Director – Software Platform Delivery (Autonomy Domain)

We are Aptiv - a global technology company with 190,000 specialists in 46 countries. We develop innovative software and build the hardware to bring autonomous driving cars, advanced driver-assistance systems, connected vehicles and smart cities to life in a way that only we can. We work in partnership with almost all car manufacturers. Our sensors, systems and software can already be found in almost all passenger cars today.

With our deep domain expertise, Aptiv is developing solutions that solve our customers' toughest challenges. We are enabling the transition to software-defined vehicles supported by electrified and intelligently connected architectures – which will combine to power the future of mobility.

Role Summary

The Director, Software Platform Delivery – Autonomy is responsible for leading the end-to-end delivery of software platform capabilities that enable autonomous driving functions and services. The role owns execution across multiple cross-functional development teams, ensuring predictable delivery, quality, scalability, and organizational alignment.

The Director serves as the primary delivery leader for complex software platform programs, balancing business priorities, technical dependencies, engineering capacity, and product commitments. While highly technical, the role focuses primarily on delivery excellence, execution governance, stakeholder management, and building high-performing teams rather than defining architecture.

This is a non-executive leadership position reporting to a Senior Director or Head of Engineering Delivery within the Autonomy organization.

Key Responsibilities

Software Platform Delivery Leadership

• Lead delivery of software platform releases supporting autonomous driving products and capabilities.
• Own planning, execution, integration, and release readiness across multiple engineering teams.
• Drive program execution against agreed milestones, quality targets, and business commitments.
• Ensure alignment between platform roadmaps and autonomy product requirements.
• Manage delivery risks, issues, dependencies, and mitigation plans across the organization.
• Establish delivery governance mechanisms and ensure consistency across programs.

Cross-Functional Program Management

• Coordinate activities across software engineering, systems engineering, validation, product management, architecture, and operations teams.
• Drive resolution of technical and organizational impediments impacting program execution.
• Ensure effective prioritization and dependency management across multiple workstreams.
• Lead operational reviews and program steering discussions with senior leadership.
• Provide regular delivery status, forecasts, and executive-level communications.

Organizational Leadership

• Lead and develop engineering managers, program managers, and delivery leaders.
• Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, ownership, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Support talent development, succession planning, and organizational growth.
• Foster collaboration across geographically distributed teams.

Delivery Excellence & Process Improvement

• Define and implement software delivery best practices, metrics, and operational rhythms.
• Drive improvements in planning accuracy, predictability, productivity, quality, and release performance.
• Champion Agile, Lean, and modern software development methodologies.
• Monitor delivery KPIs and implement corrective actions where required.
• Support adoption of development lifecycle standards, compliance processes, and engineering governance.

Quality & Release Management

• Ensure robust release planning and execution across platform components.
• Partner with quality, validation, and safety teams to achieve product readiness.
• Drive defect management, issue resolution, and continuous quality improvement.
• Ensure software releases meet functional, performance, safety, and reliability objectives.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as a trusted partner to engineering, product, systems, and business leaders.
• Influence prioritization decisions through data-driven recommendations.
• Communicate delivery plans, risks, and trade-offs effectively to senior stakeholders.
• Maintain strong alignment between strategic objectives and execution plans.

Scope of Responsibility

• Ownership of software platform delivery for one or more autonomy platform areas.
• Leadership across multiple engineering teams and programs, potentially spanning several global locations.
• Accountability for release delivery, execution performance, milestone achievement, and delivery predictability.
• Management of complex cross-functional dependencies involving software, systems, hardware, validation, and operations organizations.
• Responsibility for delivery governance, execution metrics, and operational performance.
• Influence over resource planning, organizational effectiveness, and prioritization decisions.

Experience & Qualifications

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.
• 12+ years of experience in software development, engineering program management, or software delivery leadership.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing managers, program leaders, or large engineering organizations.
• Experience delivering complex embedded software, software platforms, or large-scale technology products.
• Proven track record leading multi-team, cross-functional software programs from planning through release.
• Experience working within automotive, autonomous systems, robotics, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), or similarly complex technology environments.

Preferred Experience

• Experience within autonomous driving, ADAS, robotics, mobility, or safety-critical systems.
• Knowledge of software-defined vehicle architectures and platform development.
• Experience managing globally distributed engineering organizations.
• Exposure to automotive development processes and industry standards.
• Experience with large-scale Agile transformations and modern software delivery models.

Technical Knowledge

Strong understanding of:

• Software development lifecycle (SDLC).
• Agile, Scrum, SAFe, or Lean development methodologies.
• Software platform and systems integration concepts.
• Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery (CI/CD).
• Cloud-based development environments and DevOps practices.
• Embedded software development and validation processes.
• Metrics-driven software delivery management.
• Release and dependency management across complex ecosystems.

Knowledge of autonomy-related technologies is highly desirable, including:

• Autonomous driving software stacks.
• Sensor integration and perception systems.
• Localization and mapping concepts.
• Planning and control systems.
• Safety-critical software development principles.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic execution and delivery focus.
• Strong organizational leadership.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influence skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in highly complex, ambiguous environments.
• Data-driven decision making.
• Collaborative leadership style.
• Strong communication and executive presentation skills.
• Talent development and coaching.
• Results orientation and accountability.
• Continuous improvement mindset.

YOUR BENEFITS AT APTIV:

• Private health care effective day 1 of employment
• Life and accident insurance
• Paid Time Off (Holidays, Vacation, Designated time off, Parental leave)
• Relocation assistance may be available
• Learning and development opportunities
• Discount programs with various manufacturers and retailers
• Recognition for innovation and excellence
• Opportunities to give back to the community
• Tuition Reimbursement

APPLY TODAY, AND TOGETHER LET’S CHANGE TOMORROW! 

“Aptiv is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law”

Privacy Notice - Active Candidates: https://www.aptiv.com/privacy-notice-active-candidates

Aptiv is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Privacy Notice - Active Candidates: https://www.aptiv.com/privacy-notice-active-candidates

Aptiv is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.