director, Digital Ecosystem ; Android​/Aosp​/Android Automotive

The Volkswagen Group, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany, is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. The Group comprises twelve brands from seven European countries:
Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Scania and MAN.

At the Innovation & Engineering Center California (IECC), we represent the Volkswagen Group in applied research and development in Silicon Valley. Our team of engineers, designers, scientists, and psychologists develops innovations for future generations of cars and transfers technologies from many industries and research institutions into the automotive domain.

The Software Platforms group manages all research and development activities in Connected Mobility Products, Artificial Intelligence-based orchestration layer, and Network-based next‑generation Cloud applications. Key responsibilities include personnel management, multi-million‑dollar program management, financial planning, internal reporting, network management, support and mentorship of engineering teams, and quality control of automotive‑grade software product deliverables.

• Define the technical mission, architecture strategy, and long‑term platform vision for the In‑Vehicle Computing & Digital Ecosystem Applications team, spanning Android Automotive OS (AAOS), in‑vehicle compute platforms, Software‑Defined Vehicle (SDV) architecture, and AI‑driven cockpit intelligence.
• Provide technical leadership across the full software stack, including Android Framework, System Services, HAL layers, middleware, connectivity stacks, media/audio frameworks, HMI tool chains, and cloud‑connected AI runtimes within an SDV‑aligned architecture.
• Lead and mentor engineering teams in platform bring‑up, system integration, performance optimization, and development of AI‑agentic features, multimodal interaction models, and next‑generation speech technologies.
• Manage multi‑year budgets for platform development, AI integration, SDV‑aligned compute evolution, SoC evaluations, cloud services, and prototype programs.
• Deliver executive‑level technical reporting on architecture decisions, platform readiness, SDV integration milestones, AI progress, risks, and strategic recommendations.
• Drive strategic planning for ICC’s infotainment and cockpit portfolio, including AAOS evolution, hybrid cloud/edge AI pipelines, intelligent mobile agent technologies, and SDV‑centric software and compute roadmaps.

• Align technical roadmaps with global VW Group Innovation teams across infotainment, connectivity, AI/ML, vehicle architecture, cloud services, and SDV platform strategy.
• Build strategic relationships with SoC vendors, Tier‑1 suppliers, cloud providers, and AI technology partners.
• Maintain partnerships with Silicon Valley companies specializing in AI runtimes, LLMs, speech, multimodal interaction, and automotive‑grade SDV‑compatible software frameworks.
• Collaborate with academic and research institutions on AI‑agentic systems, embedded ML, HMI, and in‑vehicle compute architectures aligned with SDV principles.
• Represent Volkswagen Group as a technical leader in the Silicon Valley ecosystem.

• Provide technical and organizational leadership for engineers, contractors, interns, and field service engineers across Android, embedded systems, AI/ML, cloud services, HMI, and SDV‑related software domains.
• Lead recruitment to build a high‑caliber engineering organization.
• Foster continuous technical growth through mentorship, architecture reviews, and hands‑on engineering guidance.

• Secure internal funding for ICC initiatives aligned with VW Group Innovation’s global SDV strategy.
• Synchronize ICC technical topics with partner departments to ensure integration into global SDV‑based vehicle programs.
• Evaluate emerging consumer electronics, AI frameworks, Android advancements, and compute trends to guide SDV‑aligned cockpit architecture.
• Translate Silicon Valley research outputs into…