Automotive Custom Digital Instrument Cluster Developer

Embedded Qt/Linux Developer — Custom Digital Instrument Cluster for One-Off Supercar (CAN Bus) Job Description We are developing the electronics package for a one-off hypercar build (Audi R8-based platform). We need a freelance developer to design and build a secondary digital instrument cluster that runs in parallel to the vehicle's original cluster (which cannot be removed or reverse-engineered due to vehicle safety signal dependencies). NDA is required before any technical specs, CAD/3D files, or vehicle documentation are shared. What you'll build A custom instrument cluster UI/UX (driver-side, possibly extending to a passenger-side display) developed in Qt (QML/Widgets) or another Linux-based embedded display framework. Real-time gauges and telemetry: speed, RPM, oil pressure/temperature, and other standard performance data, replacing the donor car's branding with our own custom graphics and logo. A configurable startup/welcome animation, with complexity scaling by phase: (1) static branded splash image, (2) animated sequence, (3) stretch goal — a touch-interactive 3D rotating car model (Asphalt-game-style), each tier with different hardware/timeline implications you'll help us scope. Integration with the vehicle's CAN bus: reading and decoding CAN frames (ideally from a DBC file or via reverse-engineering where documentation is incomplete) to drive the cluster's live data feed. Ambient lighting control logic exposed via the central display (RGB, user-configurable). Tech stack / requirements Strong experience with Qt/QML (or equivalent embedded GUI toolkit) for automotive or industrial HMI development. Solid embedded Linux background (Yocto/Buildroot or similar, SBC deployment — e.g., Raspberry Pi-class or automotive-grade display modules). Hands-on experience with CAN bus communication: SocketCAN, python-can, or similar; ability to decode/encode CAN frames, work with or without DBC files. C++ and/or Python for embedded application logic. Experience building real-time, low-latency gauge/telemetry UIs (automotive instrument clusters, sim racing dashboards, or similar is a strong plus). Comfortable working from a catalog/off-the-shelf display module (not custom hardware from scratch) — we're optimizing for speed given a tight delivery window. Nice to have Prior work on aftermarket or OEM digital instrument clusters. Experience with automotive HMI design guidelines / branding integration. Familiarity with Android Auto / Apple CarPlay integration (separate display, not in scope for this role, but useful context). Engagement details Remote, freelance, project-based (with potential for an ongoing relationship beyond this build — we're assembling a long-term supplier network). NDA required before sharing vehicle documentation, wiring diagrams, 3D models, or design references. Timeline is tight: target road-ready by November 2026. We need someone who can start scoping quickly and commit to a realistic, achievable delivery plan — no pioneering experiments, we need a proven, executable approach. Please include in your proposal: relevant past projects (instrument clusters, embedded HMI, CAN bus work), your suggested hardware/display approach, and a rough time estimate for a driver-side cluster MVP (gauges + branded splash screen, before animation/3D stretch goals).