Walk me through your engineering background + automotive experience.

What it tests: Story arc - engineering training, vehicle / ECU exposure, safety + cost awareness.

Tell me about a vehicle programme or ECU you've worked on.

What it tests: Programme thinking - SE + integration + V&V + cost + manufacturing.

What it tests: Authentic alignment - mass-scale impact, cost discipline, electrification transformation, multi-decade fleet thinking.

What it tests: Specificity. Generic answers fail.

What it tests: Real homework - product, recent moves, engineering culture - not name-drop.

What it tests: Industry literacy - segment position, product mix, competitive picture.

What it tests: Engineering org maturity - SE function authority, ISO 26262 / ASPICE / IATF maturity, launch cadence.

What it tests: Auto SE fluency - vehicle-level + ECU partition + ICDs + integration test.

Systems + integration + functional safety + V&V engineers at vehicle OEMs (legacy and EV / new entrants).

Can the candidate apply SE V-model to a vehicle / ECU - requirements + decomposition + ICDs + V&V?
Do they understand ISO 26262 functional safety - ASIL hazard analysis, safety goals, safety case?
Are they fluent in ASPICE software process + IATF 16949 quality requirements?
Can they think volume + cost + manufacturability - BOM cost, PPAP, Cpk?
Do they understand ADAS / AD / SAE J3016 + emerging regulatory landscape?
Are they cost-aware - automotive cost-of-goods discipline distinct from aero / med-device?
Long-game fit - tech lead / chief engineer / vehicle integration leader trajectory?

Walk me through your engineering background + automotive experience.
What it tests: Story arc - engineering training, vehicle / ECU exposure, safety + cost awareness.
Tell me about a vehicle programme or ECU you've worked on.
What it tests: Programme thinking - SE + integration + V&V + cost + manufacturing.
Why automotive vs aerospace / consumer / other engineering paths?
What it tests: Authentic alignment - mass-scale impact, cost discipline, electrification transformation, multi-decade fleet thinking.
Why this segment - ICE / hybrid / BEV / ADAS / commercial?
What it tests: Specificity. Generic answers fail.
Why this firm?
What it tests: Real homework - product, recent moves, engineering culture - not name-drop.
What's your read on our product portfolio + recent launches?
What it tests: Industry literacy - segment position, product mix, competitive picture.
Tell me what you understand about our engineering culture + SE practice.
What it tests: Engineering org maturity - SE function authority, ISO 26262 / ASPICE / IATF maturity, launch cadence.
Walk me through a vehicle / ECU requirements + integration case.
What it tests: Auto SE fluency - vehicle-level + ECU partition + ICDs + integration test.

Vehicle SE + ECU / E/E architecture

Vehicle-level + ECU requirements: Vehicle features (e.g. lane keeping) decomposed into ECU functions + interfaces.
E/E architecture evolution: Domain controllers + zonal architectures replacing 70-100 individual ECUs - simplifies wiring + enables SDV.
In-vehicle networks: CAN / CAN-FD / FlexRay / LIN / MOST / Automotive Ethernet - bus technologies connecting ECUs.
AUTOSAR: AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture - standardised software architecture (Classic + Adaptive).

ISO 26262 functional safety

Item definition + HARA: Item = system being analysed. HARA = Hazard Analysis + Risk Assessment to derive safety goals + ASIL.
Safety goals + FSR / TSR: Safety goals -> Functional Safety Requirements -> Technical Safety Requirements.
Architecture + diagnostic coverage: Safety architecture (e.g. monitor-checker, dual MCU, lockstep) + diagnostic coverage of hardware faults.
Safety case: Structured argument that the item is safe - body of evidence + reasoning per ISO 26262.

ADAS + AD + SAE J3016 levels

SAE J3016 levels (0-5): L0 = no automation; L2 = partial automation (driver monitors); L3 = conditional (driver intervenes on request); L4 = high (within ODD); L5 = full automation.
ODD (Operational Design Domain): Specific operational conditions under which an automated system is designed to function safely.
Sensor suite + sensor fusion: Camera + radar + lidar + ultrasonic + V2X combined for redundant perception.
ML / AI + automotive safety: ML perception + behaviour models in safety-critical context - SOTIF + emerging ML safety standards.

IATF 16949 + APQP + PPAP

IATF 16949: Quality management standard for automotive production + service parts - mandatory for automotive supply chain.
APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning): AIAG standard 5-phase planning method for new product development through launch.
PPAP (Production Part Approval Process): Standardised submission package demonstrating supplier readiness for production - 18 elements at most stringent level.
DFMEA + PFMEA + Cpk: Design + Process FMEA = systematic failure mode analysis. Cpk = process capability index (1.33+ typical target).

You're SE lead for a new domain controller. Walk through your requirements + ECU partition + V&V approach.
Your team is designing a new propulsion control function. Walk through ISO 26262 - HARA + ASIL + safety architecture.
A Tier 1 has reported a recurring field failure traced to a tier 2 component. PPAP was approved 18 months ago. Walk through your engineering + quality response.

Product portfolio + powertrain mix - ICE / hybrid / BEV / FCEV; launch cadence
Engineering org + SE authority - platform / vehicle line structure
Functional safety + cybersecurity posture - ISO 26262 + ISO 21434 maturity
Software + OTA + SDV strategy - architectural transition pace
Supply chain + manufacturing - Tier 1 relationships, IATF 16949, vertical integration

Drop your CV and a job description on the home page. A couple of minutes later you get a report with everything you need to land the job.