Continental Automotive seeking to boost software R&D head count

International automotive supplier Continental is looking to up its game in the development of future mobility solutions. The company currently have in excess 10,000 software developers worldwide in its payroll based in some 80 locations in 23 countries. By 2015, it plans to increase that number to 11,500.

“304 million product deliveries in 2011 in the Interior Division alone are testament to Continental’s outstanding productivity. And the relevance of software for our products is increasing year by year. It is the key to safe, energy-saving, comfortable and cost-efficient vehicles worldwide,” explained Helmut Matschi, member of the Continental AG Executive Board and head of the Interior Division, at CeBIT 2012 in Hanover.

Continental’s broad portfolio of products gives software developers in its employment a wide range of challenges. For example, software designed to operate in-car infotainment systems have requirements that differ vastly from systems running engine or transmission control units. Continental’s latest engine management system, the EMS 3, operates a highly complex system of sensors and actuators in order to deliver optimum combustion settings in real time.

Being a supplier to multiple automotive brands, Continental is looking to standardize software architecture for future vehicles. Matschi justifies that approach by noting that, “We want to standardize everything relating to software and hardware that has no relevance for vehicle and brand differentiation. But in all those areas where the vehicle manufacturer can set itself apart considerably from its competitors, we will of course design products specifically for each manufacturer.”

Matschi also highlighted another area of great importance to Continental, the area of human-machine interface. He said, “The ergonomics of modern instruments are largely determined by software. Our software developers are ensuring that drivers of future-generation vehicles will still have all the information they need at a glance in a direct and easy-to-read format – and that their passengers are well entertained too.”

In view of the increasing importance of software usage in cars, Matschi announced that the company will be aggressively hiring software developers in the coming years. He said that, “Over the next few years, we want to hire an additional 1,500 software developers around the world to meet these future demands.”

Time to send in your resumes.

KON

See also:
– Continental Automotive Group poised for growth in Asia
– Continental Automotive Group – Interior Division and The Future of Vehicle HMIs
– Continental Automotive Group – Visiting the Powertrain Division
– Continental Automotive Group – Tour concludes at Chassis & Safety division