Contract - Machine Learning Engineer, Infotainment & Telematics

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 Machine Learning Engineer II, Infotainment & Telematics, within the Hardware organization, is intended for an individual with foundational background in machine learning and AI model deployment, with interest in developing AI-enhanced productivity tools and Edge AI applications for automotive systems. The Machine Learning Engineer II will contribute to the implementation of innovative AI tools that transform how hardware teams work, support the deployment of cutting-edge Edge AI applications on automotive ECUs, and help develop next-generation infotainment experiences powered by on-device AI while working with hardware, software, and systems teams. Role Responsibilities • Assist with the design and deployment ofAI-driven productivity tools to enhance SoC and hardware development workflows across the full lifecycle. • Develop intelligent documentation, code analysis, and version control systems leveraging machine learning for automation and insight. • Contribute to the building of AI-assisted testing and validation frameworks for ECU and embedded development environments. • Research, implement, and optimize Edge AI and Vision-Language Models (VLMs) for infotainment, telematics, and driver-assistance applications. • Collaborate with SoC and hardware teams to optimize model performance, power efficiency, and real-time inference on constrained automotive platforms. • Contribute to the development of AI toolchains, agentic automation, and infrastructure supporting Edge AI research and deployment. General Skills • Communicates complex technical concepts clearly across engineering, hardware, and non-technical stakeholders in global automotive development. • Participates in cross-functional collaboration across AI, software, hardware, and systems teams to align on strategy, optimization, and deployment of AI models. • Demonstrates strong problem-solving and decision-making in fast-paced, multi-project environments with competing technical priorities. • Contributes to innovation through proactive engagement in AI strategy, technology evaluation, and partnership coordination across internal and external teams. Required Skills • General knowledge of machine learning engineering with a focus on practical AI deployment, including model optimization, quantization, and edge inference. • Strong proficiency in modern AI frameworks and tools such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and related deployment ecosystems. • Solid understanding of edge computing architectures and integration of AI models within embedded and automotive systems. • Committed to continuous learning of automotive industry standards, software-hardware co-development, and resource-constrained AI implementation. Desired • Proficient in Python and C/C++ with hands-on experience deploying ML frameworks in production environments. • Experienced in developing and deploying computer vision and natural language processing applications for real-world automotive use cases. • Strong understanding of real-time systems, ECU development, and embedded systems architecture for in-vehicle AI integration. • Skilled in model quantization and performance optimization techniques for efficient edge and resource-constrained deployment. Years Of Relevant Experience • 2+ years of experience Required Education • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field Desired Education • Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field Workplace Flexibility • This is a contract W2 position • Compensation: $55.00 - $65.00/ hour • This role is based in Mountain View, CA. Must be local, no relocation. • Travel to worldwide locations required (less than 5%) • Immediate availability is required. The selected candidate is expected to start promptly upon offer acceptance and pending successful completion of a standard background check and drug screening • Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship now or in the future • We do not accept C2C (Corp-to-Corp), 1099, or third-party agency submissions for this position