Interview: Alwin Bakkenes, head of software engineering, Volvo Cars

Alwin Bakkenes, head of software engineering at Volvo Cars , reckons that leading a team to develop the technology stack powering the next generation of mobility at the automotive giant is one of the best jobs you can imagine. “I’m not saying it’s always easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding and great fun,” he says. “People are passionate about our products, and you get instant feedback on the quality of what you do from consumers – whether that’s from friends, family or a community like Reddit. There’s just so much feedback, and that motivates and makes us better.” Bakkenes reports to Volvo CTO Anders Bell and is a member of the extended executive management team that oversees operational governance. “I’m part of that group because software, of course, has a massive transformational impact on the company,” he says. On a day-to-day basis, Bakkenes’ team works closely with technology and content partners to deliver customer experiences, with innovations in safe automation, core computing