Jobs in the car industry: development and operation of linked software systems
Dr. Rahima Yakoob heads a team at Porsche in the area of car IT that develops and operates networked vehicle functions in the cloud and app.
(Image: Porsche)
- Clemens Gleich
The automotive industry and its suppliers are in the midst of a disruptive change. The switch from combustion engines to electric motors alone will fundamentally change one of the key industries, especially in the world of work. Numerous jobs will be lost, while new ones will be created and many will change. In a thematic focus, we want to shed light on jobs in the automotive industry and its suppliers that did not exist in this form a few years ago, but will become increasingly important over the next ten years. Companies will be looking for suitably trained employees even more than they are at present. Their chances on the job market are likely to be excellent.
In relation to its size, Porsche develops quite a large proportion of its software itself. In-house software enables the Stuttgart-based company to react quickly to customer requests and to keep both expertise and code in-house. The "Car IT" division at Porsche is therefore a good example of the relevance that software has achieved in value creation in the automotive industry - also and especially in the higher-priced sector. Dr. Rahima Yakoob leads a team of 15 coders who not only develop the "My Porsche" app and the associated functions in the cloud at Porsche, but also operate them. This is because development and operation are often physically or structurally separated.
In one simple sentence, as if you were telling grandma: What is the core of the job?
My team and I develop software at Porsche. We want to offer a vehicle experience that is completely tailored to the customer, from the smartphone screen to behind the wheel.
What are the typical tasks involved?
Our main task is programming. We write code. We are coders. We work according to the DevSecOps principle, which combines development, security and operations into one team responsibility. Security is particularly important in the automotive industry, which is why we integrate it heavily from the outset. DevSecOps has the additional advantages over separate responsibilities for security of reducing costs and shortening development cycles. In principle, it is similar to integrated error handling in agile software development: it is easier, faster and more efficient to optimize for security and freedom from errors right from the start than to spend a lot of time searching for and then correcting errors afterwards.
Our work covers three main areas: the backend, the My Porsche app and the associated cloud services that we develop and operate. You build it, you run it. So in addition to the typical tasks of software development, we also have the task of ensuring that our software and our cloud services run smoothly.
What makes the job special?
We are an in-house software development team. Of course, Porsche also works with external partners, but our own code remains in-house, so we can reuse the know-how. In addition, in-house development enables us to react much faster to market requirements. I've already touched on the special features of DevOps and DevSecOps.
Like the vast majority of tech companies, we also work according to agile methods. This means that we break the work down into smaller iterations and deliver complete results after two-week sprints. These regular releases ensure that our work can constantly adapt to changing requirements. At the same time, they enable us to assess our performance transparently with the help of key figures and our experience. A large part of our work is now also automated. This applies to the DevOps pipeline, for example. There is testing, where bugs are automatically searched for in the software code so that we can eliminate them immediately. The way we work has changed a lot compared to the past, when projects were completely planned using the waterfall model. There was a freeze and then an attempt was made to work through the entire plan. Today, however, the software sector is developing far too quickly for this approach. The big plan would be outdated by the time it was completed.
(Image: Porsche)
What does the position in the Group mean?
We are currently experiencing a fundamental transformation in the automotive industry. Customers today have similar expectations of a vehicle as they do of a smartphone. In-house software development is therefore becoming more important. The speed of work is very high, but so is the complexity. We are accelerating software development. On the one hand through feedback from reviews, and on the other by anticipating features - i.e. things that customers don't even know are possible yet and that they might want.
How did you get into this job?
I had previously been a software developer in Stuttgart for another car manufacturer. After more than ten years of experience, I felt the time was right to lead a team. So I applied for a job at Porsche and it worked out.
What training do people who are interested in the job need?
Of course, you have to have a certain amount of training in technology, for example through computer science courses. For example, I did a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a Master's degree in IT Software Technology. I later completed my MBA and doctorate in economics - with a thesis on IT-based logistics and supply chain management in the automotive industry. However, a lot of training leads to the necessary prior knowledge. And team leadership requires some experience in the job and a great deal of enjoyment in working with people.
What interests should you have to be motivated to do the job?
Expertise and an affinity for technology, data and the cloud are important for our specific work. Cloud, for example, has far fewer limits than operating systems and hardware. Services can be transferred to completely different applications quite quickly. So if someone has previously worked in cloud data analysis, this can be a very good fit. You also need a "digital mindset", a positive attitude towards technology. Plus openness and team spirit.
Complete the sentence for people interested in this job: "To find a place here, you need ..."
... A passion for new technologies and enthusiasm for the Porsche brand and its products.
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