Samsung recruiting auto expertise researchers

Samsung Electronics, the country’s biggest company, has taken a further step into the automotive industry as one of its research centers recruits specialists on self-driving technology.

The company posted a recruiting plan online Tuesday to find specialists on autonomous driving with master’s or more advanced degrees.

The move came after Samsung Electronics announced last December a new automotive division devoted to supplying parts for connected and self-driving cars.

But the new talents will work at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, the core research and development incubator for the tech behemoth, rather than the new division, according to the recruitment posting.

This indicates that the researchers will be focused on basic technology for advanced cars, given that the center does mid- to long-term research.

Samsung is looking for people with expertise in advanced driver assistance systems, deep learning, 3-D map construction and machine learning, a set of essential technologies necessary for autonomous driving.

The hiring plan offered a glimpse into Samsung’s strategy for the automotive business.

Samsung has not disclosed details about the size or composition of its car parts team.

The company announced last year that the new automotive electronics business division will be led by Park Jong-hwan, vice president of the chip card and mode control unit team at the company’s consumer electronics division.

The 54-year-old Park is a non-engineer. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Yonsei University in Seoul.

The decision to supply parts for connected and self-driving cars signals that the company sees the business as an important source of revenue, as other businesses such as smartphones and consumer electronics face weaker sales growth.

A spokesperson for the company has reiterated that the automotive business will be confined to vehicle parts.

In the beginning phase, the focus will be placed on information and entertainment solutions and eventually expand to other areas, pulling resources from different Samsung affiliates, according to Samsung Electronics in a statement.

Samsung is the latest tech player venturing into the automotive business. Google and Apple earlier launched different projects to develop driverless cars (Google) and electric cars (Apple).

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]