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title: Senior Product Architect & Product Owner
description: Gokulnath Avanashilingam is a Senior Product Architect and Product Owner specializing in Android Automotive, embedded Linux, middleware platforms, CI/CD, and automotive infotainment delivery.
---

<main class="profile-site">
  <section id="home" class="hero-section">
    <div class="hero-copy">
      <div class="hero-grid-lines" aria-hidden="true"></div>
      <p class="eyebrow">Automotive software product leadership</p>
      <h1>Gokulnath Avanashilingam</h1>
      <p class="hero-role">Senior Product Architect / Product Owner</p>
      <p class="hero-summary">
        I lead automotive infotainment and middleware platforms from product strategy and system architecture through integration, release readiness, and production delivery across global OEM, Tier-1, and supplier ecosystems.
      </p>
      <div class="hero-metrics" aria-label="Profile metrics">
        <span><strong>18+</strong> years</span>
        <span><strong>AAOS</strong> &amp; IVI</span>
        <span><strong>SAFe 6</strong> POPM</span>
      </div>
      <div class="hero-actions">
        <a class="btn btn-primary" href="#experience">View Experience</a>
        <a class="btn btn-default" href="mailto:a.gokulnath@yahoo.com">Contact Me</a>
      </div>
    </div>
    <aside class="hero-panel" aria-label="Profile highlights">
      <div class="photo-frame">
        <img class="profile-photo" alt="Gokulnath Avanashilingam" src="/images/myPic.png">
      </div>
      <dl class="quick-facts">
        <div>
          <dt>Focus</dt>
          <dd>AAOS, Embedded Linux, middleware, IVI platforms</dd>
        </div>
        <div>
          <dt>Current</dt>
          <dd>Product Owner / Senior Product Architect at CARIAD SE</dd>
        </div>
        <div>
          <dt>Location</dt>
          <dd>Ingolstadt, Germany</dd>
        </div>
      </dl>
    </aside>
  </section>

  <section class="signal-strip" aria-label="Core strengths">
    <span>Product strategy</span>
    <span>Middleware architecture</span>
    <span>AAOS platform delivery</span>
    <span>Supplier alignment</span>
    <span>Release governance</span>
  </section>

  <section class="tech-stack-strip" aria-label="Technology stack">
    <div class="stack-heading">
      <span class="section-icon section-icon-stack" aria-hidden="true"></span>
      <p class="eyebrow">Technology Stack</p>
    </div>
    <div class="stack-track">
      <span><strong>Android Automotive</strong><small>AOSP / AAOS</small></span>
      <span><strong>Embedded Linux</strong><small>Kernel, BSP, U-Boot</small></span>
      <span><strong>Yocto</strong><small>Buildroot / OpenWrt</small></span>
      <span><strong>Qualcomm</strong><small>SA6155 / SA8155</small></span>
      <span><strong>Jenkins</strong><small>CI/CD pipelines</small></span>
      <span><strong>Azure DevOps</strong><small>Cloud integration</small></span>
      <span><strong>Renesas R-Car</strong><small>Gen3 platform bring-up</small></span>
      <span><strong>OSS Compliance</strong><small>SPDX / FOSSology</small></span>
    </div>
  </section>

  <section id="about" class="section-band">
    <div class="section-heading">
      <span class="section-icon section-icon-profile" aria-hidden="true"></span>
      <p class="eyebrow">Profile</p>
      <h2>Product ownership grounded in deep embedded platform engineering.</h2>
    </div>
    <div class="section-content">
      <p>
        Senior automotive software professional with 18+ years of experience across Embedded Linux, Android Automotive OS, IVI platform development, middleware services, and software integration for global OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers.
      </p>
      <p>
        I translate complex product goals into roadmaps, backlog priorities, middleware interfaces, technical acceptance criteria, validation governance, and release-ready execution across distributed teams, suppliers, and engineering stakeholders.
      </p>
    </div>
  </section>

  <section class="delivery-map" aria-label="Delivery workflow">
    <article>
      <span>01</span>
      <h3>Strategize</h3>
      <p>Shape platform roadmaps, product backlogs, PI/PIPE plans, dependencies, risks, and stakeholder alignment.</p>
    </article>
    <article>
      <span>02</span>
      <h3>Architect</h3>
      <p>Define middleware interfaces, system-function requirements, SoC constraints, and integration-ready platform services.</p>
    </article>
    <article>
      <span>03</span>
      <h3>Deliver</h3>
      <p>Drive validation governance, KPI tracking, defect resolution, release reviews, and software maturity toward production quality.</p>
    </article>
  </section>

  <section id="expertise" class="expertise-grid" aria-label="Expertise areas">
    <article>
      <span class="stat">18+</span>
      <h3>Years in software</h3>
      <p>Automotive infotainment, IVI, embedded platforms, WLAN products, Linux OS, RTOS, Android Automotive, and middleware programs.</p>
    </article>
    <article>
      <span class="stat">10</span>
      <h3>Engineers led</h3>
      <p>Cross-functional delivery leadership across platform integration, CI/CD ecosystems, release execution, and customer milestones.</p>
    </article>
    <article>
      <span class="stat">3+</span>
      <h3>SoC ecosystems</h3>
      <p>Qualcomm Snapdragon, Renesas R-Car, ARM, MIPS, x86, and wireless SoC platforms from bring-up to stable delivery.</p>
    </article>
  </section>

  <section id="experience" class="section-band">
    <div class="section-heading">
      <span class="section-icon section-icon-timeline" aria-hidden="true"></span>
      <p class="eyebrow">Experience</p>
      <h2>Automotive software programs, from product roadmap to release readiness.</h2>
    </div>
    <div class="timeline">
      <article class="timeline-item">
        <p class="timeline-date">Aug 2023 - Present</p>
        <h3>Product Owner / Senior Product Architect</h3>
        <p class="company">CARIAD SE, Ingolstadt</p>
        <ul>
          <li>Own product strategy, roadmap, backlog prioritization, and end-to-end delivery for middleware and system-function capabilities across ICC, HCP3, and Gen2 infotainment platforms.</li>
          <li>Lead platform features including Factory Reset (R2F), HDCP Content Protection, Language Management, Persistence, Tracing, Engineering Services, Engineering Menu, and AutoRunner Framework.</li>
          <li>Drive PI/PIPE planning, release management, KPI tracking, release reviews, validation governance, defect management, and risk assessments in Agile and SAFe environments.</li>
          <li>Coordinate global teams and suppliers including Qualcomm, Harman, Aptiv, e.solutions, validation organizations, system integration teams, and OEM stakeholders.</li>
          <li>Resolve architecture and platform issues related to middleware integration, HDCP authentication, TrustZone/TEE integration, localization, remote vehicle capabilities, and SDV-ready services.</li>
        </ul>
      </article>

      <article class="timeline-item">
        <p class="timeline-date">Apr 2018 - May 2023</p>
        <h3>Delivery Lead / Architect</h3>
        <p class="company">Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solution Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore</p>
        <ul>
          <li>Led software delivery and technical execution for Android Automotive platform programs for Bosch and Denso across multiple development milestones.</li>
          <li>Managed planning, scheduling, and execution for a cross-functional team of 10 engineers delivering platform integration and CI/CD initiatives.</li>
          <li>Delivered AAOS platform integration on Qualcomm Snapdragon SA6155/SA8155 and Renesas R-Car Gen3 programs aligned with customer and production timelines.</li>
          <li>Established Azure DevOps-based cloud integration, automated Android build infrastructure, and CI/CD ecosystems for distributed engineering teams.</li>
          <li>Improved Android and Yocto development turnaround through incremental build strategies, build-time optimization, and close customer stakeholder collaboration.</li>
        </ul>
      </article>

      <article class="timeline-item">
        <p class="timeline-date">Oct 2016 - Mar 2018</p>
        <h3>Software Integration Lead</h3>
        <p class="company">Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solution Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore</p>
        <ul>
          <li>Led software integration, release engineering, Jenkins CI/CD automation, Yocto environment standardization, integration testing, and defect resolution for automotive infotainment platforms.</li>
          <li>Built and maintained cross-compilation toolchains for ARM 32/64-bit and x86 architectures using crosstool-NG across multiple hardware platforms.</li>
          <li>Administered source code management and change control using GitHub, GitLab, ClearCase, JIRA, IBM Rational tools, and Artifactory in globally distributed teams.</li>
          <li>Performed OSS compliance analysis and license validation using Black Duck, FOSSology, and SPDX, and supported Xen Hypervisor-based platform validation.</li>
        </ul>
      </article>

      <article class="timeline-item">
        <p class="timeline-date">Aug 2015 - Sep 2016</p>
        <h3>Software Integration Engineer</h3>
        <p class="company">Robert Bosch Car Multimedia GmbH, Hildesheim</p>
        <ul>
          <li>Supported automotive infotainment platform development through Jenkins automation, software integration tooling, build workflows, test automation, and release readiness improvements.</li>
          <li>Managed software artifacts using JFrog Artifactory and maintained in-house crosstool-NG toolchains for Yocto-based Embedded Linux platforms.</li>
          <li>Performed OSS source generation, scanning, and compliance activities while collaborating with global engineering teams in Germany and India.</li>
        </ul>
      </article>

      <article class="timeline-item">
        <p class="timeline-date">Sep 2011 - Jul 2015</p>
        <h3>Senior Software Engineer</h3>
        <p class="company">Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solution Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore</p>
        <ul>
          <li>Designed, customized, and maintained Linux Kernel, U-Boot bootloader, device drivers, BSPs, and Embedded Linux distributions using OpenEmbedded and Yocto.</li>
          <li>Developed platform software for embedded automotive navigation systems based on Embedded Linux and RTOS, supporting bring-up, integration, and customer-specific requirements.</li>
          <li>Executed Linux Test Project validation, kernel stability testing, repository maintenance, code reviews, release readiness, and OSS license compliance activities.</li>
        </ul>
      </article>

      <article class="timeline-item">
        <p class="timeline-date">Aug 2008 - Sep 2011</p>
        <h3>Software Engineer</h3>
        <p class="company">Brovis Wireless Networks Pvt Ltd, Chennai</p>
        <ul>
          <li>Developed Embedded Linux software for enterprise indoor and outdoor IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi access points on ARM, MIPS, x86, and Atheros-based wireless SoCs.</li>
          <li>Customized Linux BSPs, U-Boot, device drivers, OpenWrt, Buildroot, Yocto distributions, factory reset mechanisms, peripherals, and Wi-Fi management applications.</li>
          <li>Performed board bring-up, GDB-based kernel debugging, boot-time optimization, WDS and Multi-Radio MIMO development, and release collaboration with hardware and validation teams.</li>
        </ul>
      </article>
    </div>
  </section>

  <section id="skills" class="skills-section">
    <div class="section-heading">
      <span class="section-icon section-icon-capabilities" aria-hidden="true"></span>
      <p class="eyebrow">Capabilities</p>
      <h2>Where I create the most leverage.</h2>
    </div>
    <div class="skills-columns">
      <div>
        <h3>Product & Delivery</h3>
        <ul class="tag-list">
          <li>Product Strategy</li>
          <li>Roadmap Execution</li>
          <li>Backlog Management</li>
          <li>PI / PIPE Planning</li>
          <li>SAFe Product Ownership</li>
          <li>Release Management</li>
          <li>Stakeholder Alignment</li>
          <li>Supplier Coordination</li>
        </ul>
      </div>
      <div>
        <h3>Platform Engineering</h3>
        <ul class="tag-list">
          <li>Android Automotive OS</li>
          <li>AOSP / AAOS Integration</li>
          <li>Embedded Linux</li>
          <li>Linux Kernel</li>
          <li>U-Boot / BSP</li>
          <li>Yocto / Buildroot / OpenWrt</li>
          <li>Qualcomm Snapdragon</li>
          <li>Renesas R-Car</li>
        </ul>
      </div>
      <div>
        <h3>Tooling & Quality</h3>
        <ul class="tag-list">
          <li>Jenkins CI/CD</li>
          <li>Azure DevOps</li>
          <li>Git / Artifactory</li>
          <li>C / Python</li>
          <li>LTP / GDB</li>
          <li>Black Duck / FOSSology</li>
          <li>SPDX</li>
          <li>Xen Hypervisor</li>
        </ul>
      </div>
    </div>
  </section>

  <section id="credentials" class="section-band compact-band">
    <div class="credential">
      <p class="eyebrow">Certification</p>
      <h2>Certified SAFe&reg; 6 Product Owner/Product Manager</h2>
      <p>Scaled Agile Inc, February 2024 - February 2025</p>
    </div>
    <div class="credential">
      <p class="eyebrow">Education</p>
      <h2>Bachelor of Engineering, Electronics and Communication</h2>
      <p>Anna University, Chennai. Completed with first class with distinction in June 2008.</p>
    </div>
    <div class="credential">
      <p class="eyebrow">Languages &amp; Interests</p>
      <h2>English, German, Tamil</h2>
      <p>International collaboration, open source software technologies, and prompt engineering.</p>
    </div>
  </section>

  <section id="contact" class="contact-cta">
    <p class="eyebrow"><span class="section-icon section-icon-contact" aria-hidden="true"></span>Contact</p>
    <h2>Let’s connect on automotive software platforms, delivery, and product architecture.</h2>
    <div class="contact-links">
      <a href="mailto:a.gokulnath@yahoo.com">a.gokulnath@yahoo.com</a>
      <a href="tel:+4915510338324">+49 155 10338324</a>
      <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gokulnatha">LinkedIn</a>
    </div>
  </section>
</main>