By David Richardson, Senior Vice President of Software and Services Engineering
Today’s vehicles are powered by advanced software systems that control everything from digital interfaces to ride quality and safety features. This transition to “software-defined” vehicles is set to reshape the transportation industry—potentially more profoundly than electrification itself.
At General Motors, with 116 years of car-building experience, software is now unlocking new ways to enhance our vehicles, making them smarter and more capable. We’re developing a unified, modular, and updatable software platform that powers everything from the Chevrolet Equinox to the GMC Sierra EV. This integration of software with hardware enables groundbreaking innovations, such as hands-free driving and electric vehicles that can even power your home. The complex fusion of hardware and software presents a world-changing challenge, attracting top tech talent to the automotive industry. It’s what drew me to GM from Apple and led us to establish a new tech center in Silicon Valley in 2024.
In consumer and enterprise technology, engineering is often associated with devices, electronics, and services—rarely with cars. But that’s changing now, as vehicles begin to share the same technological stacks used across industries.
Vehicles, however, bring unique complexities and demands compared to other consumer devices. Fortunately, the best software engineers are drawn to solving such complex problems.
Electrification: Extending Beyond the Vehicle
As we push forward with electric vehicle (EV) production, software is playing a critical role in shaping the customer experience. Our technology goes beyond the vehicles themselves, influencing the charging infrastructure and energy management systems. Additionally, fuel cell technology offers a path to electrify various industries and provide power storage solutions.
Autonomy and Automation: Getting Closer
The era of autonomous vehicles is rapidly approaching. Today’s advanced driver-assistance systems, like our Super Cruise hands-free driving technology, lead the charge. Autonomy requires sophisticated electrical architectures and software platforms. Super Cruise integrates connectivity, radar, cameras, precision maps, and GPS to elevate the driving experience. Our over-the-air updates allow us to deliver new features and improvements directly to customers’ vehicles.
Connectivity: The Core of the Modern Vehicle
Modern vehicles feature software interfaces that control everything from safety systems to entertainment features. We’re developing an infotainment system so seamless that your vehicle becomes an extension of your digital life—customized maps, climate control, audio playlists, and advanced safety features all integrated with driver-assist technologies like Super Cruise.
An intricate network of chips, devices, and hardware operates behind the scenes from the moment you approach your vehicle to when you park it and step away.
A Startup Spirit in a Legacy Automaker
The auto industry still has many exciting and unsolved challenges. In the next decade, every automaker that survives will need incredible software to stay competitive. GM is tackling this future with the agility of a startup, combined with the expertise of a legacy automaker.
We are actively hiring software engineers in locations like Mountain View and Detroit, with opportunities in systems engineering, machine learning/AI, mobile, and web development.
