Free 8-week program begins Dec. 28

Three tracks: back-end, data and service planning

New AI one-on-one mentoring added; final interview opportunity offered

Hyundai Motor and Kia are recruiting participants for the 9th Softeer Bootcamp, a training program linked to new software hires. [Provided by Hyundai Motor and Kia]
Hyundai Motor and Kia are recruiting participants for the 9th Softeer Bootcamp, a training program linked to new software hires. [Provided by Hyundai Motor and Kia]

Hyundai Motor and Kia announced Monday they are accepting applications for the 9th cohort of the Softeer Bootcamp, a training program tied to new software hires.

The initiative aims to accelerate the development of "AI engineers" equipped with practical AI skills. Softeer is a portmanteau of "software" and "engineer," and also carries the meaning of a frontier pioneer in automotive software.

The Softeer Bootcamp is Hyundai Motor and Kia's flagship program for recruiting top software talent. Applications are open through Nov. 3. The 9th cohort will run for approximately eight weeks from Dec. 28 to Feb. 26, 2027.

Hyundai Motor and Kia overhauled the curriculum to center it on AI starting with the 8th cohort, and the 9th cohort continues that direction — the primary goal is to develop AI engineers who can use AI tools on the job to define tasks, design solutions and carry them through to execution. The companies said they want to help more talent build AI capabilities and hit the ground running once hired.

The program offers three tracks: back-end development, data engineering and data architecture, and service planning. Applicants must be undergraduate students or graduates of four-year universities in Korea or abroad who graduated or are set to graduate between August this year and August 2027. Applications are accepted through the official website.

Hyundai Motor and Kia will select participants through online assessments and interviews that evaluate foundational skills and field-specific knowledge. The program is fully tuition-free, and all necessary equipment and software are provided.

Participants gain hands-on experience with real development processes through lectures and team-based projects. On top of the AI agent utilization lectures by working developers introduced in the 8th cohort, the 9th cohort adds one-on-one AI mentoring to help participants use AI efficiently throughout their projects. Job-specific meetups between Hyundai Motor and Kia staff and participants, as well as project mentoring sessions, will also be held. Participants who complete the program will receive an opportunity to interview for entry-level positions.

Jin Eun-sook, president of ICT at Hyundai Motor and Kia, said the Softeer Bootcamp is the companies' entry-level talent development program, aimed at cultivating AI engineers who can drive innovation in the mobility service ecosystem. "We will continue to strengthen our training programs and selection processes in line with the latest trends, and sustain our investment in discovering software talent and advancing AI transformation," she said.

Launched in 2023, the Softeer Bootcamp has produced more than 600 participants through its first eight cohorts. Graduates have gone on to work in software roles not only at Hyundai Motor and Kia but also at major domestic IT companies.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor and Kia have also been actively pursuing collaborative management with their partners, including recently hosting the "2026 R&D Partner Tech Day" at Rolling Hills Hotel in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

The R&D Partner Tech Day recognizes partners that have achieved outstanding results in technology development and quality assurance, and strengthens cooperation through technical exchanges. The two companies have held the event annually since 2006, making it a flagship program for joint R&D growth. This year's event featured 42 technologies developed by 37 partner companies, followed by awards for five standout partner technologies and presentations on new technology cases.


eyre@heraldcorp.com