Solutions Architect for Automotive

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Solutions Architect for Automotive based in South Africa.

This is a high-impact technical role focused on helping automotive organizations adopt innovative open-source technologies and build the next generation of software-defined vehicles.

You will combine automotive expertise with strong Linux, embedded systems, and software development knowledge to solve complex customer challenges.

The role spans presales consulting, technical solution design, demonstrations, proof-of-concepts, and selected project delivery.

You will collaborate with specialists across cloud, Kubernetes, security, safety, and embedded technologies to develop comprehensive solutions for customers and partners.

Your work will help shape market requirements and influence the evolution of technologies supporting connected, intelligent, and software-defined automotive platforms.

The position offers exposure to ambitious technology organizations and diverse engagements across the rapidly evolving automotive and open-source ecosystem.

This opportunity is well suited to a customer-focused technologist who enjoys solving complex problems, learning quickly, and turning emerging technologies into practical business outcomes.

Accountabilities

• Engage with automotive customers during presales activities to understand requirements, identify challenges, and explain relevant technologies and solutions.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor and customer advocate, helping organizations evaluate and adopt open-source platforms for automotive use cases.
• Collaborate with specialists in cloud, Kubernetes, security, safety, embedded systems, and other technical domains to develop comprehensive customer solutions.
• Participate in selected Embedded Linux projects, including technical demonstrations, prototypes, and proof-of-concepts.
• Translate customer and market requirements into actionable insights for internal engineering, product, and business stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of reusable technical solutions that address emerging automotive market opportunities.
• Support initiatives related to software-defined vehicles and the application of cloud technologies to embedded automotive environments.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and business audiences through presentations, demonstrations, and customer discussions.
• Balance multiple customer engagements and priorities while maintaining a strong focus on delivery, quality, and business outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Relevant professional experience within the automotive industry.
• Extensive Linux experience, with strong knowledge of Debian or Ubuntu preferred.
• Solid Embedded Linux experience, including exposure to Yocto and/or real-time operating systems.
• Strong programming or scripting skills in one or more of Golang, Python, C, C++, or Rust.
• Understanding of low-level Linux boot processes, BIOS, firmware, and embedded software development methodologies.
• Professional written and spoken English combined with proficiency in the local language.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and customer-facing skills.
• Ability to understand customer environments, identify needs, pitch solutions, and deliver technical demonstrations.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a results-oriented approach and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Self-motivated, accountable, adaptable, and committed to delivering on agreed objectives.
• Curious, humble, and eager to learn new technologies and apply them to evolving automotive challenges.
• Experience with ISO 26262 and/or ISO 21434 is a plus.
• Previous experience in customer-facing technical engagements is an advantage.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to approximately 30% for customer meetings, company events, conferences, and other professional engagements.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation based on geographical location, experience, and performance.
• Performance-driven annual bonus.
• Annual compensation reviews.
• Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year.
• Recognition and performance rewards.
• Annual holiday leave.
• Maternity and paternity leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Distributed working environment with opportunities to meet colleagues in person during team events and technical sprints.
• Opportunities to travel internationally for customer engagements, conferences, and team events.
• Priority Pass and travel upgrades for eligible long-haul company events.
• Exposure to cutting-edge open-source, Linux, cloud, embedded, and automotive technologies.
• Opportunity to contribute to the development of software-defined vehicle technologies and emerging automotive platforms.
• Collaboration with globally distributed engineering teams and specialists across multiple technical disciplines.