Stellantis: Building an Automotive Workforce from Scratch

When Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now Stellantis) opened its automotive innovation and development center in Recife, it represented more than just a new facility. It marked the birth of a modern industrial complex driven by technological innovation in Northeast Brazil.

But there was a challenge: The local talent pool for automotive engineering was virtually nonexistent.

Stellantis approached CESAR with an ambitious goal to implement a corporate education strategy to train professionals in powertrain technology, a specialty critical to the automotive sector but with scarce expertise in Brazil and zero presence of qualified talent in the Northeast of the country.

At the time, CESAR specialized in digital solutions, not automotive powertrain technology. But driven by a commitment to innovation, the team embraced the challenge, determined to collaboratively build the necessary knowledge and play a role in establishing the automotive industry in Pernambuco.

The Challenge: Teaching What Didn’t Exist

Stellantis needed to train professionals using Model-Based Design (MBD), a methodology covering the entire process from conception to development of automotive software for engine and transmission control.

The complexity? Neither the technology nor the methodology was widespread in Brazil. Both represented major innovations in the local market.

The practical objective was clear but daunting: Train 37 professionals in three months to work at Stellantis’ research and development center. The goal wasn’t just meeting a specific talent demand — it was contributing to the growth of an entire industry in Pernambuco.

Finding professionals with the required knowledge and experience in the market was unlikely. The solution had to be more creative: Train future employees from scratch, and do it quickly enough to meet the center’s opening timeline.

The Approach: A Residency Program That Works

CESAR developed a residency program in partnership with Stellantis. Positions were offered to engineers who had graduated within the previous two years. Those who achieved the best results during the three-month intensive program were invited to join the team at one of the world’s most advanced automotive innovation centers in Porto Digital, one of Brazil’s largest innovation hubs. 

Through the partnership, Stellantis provided residents with appropriate tools, materials, trained instructors and a structured laboratory environment for theoretical and practical training. All students received scholarships during the program and were mentored by CESAR tutors, tackling real-world challenges from the automotive industry.

Results That Exceeded Expectations

Professionals ready to enter the industry: The program successfully combined professional training with recruitment and selection — something many companies struggle to achieve. All 37 participants became qualified employees ready to meet organizational needs.

Timely training and qualification: The three-month residency quickly resolved Stellantis’ human capital deficit and urgent hiring needs.

Real-world experience baked in: The residency solved the dual problem of lack of experience and technical knowledge. Practical training gave participants job-ready skills from day one.

Beyond technical knowledge in software design and development, residents completed the program with critical soft skills: self-learning, critical thinking and the ability to use new tools, processes and methodologies specific to the automotive industry.

The challenge was significant, but residents’ commitment and dedication exceeded expectations from both CESAR and Stellantis. At the program’s conclusion, all 37 engineers were invited to join Stellantis and work at the automaker’s automotive innovation center in Pernambuco.

Interested in designing a corporate education program for your company?

CESAR works directly to promote digital transformation through tailored solutions focused on attracting, developing and retaining the workforce needed for technological innovation. Contact us and speak with a consultant