Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Nirav Patel

Nirav Patel

Sunnyvale

Summary

Innovative and results-driven professional in architectural and engineering management, recognized for exceptional productivity and efficiency in task execution. Brings deep expertise in program management, strategic planning, and team leadership. Highly skilled in communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, consistently delivering successful program outcomes and fostering effective cross-functional collaboration.

Overview

8
8
years of professional experience

Work History

Software Quality Assurance Engineer

Apple
Cupertino
05.2021 - Current
  • Own and lead Apple’s CarPlay certification program, ensuring alignment with evolving technical requirements, robust test processes, and partner readiness across global automotive OEMs.
  • Define and execute the CarPlay product roadmap, shaping the mid-term and long-term vision of Apple’s in-vehicle experience in partnership with engineering, design, and marketing teams.
  • Research and define the future of the automotive and smart mobility experience, identifying strategic platform capabilities that leverage Apple’s integrated hardware/software ecosystem.
  • Develop compelling, user-centered use cases to inform product strategy, and bring clarity to complex features and partner requirements.
  • Build, execute, and continuously enhance system-level validation tests for third-party products, ensuring optimal performance and reliability with iOS hardware and software.
  • Leverage data analytics to extract insights from large datasets, drive informed decisions, and identify opportunities for certification program optimization.
  • Collaborate closely with global automotive OEMs, third-party labs, and internal cross-functional teams to support seamless CarPlay integration and feature onboarding.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for certification-related inquiries, streamlining communication, and resolving technical challenges across stakeholders.
  • Deliver regular status updates and insights to senior leadership and multi-functional partners, ensuring transparency, alignment, and strategic momentum.
  • Champion end-to-end quality throughout the development lifecycle, embedding best practices, and driving excellence across all certification touchpoints.

Senior Engineer

HARMAN
Novi
02.2020 - 05.2021
  • Led program management for all North American OEMs supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto certification across 6 major automotive brands.
  • Acted as the primary liaison with Apple and Google, collaborating closely to support evolving projection standards, and improve certification workflows.
  • Managed cross-functional certification programs, including requirements gathering, scheduling, and compliance execution for CarPlay (CCR/IDD) and Android Auto (HUIG).
  • Supervised and mentored a global team of 11 certification engineers (4 local, 7 international), overseeing validation execution and process alignment.
  • Coordinated with internal teams and OEM clients to plan certification timelines, assess risks, and communicate status through executive-level reports and presentations.
  • Provided structured feedback to HMI, UX, Product, and Engineering teams to streamline certification workflows and improve partner readiness.
  • Maintained and validated infotainment test environments, ensuring accurate simulation of real-world use cases and system-level reliability.
  • Monitored and reported on emerging technologies, contributing insights to future-proof OEM roadmaps and align with smartphone projection trends.

Engineer

Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC.
Plymouth
07.2017 - 02.2020
  • Achieved 3 Apple CarPlay certifications through strategic planning, execution, and collaboration with a global, cross-functional team of 20+ engineers across 5 time zones to drive successful infotainment validation and certification programs.
  • Defined testing strategies and frameworks by aligning closely with cross-functional teams on project priorities and certification goals.
  • Created detailed reports, tracked milestones, and managed deliverables to ensure on-time CarPlay certification across multiple programs and products.
  • Updated and authored test specifications, ensuring traceability to system-level requirements and platform features.
  • Led efforts to optimize documentation, streamline processes, and reduce costs across validation workflows.
  • Performed end-to-end infotainment testing, including navigation, Bluetooth calling, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto functionality.
  • Supported out-of-state reflash events for over 10,000 vehicles, ensuring timely updates and customer satisfaction.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Computer Science

Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
12-2017

Skills

  • Program management
  • Automotive certification
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Product roadmap
  • Data analytics
  • System validation
  • Process optimization
  • Team leadership
  • Strategic planning
  • Quality assurance
  • Stakeholder Communication

Timeline

Software Quality Assurance Engineer

Apple
05.2021 - Current

Senior Engineer

HARMAN
02.2020 - 05.2021

Engineer

Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC.
07.2017 - 02.2020

Bachelor of Science - Computer Science

Wayne State University

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