Mgr, Vehicle, Methods & Tools
Belmont, CA

Job Description

This is a managerial level position leading the Vehicle, Methods and Tools team at the Volkswagen Group of America's Engineering Center of California (ECC) in Belmont, CA. Key responsibilities of this position include leading a team of engineers and technicians, managing the test lab and workshop investments, implementing test automation, overseeing the workshop equipment and personnel planning.

This needs to always be aligned with the business plan and business needs of the Innovation and Engineering Center California (IECC).

Role Responsibilities

Strategy & Direction

* Define overall mission and strategy for the Vehicle, Methods and Tools team
* Plan for critical investment, to keep the workshop and test lab at the IECC up to date with newest technology to enable efficient project execution
* Keep the IECC car pool relevant with models that support VWGoA strategy.
* Transfer technologies and solutions from and to Volkswagen Group development partners as needed
* Align individual/project goals with Vehicle, Methods and Tools goals and ECC mission

Network

* Provide test lab and vehicle related services to project partners within ECC and ICC
* Understand organization's needs for pool cars
* Ability to communicate regularly and influence Brand partners in Germany

Personnel Management

* Lead and manage a team of 15 engineers and technicians at the ECC (4 FTEs plus contractors)
* Strategically organize personnel around core competencies
* Ensure integrity and a positive team spirit (lead by example)
* Communicate policy and process to AICT members
* Write evaluations and statements for internal/external advancement of Vehicle, Methods and Tools members
* Guide the Performance Management Plans and Professional Developments Plans of employees

Resource Management

* Manage internal/external budget and resources for Vehicle, Methods and Tools
* Oversee the car pool for IECC
* Manage all vehicle issues related to customs, procurement, DMV

Qualifications

Years of Experience Needed

* 10 years of overall industry experience

Education

* Bachelor of Science. Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or related field, Master of Science preferred

Skills

* In-depth experience with Vehicle Integration, Testing and Validation methods and tools for infotainment, connected car and autonomous driving/driver assistance systems, trouble shooting and failure
* In-depth experience with Test-Automation and Simulation and with Software Release QA (in Lab)and HMI-Testing (overnight)
* In-depth experience with Garage and Test Lab Management
* Experience with testing, validation and certification of RF devices
* Team lead experience
* Project planning, coordination and management experience
* Experience in VWGoA/VW Group development process
* Excellent written, communication and presentation skills
* Self-motivated, flexible individual with high degree of ownership and accountability for results
* Work cross-functionally to ensure necessary project support and prioritization.
* Ability to understand and extract action plans from complex technical discussions and translate into succinct messaging for cross-functional and executive status reporting.
* Influencing and negotiation skills
* Ability to think in wider scope
* Strong process orientation
* Analytical and conceptual thinking - using logic and reason, creative and strategic.
* CANalyzer, PSpice
* JavaScript
* Must have architectural knowledge of automotive infotainment systems, speech technologies, algorithms and APIs in the domain of mobility.
* Embedded and networked distributed systems: C , Java, Perl/Python.
* Experience with Speech Application Development, such as: TTS. ASR, NLU, DM, VUI and new AI concepts and technics.
* Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in the area of Navigation, Speech, AI for Mobility or Advanced Driver Assistance Systems applications.
* Strives to optimize processes and implement automatization wherever possible - across the entire organization - to increase efficiency and reduce reoccurring costs.
* Experience with Agile or similar methodologies.
* Strong initiative and excellent team and conflict resolutions skills
* Proficient in project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, or similar.

Preferred Skills

* Hands-on Experience in automotive R&D-Centers
* Technical knowledge with at least one of the main OS like: Android, iOS, Linux
* In-vehicle diagnostics (e.g. VehicleSpy)
* Basic German language skills

Work Flexibility

* Flexibility to participate in early morning / late evening phone conferences with German customers
* Short term, short notice availability for travel within the US and to Europe

We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

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