Principal SW Engineer, BSW

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 Principal Software Engineer, BSW designs, develops, and delivers advanced embedded software for high-performance computing platforms across CARIAD and the Volkswagen Group. This role emphasizes architectural ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and innovation leadership, ensuring technical excellence from concept to production.

The Principal Software Engineer, BSW is responsible for designing reliable base software, driving system bring‑up, and integrating core components for large‑scale automotive platforms. The role extends beyond implementation to influence system‑level architecture decisions, mentor teams across domains, and shape CARIAD’s broader software ecosystem.

As a senior technical expert, this position sets technical direction, drives platform scalability and reusability, and enhances innovation through hands‑on engineering, prototyping, and collaboration with global partners.

Role Responsibilities

Embedded Software Development

• Architect, design, and implement base software components including BSP, MCAL, bootloaders, and OS services.

• Lead board bring‑up, HAL integration, and low‑level driver development for complex ECUs.

• Partner with hardware and platform teams for component selection, schematic reviews, and root‑cause debugging.

• Drive improvements in diagnostics, test hooks, fault injection mechanisms, and automated validation frameworks to deliver robust, production‑ready systems.

• Interface with third‑party vendors for BSW stack integration, optimization, and advanced feature enablement.

• Collaborate cross‑functionally across software, hardware, and system integration teams to refine software requirements with emphasis on safety, security, and compliance.

• Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines, static/dynamic code analysis workflows, and automated validation tools.

• Architectural Ownership:
Expand from component‑level design to system‑level architectural definition, shaping platform direction and reusable design patterns.

• Cross‑Functional Reach:
Partner with product, systems, and validation teams across multiple programs to align roadmaps, share learnings, and influence design outcomes.

• Innovation Leadership:
Lead prototyping of novel BSW features and new software paradigms, accelerating early‑stage evaluation and innovation pipelines.

• Provide expert technical guidance and mentorship, promoting continuous improvement and best engineering practices.

• Drive discussions on technology stack selection, balancing scalability, performance, and maintainability.

• Support long‑term platform strategy, contributing to architectural roadmaps and platform evolution initiatives.

Operational Management

• Coordinate with manufacturing, validation, and operations teams for ECU bring‑up, flashing, and production test workflows.

• Identify and mitigate software–hardware interaction risks, driving cross‑functional resolution and design improvement.

• Ensure compliance with automotive standards and safety frameworks through advanced design practices.

• Act as a technical authority within CARIAD, influencing cross‑functional programs, shaping engineering culture, and mentoring peers.

• Represent CARIAD in technical working groups and industry forums, promoting innovation and technical excellence.

General Skills

• Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy in all work

• Critical thinking and thoughtful problem solving

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Excellent time management and prioritization in complex…