Algorithm & Functional Development Manager

Position Summary

The Algorithm & Functional Development Manager leads a team responsible for designing, implementing, and validating control algorithms and software functions for the company’s products and systems. This role combines technical leadership, project management, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver robust, production-ready algorithms that meet performance, safety, quality, and cost targets.

Job Responsibilities

• Technical leadership and architecture

• Own the overall strategy and roadmap for algorithm and functional development within the product line(s).
• Define system and software functional requirements in collaboration with systems, hardware, and product engineering.
• Led the design of control algorithms, signal processing, diagnostics, and functional logic for embedded or application-level software.
• Establish standards for modeling (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink), coding, documentation, and configuration management.
• Review and approve key technical design decisions, ensuring alignment with safety, regulatory, and cybersecurity requirements as applicable.

• Development lifecycle management

• Plan, organize, and manage the full development lifecycle for algorithms and functions, from concept through production release.
• Translate business and customer requirements into detailed technical specifications and use cases.
• Oversee implementation, integration, and unit/component testing, including model-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, and hardware-in-the-loop validation where applicable.
• Ensure effective defect tracking, root cause analysis, and resolution for functional issues discovered in development, test, or field use.
• Drive continuous improvement of development processes, toolchains, and automation (e.g., CI/CD, test automation, static analysis).

• Cross-functional collaboration

• Partner with product management and systems engineering to prioritize features, clarify requirements, and balance scope, quality, and timelines.
• Collaborate with hardware, mechanical, and test engineering to ensure algorithms and functions are properly integrated at the system level.
• Support customer programs by explaining algorithm behavior, performance trade-offs, and proposed solutions to issues.
• Work closely with quality, safety, and validation teams to define acceptance criteria and ensure compliance with applicable standards (e.g., ASPICE, ISO 26262, DO-178, etc., if relevant to your industry).

• People leadership and team development

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of algorithm engineers and functional developers.
• Assign projects, manage workload and priorities, and set clear performance and development goals.
• Provide coaching, technical mentoring, and career development for team members, including training on tools, methods, and standards.
• Recruit, onboard, and retain talent necessary to meet current and future business needs.

• Project and portfolio management

• Define project plans, estimates, resource allocations, and schedules for algorithm/functional development activities.
• Track progress against milestones, manage risks and dependencies, and communicate status to stakeholders.
• Support make-vs-buy decisions and evaluate external solutions, tools, or libraries where appropriate.
• Manage development budgets within area of responsibility, balancing innovation, speed, and cost.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or related field.
• Typically, 7+ years of experience in algorithm development, control systems, signal processing, or related software/functional development, including 2+ years in a technical leadership or people management role.
• Demonstrated experience developing and deploying algorithms in embedded or real-time systems (e.g., automotive, industrial, robotics, motion control, or similar domain).
• Strong proficiency with relevant tools and languages (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, Python, model-based development, or equivalents used in your organization).
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize work, and deliver results within scope, timeline, and budget constraints.

Prior to Experience

• Master’s degree in relevant engineering or science discipline.
• Experience in the automotive or manufacturing industry with exposure to product development cycles (e.g., APQP, ASPICE).
• Knowledge of functional safety or regulatory standards relevant to your products (e.g., ISO 26262, IEC 61508).
• Background in control theory, estimation, optimization, or machine learning applied to real-world systems.
• Experience working in Agile or hybrid project management environments.