Amid technological disruptions, IT professionals eye soft landing in auto sector

Currently, the job profiles at auto majors that are in demand among techies are software developer, data scientist, cybersecurity engineer, embedded systems engineer, and product manager.

Techies in India are finding a soft spot to continue their careers amid turbulent times in the technology industry: the automobile sector. Various staffing and recruitment firms have noticed a significant jump in demand for technology experts coming from auto companies looking for niche talent.

HR experts say the tectonic shift is due to the technological disruption within the auto industry as cars become ‘gadgets on wheels’. Potential recruits at Mercedes-Benz India must be skilled in digital tools, in-car technology, and advanced driver-assistance systems, head of HR, Colleen D’Souza, told Moneycontrol in an interview.

As connected, electric, and autonomous technologies have become more prevalent, auto companies are increasingly embracing digitalisation in their product design and engineering processes, job portal foundit has observed. Currently, there are close to 8,000 jobs in the auto industry for tech talent.

Cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai have witnessed annual growth rates of tech jobs in the auto sector at 13 percent and 11 percent, respectively, while Mumbai and Delhi/NCR have experienced yearly growth rates of 10 percent, and 8 percent, respectively.

“Projections indicate an anticipated 17 percent growth by the year’s end, underscoring the industry's resilience and potential for continued expansion,” said Sekhar Garisa, CEO, foundit.

Skills in demand

Experts say there is a fundamental shift in the sector, which is moving more towards an electrical product—electric vehicles—from a largely mechanical one—internal combustion engine vehicles.

According to Vidur Gupta, Director of Spectrum Talent Management, most new products are electrical, so there is a motor and battery pack. These vehicles are digital, with drive-by-wire technology, autonomous driving technology, digital instrument clusters, onboard computing and state-of-the-art infotainment systems.

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“They are also connected wirelessly through mobile and satellite networks. These skills are traditionally not present in the automotive sector and are dependent on technology talent,” he said.

Currently, the job profiles at auto majors that are in demand among techies are software developer, data scientist, cybersecurity engineer, embedded systems engineer, and product manager.

The profiles are segregated based on the number of interviews conducted on IaaS (interview-as-a-software) platform InCruiter.

On the electric vehicle front, Moneycontrol had earlier reported that the skills in focus include multidisciplinary technology design, Analytical, App Development, Data Analysis, etc.

Hikes

Talent with expertise in niche fields has the upper hand in receiving a substantial jump in salary despite the volatile job market and economic slowdown.

For instance, Spectrum Talent Management observed hikes between 40-60 percent to talent with prior or similar experience as required by the role.

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That share is expected to increase as 20-25 percent of all roles the recruitment firm receives from automotive companies are technology roles.

Foundit, meanwhile, said there has been a 23 percent increase in the average salary raise for IT positions within the automotive industry, in the last two years.