System Engineering · Software-Defined Vehicles · AI-assisted Engineering
Designing the next generation of automotive system architectures.
I am Julien Richefeu, a Senior Global System Engineering Manager and Senior Expert based in Paris. My work connects system engineering, E/E architecture, virtualization, digital twins and AI-assisted design-space exploration.
About
From computer vision research to Software-Defined Vehicle platforms.
My background combines academic research in computer vision and motion detection with industrial experience in automotive infotainment, Android Automotive, E/E architecture and systems engineering.
Today, I focus on the transition from traditional vehicle architectures to Software-Defined Vehicle platforms. This includes architecture exploration, virtualization technologies, performance benchmarking, engineering standards and AI-assisted methods that help teams make earlier and better architecture decisions.
Expertise
Cross-domain system and software expertise.
System engineering
Software-Defined Vehicle
E/E architecture
Virtual platforms
Digital twins
Design-space exploration
AI-assisted engineering
Android Automotive
Performance benchmarking
Requirements engineering
SoC selection
Engineering transformation
Selected work
Architecture, exploration and engineering efficiency.
Selected themes from recent industrial work. Public descriptions are intentionally high-level.
Driving the SDV transition
I contribute to architecture definition and evaluation across current and next-generation cockpit and vehicle platforms, with an emphasis on repeatable, data-driven engineering decisions.
Cockpit Velocity Studio
A virtual engineering framework for architecture evaluation, benchmarking and performance analysis before target hardware becomes available.
- Virtual platforms
- Benchmark workflows
- Architecture analysis
SDV architecture exploration
Design-space exploration for Software-Defined Vehicle architectures using digital twins, machine learning and optimization techniques.
- Digital twins
- Optimization
- Decision support
Platform performance benchmarking
Measurement and optimization activities across evaluation boards, cockpit platforms and Android Automotive-based solutions.
- Performance analysis
- Memory optimization
- Virtualization evaluation
Engineering knowledge transfer
System requirements training, regional expert networks, coaching sessions and a global curriculum for system engineering practices.
- Training
- Mentoring
- Communities of practice
Leadership
Technical leadership and standards.
- System architecture leadership for next-generation cockpit platforms
- Cross-functional architecture task forces and recovery programs
- Guidelines for system requirements and engineering practices
- Cross-domain support spanning system and software engineering
Recognition
Scientific and industry activities.
- Scientific committees for automotive and SDV events
- Presentations at embedded AI, connected vehicle and MBSE events
- Contributions to ERTRAC and European SDV initiatives
- Regular participation in Android Automotive partner activities
Personal hobby
Photography beyond engineering.
Outside my professional work, I use photography to explore light, composition and everyday details. You can find my latest images and photo archives on these platforms.
Flickr
Photo archive and selected series
Instagram
Recent photographs and visual experiments
Tumblr
Personal photo blog
Open source
Personal software projects.
Selected public repositories from my GitHub account, including desktop applications and experiments.
WeightWatcher
A cross-platform desktop application for tracking weight, BMI, trends and weight-loss plans, with local SQLite storage.
View repository →Gripsou
A desktop budget manager with yearly grids, Excel and CSV import/export, charts, multi-year comparison and undo/redo support.
View repository →Publications
Selected publications and research foundations.
Recent work focuses on SDV architecture exploration; earlier publications cover computer vision, motion detection and programmable retina systems.
Software-Defined Vehicles & system engineering
- Hybrid Quantum-Classical Optimization for Software-Defined Vehicle Architecture Exploration Using Digital Twins and AI-Assisted EngineeringJ. Richefeu — SAE International Journal, ongoing
- An Integrated AI-Assisted Tool for System Engineering of Software-Defined VehiclesJ. Richefeu, G. Mion & Y. Besson — SIA Intelligence Mobility Congress 2027, ongoing
- Design methodology for automotive E/E architecturesJ.-B. Laurent, B. Monsuez & J. Richefeu — ENSTA PhD thesis, ongoing
- Insight on the impact of the emergence of SDV on EE/AJ. Richefeu, B. Monsuez & J.-B. Laurent — SIA CESA 2025PDF
- Tailoring automotive E/E architectures with design space explorationJ. Richefeu, B. Monsuez & J.-B. Laurent — ETFA 2024PDF
- Design toolchain for automotive E/E architecture explorationJ. Richefeu, B. Monsuez & J.-B. Laurent — AOSEC 2023PDF
- A toolchain to ease the evaluation of abstract automotive E/E architectureJ. Richefeu, B. Monsuez & J.-B. Laurent — JDSE 2023PDF
- New E/E architectures & Software as a Service solutions applied for automotiveJ. Richefeu & J.-B. Laurent — SIA CESA 2022PDF
Computer vision foundations
- A robust and computionally motion detection algorithm based on background estimationJ. Richefeu & A. Manzanera — ICVGIP 2004PDF
- A new hybrid differential filter for motion detectionJ. Richefeu & A. Manzanera — ICCVG 2004PDF
- A morphological dominant points detection and its cellular implementationJ. Richefeu & A. Manzanera — ISSPA 2003PDF
- Morphological dominant points detection for motion analysis on programmable retinaJ. Richefeu — ISSPA 2003 posterPDF
- Dominant points detection and its cellular implementationJ. Richefeu — Presentation slidesPDF
- Mémoire de stage de DEA 2002J. Richefeu — DEA reportPDF
Contact
Let’s talk about system architecture, SDV platforms and engineering transformation.
The fastest way to reach me is currently through LinkedIn. You can also find me on these professional and personal networks.
