Embedded automotive data architect (Santiago de Querétaro)

Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Automotive

We are a global, multi‑disciplinary team that puts the innovative power of technology to work, transforming tomorrow. At HARMAN Automotive you’ll engineer intelligent, data‑driven solutions that enhance personalization and entertainment in the in‑cab experience. You’ll combine research, experimentation, and collaboration across multiple engineering disciplines to advance analytics and machine learning capabilities that power next‑generation automotive solutions.

About the Role

As an Embedded Automotive Data Architect you will design and lead the in‑vehicle data‑collection architecture that enables continuous improvement and personalization of in‑vehicle audio experiences, all while ensuring a secure, privacy‑preserving approach. You’ll partner closely with ML Engineers, Data Engineers, and Intelligent Cockpit engineers to define and roll out an end‑to‑end architecture that supports OTA delivery of edge AI/ML model updates, fully aligned with OEM specifications, constraints, and requirements. You will bridge collaboration with Intelligent Cockpit and Central Compute (HU/CCU) development teams to expand logging, telemetry, and communication mechanisms that capture and export audio‑system related interaction events and user preference data, enabling continuous improvement of machine learning models and next‑generation audio features.

What You Will Do

• Partner with Intelligent Cockpit and Central Compute (HU/CCU), Data Engineer and ML to design and roll out architecture for data collection and model updates.
• Identify HMI/UX interaction and communication messages in HU/CCU/Amplifier to reliably capture how users interact with audio features.
• Identify logging mechanisms and storage allocation on HU/CCU/Amplifier to store relevant audio‑system related interactions and user preferences.
• Define retention, compression, and resource budgeting (CPU/RAM/flash) for new messages and signals about audio‑features usage and user preferences.
• Architect data upload mechanisms, both on‑board and by cellphone gateways, under real constraints such as connectivity availability, restrictions, cost/bandwidth budgets, OEM policies, intermittent coverage, and offline‑first behavior; implement batching, sampling, retry/acknowledgement for data collection retrieval.
• Identify and establish secure OTA workflows to update ML models, considering versioning, integrity checks, rollout and rollback strategies, and compatibility rules.
• Advise on in‑vehicle OS integration across HU/CCU platforms (Linux, Android Automotive, QNX, and other OEM stacks) about logging frameworks, networking messaging, and UDS.
• Select and advise on vehicle networking messages (CAN, Automotive Ethernet, etc.) to safely consume necessary signals and create correlation with audio‑system events.
• Advise on privacy mechanisms, including data minimization, anonymization, retention, and deletion rules for data collection.
• Advise on consent‑aware data collection, retention, and deletion strategies according to privacy standards and OEM practices.
• Partner with Data/ML/DSP teams to ensure the vehicle‑side data architecture cleanly connects to cloud pipelines for training, evaluation, and continuous improvement of edge experiences.

What You Need To Be Successful

• Strong structured mindset with the ability to design complex and robust systems while keeping optimal and clean architecture.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, or Computer Science (or closely related field).
• 12+ years of experience in automotive embedded software or systems engineering, with architecture ownership in at least one of: Head Unit/Infotainment, Cockpit/Domain Controller, Telematics/Connectivity, or Vehicle Data/Diagnostics.
• Experience designing telemetry/logging systems under constrained compute/memory/storage, including reliability strategies (buffering, persistence, loss management).
• Experience with OTA update architectures (software/component delivery), including artifact versioning, signing/integrity, staged rollout, rollback, and compatibility management.
• Working knowledge of HU/CCU operating systems (Linux, Android Automotive, QNX, or similar), including debugging/log analysis, process/service design, and performance constraints.
• Solid knowledge of automotive networking and integration constraints: CAN, Automotive Ethernet, UDS, and ODB‑II, and ability to collaborate with cybersecurity stakeholders.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills to influence cross‑functional stakeholders and standardize practices across teams.

Bonus Points If You Have

• Experience with SDV and zonal vehicle architecture.
• Experience with Android Automotive, QNX, embedded Linux distributions used in cockpit systems, or OEM‑specific stacks.
• Familiarity with common automotive diagnostics patterns and tools (e.g., DTC workflows, log/trace pipelines).
• Background in infotainment/audio feature delivery, real‑time constraints, or resource budgeting for DSP/SoC platforms.
• Exposure to cybersecurity and automotive standards contexts (e.g., ISO21434) and/or process frameworks (ASPICE), even if not the owner.
• Understanding of privacy and security fundamentals for connected data systems (data minimization, consent, pseudonymization, encryption, secure communications).

What Makes You Eligible

• Advanced English communication skill.
• Will be part of an integral team.
• Willing to work in an office in Querétaro as part of a hybrid flex work arrangement.
• Flexibility in working hours across a global team.
• Successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment.

What We Offer

• Flexible work environment.
• Access to employee discounts on world‑class Harman and Samsung products (JBL, HARMANKardon, AKG, etc.).
• Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University.
• Competitive wellness benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• "BeBrilliant" employee recognition and rewards program.
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development.

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. HARMAN strives to hire the best qualified candidates and is committed to building a workforce representative of the diverse marketplaces and communities of our global colleagues and customers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. HARMAN attracts, hires, and develops employees based on merit, qualifications and job‑related performance.