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System Developer Associate Manager · Accenture

Bhargava Mandapati

Automotive Software Engineer

I build the software layer between the vehicle and the screen — AOSP platform bring-up, vehicle HALs, and the Android Automotive middleware that turns raw CAN and VSS signals into infotainment people actually touch.

VHAL · signal busLIVE
Vehicle.Speed
62km/h
Vehicle.Cabin.HVAC.Temperature
21.5°C
Vehicle.Powertrain.Range
318km
Vehicle.Body.Lights.Beam
LOW
AOSPAAOSSDV
Years in software
10+
Largest team led
15
AOSP platforms shipped
Info 3.0 → 5.0
Automotive OEM
General Motors

Core stack

  • Android / AOSP
  • Kotlin
  • Java
  • C / C++
  • Compose
  • Qt
  • Linux
  • Git

About

A decade between the vehicle and the screen

I am a Team Lead at Accenture India with over a decade of experience designing and shipping mobile and automotive software. My work centres on Android, the Android Automotive Framework, Kotlin, Java and IoT — most of it running inside production vehicles.

In my current role I lead a team of software engineers across design, development and maintenance, coordinating with cross-functional teams to clear blockers before they stall a sprint. A large part of the job is technical guidance: unblocking engineers, reviewing architecture, and keeping delivery predictable.

I have spearheaded project architecture modifications to align with evolving requirements, and used Java, Kotlin and Android to deliver high-quality software while engaging onsite teams directly. I travelled to Shanghai to support the launch of a major automotive app project — the kind of commitment that turns a hard delivery into a shipped one.

I hold a B.Tech in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering from JNTU Kakinada, where I picked up the fundamentals of embedded systems and network protocols that still underpin my automotive work. I am a certified SAFe® 5 Practitioner, which helps me keep agile practice pragmatic rather than ceremonial.

I thrive in challenges, and I care about the people side as much as the platform side. Communication and leadership are what turn a capable team into a shipping one.

  • Platform, not just apps

    AOSP bring-up, framework modification, HALs and SEPolicy on custom automotive boards.

  • Signals to screen

    Custom VHALs and Car Services that carry CAN, VSS and AUTOSAR data into the Android middleware.

  • Multi-variant delivery

    Features that hold up across infotainment variants, model years and cluster configurations.

  • Leading engineers

    Teams of up to 15 across onsite and offshore, with mentoring in AOSP and framework work.

Experience

Where the work happened

Ten years across automotive infotainment programmes — from prototype libraries that won an OEM's trust to leading the middleware teams that shipped production platforms.

  1. System Developer Associate Manager

    AccentureCurrent

    Apr 2026Present5 mos

    Leading a software engineering team at a global IT services company, owning design, development and maintenance across mobile and automotive applications.

    Show highlights
    • Lead a team of software engineers through design, development and maintenance of software applications.
    • Coordinate with cross-functional teams to proactively resolve blockers and keep project progress uninterrupted.
    • Provide technical guidance and hands-on support to team members, driving projects to successful completion.
    • Spearhead project architecture modifications to align delivery with evolving requirements.
  2. Team Lead

    People Tech Group Inc

    Nov 2022Mar 20263 yrs 5 mos

    Led Android Automotive middleware and infotainment delivery for a global OEM programme, from architecture through multi-variant rollout.

    Show highlights
    • Led a 15-member cross-functional team delivering Android Automotive middleware and infotainment features.
    • Architected and guided development of custom VHALs and services for vehicle signal integration.
    • Implemented cluster–center stack communication using TCP/IP and protobufs for real-time infotainment sync.
    • Delivered tools such as a VSS Simulation Tool and data converters to accelerate validation.
    • Managed multi-variant feature rollouts, ensuring scalability across vehicle programs.
    • Mentored engineers in AOSP bring-up and framework development, enhancing team capability.
    • Travelled to Shanghai to engage with the client team, addressing major challenges and ensuring project success.
  3. Senior Software Engineer

    People Tech Group Inc

    Aug 2021Nov 20221 yr 4 mos

    Digitised the cockpit — migrating legacy RTOS control software into Android Automotive and replacing physical controls with software UI.

    Show highlights
    • Migrated legacy RTOS C/C++ vehicle control applications into Android, enabling cockpit digitization.
    • Implemented Virtual Control features (Drive & Park, Doors, Windows, Lights) using CAN Manager, Vehicle Properties and Vendor Properties.
    • Created custom dynamic cards and widgets generated automatically based on signal types.
    • Developed OEM-specific designs with RRO themes, supporting Cadillac infotainment branding.
    • Built a Validator app and Espresso UI automation to validate middleware and UI stability.
    • Supported agile delivery through scrums, PI planning, story estimation and bug fixing.
  4. Software Engineer

    People Tech Group Inc

    Jul 2018Jul 20213 yrs 1 mo

    Brought Android up on custom automotive boards — HALs, SEPolicy and module integration for proprietary hardware.

    Show highlights
    • Contributed to Android OS bring-up on custom automotive boards, developing HALs and customizing SEPolicy for proprietary hardware.
    • Integrated HUD, Cluster, Camera and RVC modules into the infotainment system.
    • Designed module-level architectures to improve scalability and reduce integration overhead.
    • Collaborated with global teams to validate features across multiple infotainment variants.
    • Performed bug fixing, code reviews and enhancements to stabilize production systems.
    • Participated in story planning, scrums and client calls, ensuring smooth cross-team alignment.
    • Maintained effective synchronization between onsite and offshore teams.
  5. Junior Software Engineer

    People Tech Group Inc

    Apr 2016Jun 20182 yrs 3 mos

    Built the Android infotainment prototypes that won OEM confidence and seeded the larger production programmes.

    Show highlights
    • Developed an Android prototype platform showcasing next-gen in-vehicle experiences.
    • Contributed to prototype architecture for next-generation Android infotainment systems.
    • Developed infotainment apps (Home, Audio, Climate, Navigation, Trailer, Favorites, Phone, Settings) for Cadillac proof-of-concepts.
    • Built the Multi-Functional Control (MFC) library for hardware-driven navigation of Android widgets.
    • Co-developed a Skew library to enhance freeform display with dynamic widget skewing.
    • Focused on UI/UX implementation, aligning with OEM brand guidelines.
    • Supported proof-of-concept prototypes that secured OEM confidence and enabled larger-scale infotainment programs.

Selected work

Platforms, middleware and the tools around them

Programme work for a global OEM — signal plumbing, cluster communication, board bring-up and the prototypes that started it all.

All 7 projects
Software Defined Vehicle

SDV Android

Mar 2025 — Mar 2026

Extended Software Defined Vehicle capabilities into Android Automotive, bridging VSS with the Android middleware stack.

  • Android Automotive
  • VSS
  • VHAL
  • C++
  • +5
Cluster & Middleware

Clusterservice RHMI Android

Jul 2024 — Apr 2025

A system service enabling TCP/IP communication between the Center Stack and Instrument Cluster for GM vehicles.

  • Android
  • TCP/IP
  • Protobuf
  • FSA Architecture
  • +2
Cockpit Digitization

Virtual Controls

Jan 2023 — Jun 2023

Replaced physical Cadillac cockpit buttons with software controls by migrating RTOS C/C++ logic to Android Automotive.

  • Android Automotive
  • CarPropertyManager
  • CAN Manager
  • RRO
  • +3
AOSP Bring-up

Project Guava

Nov 2019 — Feb 2021

End-to-end AOSP customization to bring Android OS up on a custom automotive CSM board.

  • AOSP
  • HAL
  • SEPolicy
  • Android Framework
  • +2
Prototype & Libraries

GM INFO 3.5C Prototype — Cadillac

Apr 2016 — Jun 2018

The Android infotainment prototype that secured GM's trust and paved the way for Info 3.x → 4.0.

  • Android
  • Java
  • Custom Views
  • MFC Library
  • +2

Toolkit

What I work with

Grouped by the layer they belong to rather than dumped in a single list — the layer is usually the point.

Languages

Day-to-day implementation languages across app, framework and native layers.

  • Kotlin
  • Java
  • C / C++
  • XML

Android Platform

The AOSP surface I work below the app layer.

  • AOSP
  • Android Automotive (AAOS)
  • Android Framework
  • HAL / VHAL
  • SEPolicy
  • System Services
  • Car Service
  • RRO (Runtime Resource Overlay)
  • Board Bring-up

Automotive & Signals

Standards and transports that move data between ECUs and the head unit.

  • VSS (Vehicle Signal Specification)
  • AUTOSAR / ARXML
  • SOME/IP
  • Franca IDL
  • CAN
  • Eclipse Kuksa
  • Protobuf
  • TCP/IP
  • RTOS Migration

App & UI

What the driver actually sees and touches.

  • Jetpack
  • Jetpack Compose
  • MVVM
  • Custom Views
  • Espresso
  • UI Automation

Ways of Working

How the work gets planned, reviewed and shipped.

  • SAFe® 5
  • Agile / Scrum
  • PI Planning
  • Code Review
  • Clean Code
  • Technical Mentoring
  • Cross-functional Leadership

Credentials

Education, certifications & recognition

Education

  • Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.)

    Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

    Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada

    Aug 2010Apr 2014

Certifications

  • Certified SAFe® 5 Practitioner

    Scaled Agile, Inc.

  • Autosar Architecture (Learn from Scratch with Demo)

    Udemy

  • The Complete Guide to Becoming a Software Architect

    Udemy

Awards

  • Service Anniversary Award
  • Unmatched Dedication Award
  • Outside the Box Thinker

Writing

Notes from the platform layer

Deep dives on AOSP, vehicle HALs and the parts of Android Automotive that are not in the docs.

All posts

Let’s talk automotive Android

Whether it is AAOS platform work, VHAL design, an SDV migration or just a good argument about where the middleware boundary belongs — I am easy to reach on any of these.