Embedded Software Engineer - Human Machine Interface (HMI) & User Experience (UX) features Design & Performance

Capgemini
Full_timeAuburn Hills, United States

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Embedded Software Engineer - Human Machine Interface (HMI) & User Experience (UX) features Design & Performance Company: Capgemini Location: Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: Engineering / Software Development Date Posted: 2025-09-22 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

  • Design, develop, and refine user interface feedback and messaging for advanced vehicle infotainment systems, focusing on intuitive interactions and feature logic.
  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, and suppliers, to ensure seamless integration of HMI and UX features.
  • Drive innovation by applying user-centric design principles to enhance the overall user experience within automotive infotainment.
  • Manage and evolve system logic to support robust, scalable, and coherent infotainment functionality, ensuring alignment with customer goals and technical requirements.
  • Support validation activities to confirm feature logic meets design intent and implementation standards, contributing to continuous improvement of HMI design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for shaping the user interaction within automotive infotainment systems. While not a direct revenue operations role, the focus on user experience, feature logic, and cross-functional collaboration aligns with the operational efficiency and customer satisfaction goals often pursued by operations teams. The emphasis on clear specifications, validation, and process improvement suggests a need for a structured, methodical approach to development, which is a hallmark of effective operations management.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Lead the development and refinement of user interface feedback and messaging across vehicle infotainment systems.
  • Ensure intuitive design and logical grouping of features to enhance user experience and operability.
  • Manage and evolve system logic to support robust and scalable infotainment functionality, maintaining coherence across all HMI-related documentation.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (engineering, design, suppliers) to align interface design with engineering and customer requirements.
  • Drive innovation in HMI by integrating user-centric design principles and best practices.
  • Maintain consistency and coherence across all HMI documentation and specifications, ensuring clarity for all stakeholders.
  • Support validation efforts to ensure feature logic meets design intent and implementation standards, working closely with HMI validation teams.
  • Align specifications with customer functional goals, electrical engineering requirements, and graphical assets provided by design teams.
  • Design user interactions for infotainment features and provide clear, actionable specifications to internal teams and external suppliers.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of HMI design processes and established standards within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking and detailed execution, common in operations roles focused on process optimization and product lifecycle management. The emphasis on "system logic," "feature grouping," and "validation" points to a need for analytical skills and a systematic approach to problem-solving, akin to optimizing business processes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace) from an ABET-accredited university is a mandatory requirement.

Experience:

  • Demonstrated experience in embedded software development, with a specific focus on Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and User Experience (UX) design principles.
  • Proven ability to manage and refine system logic for complex software applications.
  • Experience working with cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, and external suppliers, to achieve project goals.
  • Exposure to automotive HMI systems and their development lifecycle is highly beneficial.

Required Skills:

  • Deep understanding of Human-Machine Interface (HMI) principles and user-centric design methodologies.
  • Proficiency in designing intuitive user interfaces and logical feature groupings for complex systems.
  • Strong analytical skills for managing and evolving system logic and feature functionality.
  • Excellent communication skills (speaking, reading, writing English) for clear documentation and stakeholder interaction.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
  • Detail-oriented approach with a passion for creating exceptional user experiences.
  • Familiarity with version control systems and software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with automotive infotainment systems and their specific HMI/UX challenges.
  • Familiarity with Teamcenter, NX, and VisProfessional viewer tools for design and documentation management.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word for data analysis, presentation, and documentation.
  • Knowledge of embedded software development tools and debugging techniques.
  • Experience with agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of tools like Teamcenter and NX, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office, suggests a need for structured data management and reporting capabilities, aligning with operations professionals' reliance on such tools for process management and performance tracking.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Showcase examples of HMI/UX design projects, demonstrating intuitive interface layouts and logical feature organization.
  • Include case studies or project descriptions that highlight your role in defining and refining system logic for software features.
  • Present examples of user feedback mechanisms or messaging systems you have designed or improved.
  • Provide documentation samples that illustrate your ability to maintain consistency and coherence in HMI specifications.
  • Highlight any contributions to process improvement within software development or HMI design workflows.

Process Documentation:

  • Demonstrate experience in creating clear and comprehensive technical specifications for software features and user interfaces.
  • Showcase examples of how you have aligned design specifications with engineering requirements and graphical assets.
  • Include documentation related to validation processes, illustrating how feature logic was tested against design intent.
  • Provide examples of system logic documentation that clearly outlines feature behavior and interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is an engineering role, the request for portfolio items showcasing "process documentation," "system logic," and "validation" aligns with the operations practice of documenting and standardizing workflows to ensure efficiency and consistency. A candidate's ability to articulate these processes effectively in their portfolio would be a strong indicator of operational acumen.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

  • Based on industry standards for an Embedded Software Engineer with 2-5 years of experience in the automotive sector in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between $75,000 - $105,000 annually. This estimate considers the specific technical skills required, the location's cost of living, and the demand for specialized automotive engineering talent.

Benefits:

  • Flexible Work: Options that support work-life balance.
  • Comprehensive Healthcare: Includes medical, dental, vision, mental health, and well-being programs.
  • Financial Well-being Programs: Such as 401(k) retirement plans and Employee Share Ownership Plans, supporting long-term financial security.
  • Paid Time Off & Holidays: Generous allocation for rest and personal time.
  • Paid Parental Leave: Support for new parents.
  • Family Building Benefits: Including adoption assistance, surrogacy support, and cryopreservation.
  • Social Well-being Benefits: Such as subsidized back-up child/elder care and tutoring services.
  • Mentoring, Coaching, and Learning Programs: Opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement.
  • Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Fostering community and support among employees.
  • Disaster Relief: Support during times of crisis.

Working Hours:

  • Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. Flexibility may be available, but the core requirement is consistent engagement with project timelines and team collaboration, aligning with typical operational demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The comprehensive benefits package indicates a company that invests in its employees' well-being and professional growth, which is often a key consideration for individuals seeking stable, long-term roles in operations or engineering. The emphasis on learning and development programs is particularly relevant for operations professionals looking to enhance their skill sets.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Engineering and R&D Services, Information Technology, Consulting. Capgemini Engineering is a leader in this space, focusing on the convergence of physical and digital worlds within industries like automotive. Company Size: Large enterprise. Capgemini is a global group with approximately 340,000 employees across more than 50 countries, indicating a robust organizational structure with ample resources and opportunities for specialization. Founded: Capgemini was founded in 1967, providing a long history and established presence in the technology and consulting sectors. Capgemini Engineering, as an integral part of the group, benefits from this extensive heritage.

Team Structure:

  • The Embedded Software Engineer will likely be part of a larger engineering team focused on automotive solutions, specifically within the HMI/UX domain.
  • This team will operate within the Capgemini Engineering division, collaborating with other engineering disciplines, design teams, and potentially client stakeholders.
  • Reporting structure would typically be to an Engineering Manager or Team Lead, with close interaction with project managers and subject matter experts.
  • Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect, involving close work with electrical engineers, software developers, UI/UX designers, and validation engineers.

Methodology:

  • Emphasis on user-centric design principles and agile development methodologies for iterative feedback and refinement.
  • Data-driven approach to design and validation, ensuring that user interactions meet performance benchmarks and customer expectations.
  • Workflow planning and optimization strategies are likely employed to manage the complex development cycles of automotive infotainment systems.
  • Automation and efficiency practices are important for testing and validation, ensuring timely delivery and quality assurance.

Company Website: www.capgemini.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The scale of Capgemini suggests a structured environment where processes are well-defined and adherence to standards is important, mirroring the disciplined approach found in operations management. The company's focus on "Intelligent Industry" and "digital and sustainable world" transformation indicates a forward-thinking culture that values innovation and efficiency.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Engineer. This role is positioned as an individual contributor with a focus on specific technical responsibilities within the HMI/UX domain. It offers the opportunity to deepen expertise in automotive software development and user experience design.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to an Engineering Manager or Team Lead, likely within a specialized automotive engineering unit of Capgemini Engineering. This structure provides guidance and mentorship while allowing for significant autonomy in technical execution.

Operations Impact: While not a direct operations role, the impact is significant on the product's success. By ensuring intuitive HMI and optimal UX, this role influences customer satisfaction, brand perception, and potentially future sales, all of which are critical business outcomes that operations functions strive to support. Efficiently designed interfaces reduce user friction and support adoption of vehicle features.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in HMI/UX design, embedded systems, and automotive software development through hands-on project experience.
  • Project Leadership: Progress to leading specific HMI/UX feature development streams or taking on project management responsibilities for smaller initiatives.
  • Cross-Functional Expertise: Gain broader experience by collaborating with different engineering disciplines and understanding the full automotive product development lifecycle.
  • Mentorship and Training: Participate in Capgemini's extensive learning and development programs, including specialized courses and certifications in automotive engineering and software development.
  • Client Engagement: Develop skills in understanding and translating client requirements, potentially leading to roles with direct client interaction and solution design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path described emphasizes continuous learning and specialization, which are crucial for professionals in operations roles aiming to stay relevant and advance their careers. The opportunity to gain client-facing experience is also valuable for understanding business impact and driving strategic operational improvements.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Capgemini operates with a modern office environment designed to foster collaboration and innovation. As an on-site role, expect a professional office setting equipped with the necessary tools and technology for engineering and development work.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is Auburn Hills, Michigan, a hub for the automotive industry. This location offers proximity to major automotive manufacturers and suppliers, facilitating direct collaboration and engagement with industry partners.

Workspace Context:

  • The workspace will likely facilitate collaboration with other engineers, designers, and project teams, potentially including dedicated project rooms or open-plan office setups that encourage interaction.
  • Access to advanced development tools, software licenses, and testing equipment relevant to embedded systems and HMI development will be provided.
  • Opportunities for direct interaction with team members will be frequent, supporting problem-solving, knowledge sharing, and team cohesion.

Work Schedule: Standard business hours (e.g., 9 AM to 5 PM) are expected, with potential for some flexibility based on project needs and company policy. The on-site requirement ensures consistent availability for in-person collaboration and access to necessary resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: The structured on-site environment in a key industry hub like Auburn Hills is typical for roles requiring close teamwork and access to specialized resources, much like operations teams that rely on shared infrastructure and direct communication for efficient workflow management.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.
  • Technical Interview(s): Expect one or more interviews with hiring managers and/or senior engineers. These will focus on your technical skills, experience with embedded systems, HMI/UX design, and problem-solving abilities. Be prepared to discuss your background and how it aligns with the role's requirements.
  • Portfolio Review: You may be asked to present specific examples from your portfolio that demonstrate your design process, technical solutions, and impact on HMI/UX features. This is a critical step to showcase your practical skills.
  • Behavioral/Situational Questions: Questions assessing your teamwork, communication, problem-solving approach, and ability to handle challenges will likely be included.
  • Final Interview: Potentially a final interview with a higher-level manager or director to confirm fit within the broader team and company strategy.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Relevant Projects: Select projects that best showcase your HMI/UX design skills, system logic development, and documentation capabilities. For this role, automotive-specific examples are ideal.
  • Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your specific role and contributions, the technical approach or design process used, the challenges faced, and the quantifiable results or impact achieved.
  • Highlight Process: Emphasize the methodologies you followed, including user research, iterative design, system logic definition, and validation processes.
  • Showcase Documentation: Include samples of technical specifications, design documents, or process flows that demonstrate your clarity and attention to detail.
  • Be Prepared to Discuss: Be ready to walk through your portfolio items, explain design choices, and answer detailed questions about your contributions and the technologies used.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Technical Scenarios: Anticipate questions about embedded software design, real-time operating systems (RTOS), C/C++ programming, and HMI/UX principles in an automotive context.
  • Problem-Solving: Be ready to tackle hypothetical scenarios related to optimizing HMI performance, debugging complex system logic, or improving user workflows.
  • System Logic Design: Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing or modifying the logic for specific infotainment features to ensure a coherent and intuitive user experience.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Think about how you would communicate technical requirements to non-technical stakeholders or resolve conflicts between design and engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "portfolio review" and "case studies" strongly suggests an operations-like approach to evaluating candidates – focusing on demonstrated process execution and measurable impact, rather than just theoretical knowledge. Preparing to articulate the "process" behind your work is key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Embedded Software Development: Proficiency in C/C++ is likely essential. Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) is highly probable.
  • Design & Documentation: Familiarity with Teamcenter (Product Lifecycle Management), NX (CAD/CAM/CAE), and VisProfessional viewer tools is explicitly required for managing design specifications and graphical assets.
  • Productivity Software: Strong command of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word is mandatory for data analysis, reporting, presentations, and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • While not explicitly listed, experience with data analysis tools for performance metrics and user feedback analysis would be beneficial. Understanding how to extract and interpret data to inform design decisions is a plus.

CRM & Automation:

  • Not directly applicable to this role, but familiarity with project management or issue tracking tools (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps) might be advantageous for workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific tools listed (Teamcenter, NX) are common in product development and engineering operations environments, requiring structured data management and adherence to established workflows. Proficiency in these tools indicates an ability to work within a formalized operational framework.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • User-Centricity: A core value is designing with the end-user in mind, ensuring intuitive and enjoyable interactions.
  • Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working effectively with diverse teams (engineering, design, suppliers) to achieve shared goals.
  • Detail-Orientation: Meticulous attention to detail in specifications, documentation, and validation is crucial for high-quality output.
  • Innovation: Encourages new ideas and approaches to improve HMI/UX and system functionality.
  • Efficiency: Focus on optimizing processes and system logic for performance and scalability.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Actively engages with various departments to ensure alignment and integrated solutions, a key aspect of operational synergy.
  • Process Review Culture: Openness to discussing and refining design and development processes to enhance efficiency and quality.
  • Knowledge Sharing: Encourages sharing of insights and best practices to foster team growth and collective problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values of user-centricity, collaboration, and detail-orientation are highly transferable to operations roles, where understanding customer needs, working across departments, and maintaining process accuracy are paramount for success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing User Needs and Technical Constraints: Effectively translating user desires into technically feasible solutions within the constraints of embedded systems and automotive platforms.
  • Managing Complex System Logic: Ensuring coherence and robustness across intricate feature interactions in a dynamic environment.
  • Cross-Team Communication: Facilitating clear and effective communication between diverse teams (engineering, design, suppliers) with potentially different priorities and technical languages.
  • Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Staying current with advancements in automotive HMI, UX design, and embedded software development.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced HMI/UX Training: Access to specialized courses and workshops on cutting-edge HMI/UX design principles and automotive infotainment trends.
  • Embedded Systems Expertise: Opportunities to deepen knowledge in embedded software development, real-time operating systems, and automotive communication protocols.
  • Project Management Skills: Potential to develop skills in managing projects, timelines, and resources within engineering contexts.
  • Industry Certifications: Pursue relevant certifications in software engineering, automotive standards, or project management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are typical for technical roles that require problem-solving and continuous learning, mirroring the dynamic nature of operations environments where adapting to new technologies and market demands is essential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • HMI Design Philosophy: Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing intuitive user interfaces for complex systems, focusing on feature grouping and user feedback mechanisms.
  • System Logic Design: How would you approach defining or modifying the logic for a specific infotainment feature (e.g., navigation, media player) to ensure a coherent user experience?
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Describe a time you collaborated with design or electrical engineering teams. How did you ensure alignment and resolve any discrepancies in requirements or specifications?
  • Process Improvement: Provide an example of how you contributed to improving a design or development process. What was the outcome?

Company & Culture Questions:

  • Capgemini's Values: Research Capgemini's core values and be ready to discuss how your personal values and work style align with them, particularly regarding user-centricity and collaboration.
  • Automotive Industry Trends: Demonstrate awareness of current trends in automotive HMI and UX, such as voice control, gesture recognition, and personalized interfaces.
  • Team Dynamics: How do you contribute to a positive and productive team environment? How do you handle disagreements within a team?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Concise Storytelling: For each portfolio item, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, and the impact. Focus on your specific contributions and the processes you followed.
  • Visual Aids: Utilize clear visuals (mockups, diagrams, flowcharts) to illustrate your design concepts and system logic.
  • Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved usability, reduced error rates, enhanced performance).
  • Process Explanation: Be ready to explain the "how" and "why" behind your design choices and development processes, showcasing your methodical approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing to discuss your "process" and "methodology" explicitly, as well as showcasing "quantifiable impact" and "collaboration," are key strategies that align with how many operations roles are evaluated. This demonstrates a results-oriented mindset and an understanding of operational efficiency.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this embedded software engineering position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on the Capgemini careers portal.
  • Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight specific experience with HMI/UX design, embedded systems, and the required tools (Teamcenter, NX). Quantify your achievements whenever possible, using action verbs that reflect your contributions to feature logic and user experience improvements.
  • Portfolio Preparation: Curate a portfolio that showcases relevant HMI/UX design projects, system logic documentation, and examples of your collaboration with cross-functional teams. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your understanding of user-centric design and process execution.
  • Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your technical skills, project experience, and problem-solving abilities. Practice articulating your design process and the impact of your work, focusing on clarity and conciseness.
  • Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Capgemini's business, its role in the automotive industry, and its company culture. Understanding their mission and values will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your fit.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Application Requirements

A Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET-accredited university is required, along with familiarity with Teamcenter, NX, and VisProfessional viewer tools. Strong communication skills and a detail-oriented approach to user-centered design are essential.