Automotive Software Architect and Toolchain Engineer

Engagement Type: Contract (Outside IR35)

To support their expanding vehicle programs and next-generation product roadmap, our client is seeking a skilled Software Tools & Architecture Engineer on a contract basis.

In this pivotal role, you will define, standardize, and enhance the client's end-to-end software development ecosystem. You will bridge the gap between embedded software platforms, model-based control environments, automated toolchains, and hardware verification platforms.

You will be responsible for defining robust, scalable software architectures and introducing modern process automation, CI/CD pipelines, and toolchains aligned with ASPICE principles.

Key Responsibilities

• Architectural Definition & Governance: Define, document, and maintain the end-to-end software architecture across embedded platforms, OS layers (RTOS/AUTOSAR), middleware, applications, and verification environments for electric drive systems.
• Ecosystem & Toolchain Automation: Design, configure, and maintain a unified automated development environment—including build systems, code generation, CI/CD pipelines, automated test execution, and HIL/SIL/MIL integration.
• Toolchain Integration: Specify and integrate core engineering tools across the lifecycle, seamlessly connecting MATLAB/Simulink, autocode generation (TargetLink/Embedded Coder), compilers, static analysis tools, calibration (XCP/INCA), diagnostics, and ALM/PLM systems.
• Process & ASPICE Alignment: Support the definition and rollout of software engineering processes, methods, and quality gates aligned with ASPICE levels and functional safety expectations.
• Shift-Left Quality & Verification: Implement automated defect detection, model-in-the-loop (MIL), software-in-the-loop (SIL), processor-in-the-loop (PIL), and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) automated testing frameworks to catch defects early.
• Metrics & Analytics: Establish quality metrics, dashboards, and feedback loops to monitor build stability, code coverage, defect trends, process compliance, and delivery cycle times.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the technical nexus between embedded software, controls, systems engineering, motor design, electronics, and validation teams to ensure tool compatibility and architectural consistency.
• Release Engineering: Ensure release readiness through end-to-end requirements traceability, version control discipline, automated release generation, and verification evidence gathering.