Automotive Software Product Manager

Role Summary: 

The future starts here. Ready to shape the software strategy for NXP’s automotive end-node portfolio?

• Be at the pulse of the customer’s software needs, industry trends and generate higher value for AMCU end-nodes offering

• Define and lead the end-node software product and tools strategy for NXP’s Automotive Microcontroller portfolio, including S32K1, MagniV and Remote End-Nodes.

• Own software lifecycle management from concept and investment planning through development, launch, maintenance, ecosystem enablement and long-term support.

• Provide clear product direction and business guidance to a large global software R&D organization, aligning internal development, third-party partnerships, tools and ecosystem priorities with customer and market needs.

APS  Business Line Introduction:   

NXP’s Automotive Processing and Systems business-line is driving the future of mobility with advanced hardware, software and system solutions that enable automakers to create smarter, safer and more sustainable vehicles. Within Automotive Microcontrollers, the End-Nodes Segment focuses on real-time control and functional safety for essential vehicle functions, helping customers simplify complexity and scale the shift toward safe software-defined vehicle architectures.

Job Responsibility:  

• Capture and understand software and tooling needs of the end-node customers (Tier1 and OEMs)

• Translate OEM, Tier-1, ecosystem and market requirements into clear software product requirements, priorities and release plans.

• Build and maintain the software product strategy, roadmap and business priorities for NXP end-node products across internal software, third-party software, ecosystem enablement and development tools.

• Own the end-node software program backlog and feature prioritization across ARTs, and take part in PI planning to align roadmap, release timing and delivery scope with SW APMs and Agile teams.

• Drive software lifecycle management for S32K1, MagniV and next-generation remote end-node products, including creation, launch, maintenance, updates, quality expectations, long-term support and end-of-life planning.

• Partner closely with software R&D to guide priorities, investment trade-offs, release timing and delivery scope, ensuring alignment with business value, customer commitments and technical feasibility.

• Define and evolve the tools strategy for end-node software development, evaluation and customer adoption, working with applications, systems, enablement and R&D teams.

• Develop the software ecosystem strategy for end-node products, including third-party collaboration models, partner roadmaps, licensing considerations and make-versus-partner recommendations.

• Represent the software product portfolio in customer engagements and strategic account reviews, capturing feedback and converting it into actionable product direction. Drive early software influence during design-in activities to shape customer requirements and solution architectures.

• Assess competitive software offerings, ecosystem capabilities and adjacent-market opportunities, including robotics, and develop differentiation plans for NXP.

• Support software-related business planning, including value proposition, go-to-market approach, monetization options.

• Create clear product communication for internal stakeholders, sales, field teams and customers, including roadmap narratives, positioning, requirements summaries and executive updates.

• Enable and coach field teams to communicate the software value proposition, manage customer expectations against the software roadmap, and identify which software requirements are critical to winning business versus those that are desirable but non-essential.

 Job Qualification: 

• Typically 10+ years of experience in embedded software, automotive software, semiconductor product management, software product management or a closely related field.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in electrical engineering, computer science, software engineering, embedded systems, automotive engineering or a related field; equivalent practical experience is also valued.

• Strong understanding of automotive embedded software development, software lifecycle management, development tools and customer enablement for microcontroller-based products.

• Knowledge of automotive MCU applications such as body electronics, end-node control, sensor/actuator interfaces, zonal architectures or software-defined vehicle platforms is beneficial.

• Familiarity with S32K, MagniV, in-vehicle networking, remote end-node concepts, Autosar and/or OPEN Alliance technologies is an advantage.

• Experience working with global R&D organizations and the ability to provide structured product guidance, prioritization and business context to large engineering teams.

• Demonstrated ability to build product roadmaps, business cases and executive-level recommendations based on customer needs, market insight and technical constraints.

• Experience with software partner management, licensing models, ecosystem development or third-party software collaboration is highly desirable.

• Commercial awareness of software value creation, monetization, customer support models, maintenance obligations and product portfolio investment trade-offs.

• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to engage technical experts, business leaders, sales teams, partners and customers.

• Strategic, structured and pragmatic working style, with the ability to manage ambiguity and bring clarity to complex software, ecosystem and business decisions.

• Fluent English communication skills; German or other languages are welcome but not required.

• Willingness to travel occasionally to engage with customers, partners and global NXP teams.

You do not need to meet every listed qualification to apply. If you are excited about this role and believe your experience can contribute to NXP’s success, we encourage you to apply.

Commitment At NXP.  

We recognize we can be a powerful change agent as we continue to deliver innovative solutions that advance a more sustainable future. We remain steadfast in our commitment to sustainability and making measurable year-on-year progress. Also, we aim to create an inclusive work environment, and we will not tolerate racism, discrimination or harassment of any kind. We have programs in place focused on diversity, inclusion and equality. 

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