Defect Manager – Automotive Software Programs
Join Intellias and take ownership of defect governance within a complex automotive software program supporting a premium global automotive OEM. This role is critical in ensuring high-quality software releases, transparent defect handling, and efficient cross-team coordination across distributed engineering organizations.
About the Project
You will be part of a large-scale in-vehicle software platform development program focused on next-generation automotive technologies and connected vehicle solutions. The scope includes validation and integration of key in-car functions such as:
- User experience and infotainment features
- Intelligent assistants
- Core vehicle services
- Embedded software integration
The program operates across multiple distributed teams and suppliers, following Agile delivery aligned with OEM milestones and strict quality gates. Due to the complexity of the platform and integration dependencies, structured defect management plays a central role in delivery success.
Your Responsibilities
- Establish and maintain a centralized defect management process across the program
- Ensure transparent defect tracking, prioritization, ownership, and resolution
- Coordinate defect triage sessions with development, QA, integration, and release teams
- Monitor and report defect KPIs, trends, and quality metrics
- Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and continuous improvement initiatives
- Ensure compliance with release criteria and project quality gates
- Act as the main point of contact for defect governance toward stakeholders
- Align defect handling activities with OEM processes and milestone expectations
- Support risk identification and mitigation related to defect backlog and release readiness
- Facilitate cross-team communication, escalation management, and issue resolution
Requirements
- Proven experience in Defect Management, QA leadership, or software quality governance roles
- Strong understanding of SDLC and defect lifecycle management best practices
- Hands-on experience with defect tracking tools such as JIRA
- Experience working in large-scale, distributed, multi-team environments
- Ability to define, implement, and enforce defect management processes
- Strong analytical skills with experience tracking defect KPIs, trends, and root causes
- Experience supporting release management and quality gate activities
- Excellent communication, reporting, and stakeholder management skills
- Familiarity with Agile methodologies (Scrum, SAFe, or OEM-specific frameworks)
- Ability to prioritize defects based on severity, impact, and business value
Nice to Have
- Experience in automotive software programs (OEM or Tier-1)
- Knowledge of AOSP or embedded systems environments
- Experience in system integration and validation phases
- Understanding of ASPICE processes
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automated testing environments
- Exposure to cross-supplier coordination and governance
Why Join Intellias
This role offers a unique opportunity to drive quality and delivery excellence within a cutting-edge automotive software program. As a Defect Manager, you will directly influence product stability and customer experience by leading structured defect governance across a highly complex engineering environment.
At Intellias you will collaborate with top-tier engineering teams and global automotive leaders while working on advanced mobility platforms and next-generation in-vehicle technologies. You'll join a strong engineering culture focused on ownership, continuous improvement, and long-term professional growth.
