Automotive software product leadership

Gokulnath Avanashilingam

Senior Product Architect / Product Owner

I lead automotive infotainment and middleware platforms from product strategy and system architecture through integration, release readiness, and production delivery across global OEM, Tier-1, and supplier ecosystems.

18+ years AAOS & IVI SAFe 6 POPM

View Experience Contact Me

Product strategy Middleware architecture AAOS platform delivery Supplier alignment Release governance

Technology Stack

Android AutomotiveAOSP / AAOS Embedded LinuxKernel, BSP, U-Boot YoctoBuildroot / OpenWrt QualcommSA6155 / SA8155 JenkinsCI/CD pipelines Azure DevOpsCloud integration Renesas R-CarGen3 platform bring-up OSS ComplianceSPDX / FOSSology

Profile

Product ownership grounded in deep embedded platform engineering.

Senior automotive software professional with 18+ years of experience across Embedded Linux, Android Automotive OS, IVI platform development, middleware services, and software integration for global OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers.

I translate complex product goals into roadmaps, backlog priorities, middleware interfaces, technical acceptance criteria, validation governance, and release-ready execution across distributed teams, suppliers, and engineering stakeholders.

Strategize

Shape platform roadmaps, product backlogs, PI/PIPE plans, dependencies, risks, and stakeholder alignment.

Architect

Define middleware interfaces, system-function requirements, SoC constraints, and integration-ready platform services.

Deliver

Drive validation governance, KPI tracking, defect resolution, release reviews, and software maturity toward production quality.

18+

Years in software

Automotive infotainment, IVI, embedded platforms, WLAN products, Linux OS, RTOS, Android Automotive, and middleware programs.

Engineers led

Cross-functional delivery leadership across platform integration, CI/CD ecosystems, release execution, and customer milestones.

SoC ecosystems

Qualcomm Snapdragon, Renesas R-Car, ARM, MIPS, x86, and wireless SoC platforms from bring-up to stable delivery.

Experience

Automotive software programs, from product roadmap to release readiness.

Aug 2023 - Present

Product Owner / Senior Product Architect

CARIAD SE, Ingolstadt

Own product strategy, roadmap, backlog prioritization, and end-to-end delivery for middleware and system-function capabilities across ICC, HCP3, and Gen2 infotainment platforms.
Lead platform features including Factory Reset (R2F), HDCP Content Protection, Language Management, Persistence, Tracing, Engineering Services, Engineering Menu, and AutoRunner Framework.
Drive PI/PIPE planning, release management, KPI tracking, release reviews, validation governance, defect management, and risk assessments in Agile and SAFe environments.
Coordinate global teams and suppliers including Qualcomm, Harman, Aptiv, e.solutions, validation organizations, system integration teams, and OEM stakeholders.
Resolve architecture and platform issues related to middleware integration, HDCP authentication, TrustZone/TEE integration, localization, remote vehicle capabilities, and SDV-ready services.

Apr 2018 - May 2023

Delivery Lead / Architect

Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solution Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore

Led software delivery and technical execution for Android Automotive platform programs for Bosch and Denso across multiple development milestones.
Managed planning, scheduling, and execution for a cross-functional team of 10 engineers delivering platform integration and CI/CD initiatives.
Delivered AAOS platform integration on Qualcomm Snapdragon SA6155/SA8155 and Renesas R-Car Gen3 programs aligned with customer and production timelines.
Established Azure DevOps-based cloud integration, automated Android build infrastructure, and CI/CD ecosystems for distributed engineering teams.
Improved Android and Yocto development turnaround through incremental build strategies, build-time optimization, and close customer stakeholder collaboration.

Oct 2016 - Mar 2018

Software Integration Lead

Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solution Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore

Led software integration, release engineering, Jenkins CI/CD automation, Yocto environment standardization, integration testing, and defect resolution for automotive infotainment platforms.
Built and maintained cross-compilation toolchains for ARM 32/64-bit and x86 architectures using crosstool-NG across multiple hardware platforms.
Administered source code management and change control using GitHub, GitLab, ClearCase, JIRA, IBM Rational tools, and Artifactory in globally distributed teams.
Performed OSS compliance analysis and license validation using Black Duck, FOSSology, and SPDX, and supported Xen Hypervisor-based platform validation.

Aug 2015 - Sep 2016

Software Integration Engineer

Robert Bosch Car Multimedia GmbH, Hildesheim

Supported automotive infotainment platform development through Jenkins automation, software integration tooling, build workflows, test automation, and release readiness improvements.
Managed software artifacts using JFrog Artifactory and maintained in-house crosstool-NG toolchains for Yocto-based Embedded Linux platforms.
Performed OSS source generation, scanning, and compliance activities while collaborating with global engineering teams in Germany and India.

Sep 2011 - Jul 2015

Senior Software Engineer

Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solution Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore

Designed, customized, and maintained Linux Kernel, U-Boot bootloader, device drivers, BSPs, and Embedded Linux distributions using OpenEmbedded and Yocto.
Developed platform software for embedded automotive navigation systems based on Embedded Linux and RTOS, supporting bring-up, integration, and customer-specific requirements.
Executed Linux Test Project validation, kernel stability testing, repository maintenance, code reviews, release readiness, and OSS license compliance activities.

Aug 2008 - Sep 2011

Software Engineer

Brovis Wireless Networks Pvt Ltd, Chennai

Developed Embedded Linux software for enterprise indoor and outdoor IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi access points on ARM, MIPS, x86, and Atheros-based wireless SoCs.
Customized Linux BSPs, U-Boot, device drivers, OpenWrt, Buildroot, Yocto distributions, factory reset mechanisms, peripherals, and Wi-Fi management applications.
Performed board bring-up, GDB-based kernel debugging, boot-time optimization, WDS and Multi-Radio MIMO development, and release collaboration with hardware and validation teams.

Capabilities

Where I create the most leverage.

Product & Delivery

Platform Engineering

Tooling & Quality

Certification

Certified SAFe® 6 Product Owner/Product Manager

Scaled Agile Inc, February 2024 - February 2025

Education

Bachelor of Engineering, Electronics and Communication

Anna University, Chennai. Completed with first class with distinction in June 2008.

Languages & Interests

English, German, Tamil

International collaboration, open source software technologies, and prompt engineering.

Contact

Let’s connect on automotive software platforms, delivery, and product architecture.

a.gokulnath@yahoo.com +49 155 10338324 LinkedIn