What's the news?
Jaguar Land Rover is looking for software engineers to help develop what it calls 'ACES' cars - Autonomous, Connected, Electrified and Shared. To help find and encourage the next generation of scientists, Jaguar is kicking off a series of undergraduate and postgraduate palcements in the UK, US, China, and in Ireland, where the company is looking to recruit for its new software engineering lab in Shannon.
Once again, Jaguar will be using a coding app, fronted by Noodles, a member (if that's quite the right word) of cartoon super-group Gorillaz. The idea of the app is to give prospective software engineers a series of challenges to work through to see if they've got the coding right stuff. From 220,000 app downloads, some 32 people have completed the challenges to a level where Jaguar wants to talk to them about future employment, and one new engineer has already been hired.
The engineers being recruited in this latest drive will be needed to work on electrical architecture, cyber security and functional safety, to achieve class-leading infotainment, cloud connected features and the integration of consumer electronics technologies. Jaguar has just launched its first all-electric production car, the I-Pace, which will go on sale in July.
The sports car maker is also leveraging its Formula-E electric racing team to help it reach the next-generation of engineers and developers. James Barclay, Team Director, Panasonic Jaguar Racing, said: "A key aim of Panasonic Jaguar Racing's mission - Race to Innovate - is to inspire and engage with a new generation of talented young engineers who are interested in developing the cars of the future. Technological learnings from our on-track performance play a key role in Jaguar Land Rover's road car development and we are right behind this new global initiative."
Alex Heslop, Jaguar Land Rover Director, Electrical, Electronics and Software Engineering, said: "The all new Jaguar I-Pace, Jaguar's first all-electric SUV, was launched earlier this month and Jaguar Land Rover has committed that from 2020 all new product lines will be available with an electrified option.
"Attracting talented young engineers is crucial to our development and we welcome all applicants. The undergraduate and postgraduate placements are vital to the company and provide young engineers with real-world experience in the midst of a fast-paced changing industry."