Test Engineer Software

Ford; Little River; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted lease car options

Flexible Work Arrangements

Growth and development opportunities

Paid parental leave from day 1

Employee Assist Program

Job summary

Ford Australia is seeking a Feature Software Test Planner to lead test planning for major vehicle programs. You will coordinate test plans, optimize resources, and oversee external engineering partners across running changes, launches, and OTA software updates.

This hybrid role is based at the Little River site with a 4‑day-from-home arrangement, reporting to the integration supervisor. You will drive engineering excellence and ensure safe, high‑quality software validation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Software Engineering (or related).
• 3–5+ years in automotive systems engineering, software testing, or product development.
• Experience with CAN data analysis and ECU diagnostics.
• Strong leadership and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop & optimize test plans for major vehicle programs.
• Lead consolidation of test requests into detailed feature team plans.
• Mentor a team of Feature Testers; manage external engineering partners.
• Coordinate vehicle preparation and software/hardware baselines for feature validation.
• Ensure global testing standards and reporting consistency across platforms.

Skills

Test Planning

Project Planning

CAN Diagnostics

ECU Diagnostics

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder Mgmt

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering

Tools

CAN Bus Tools

GPDS Familiarity

Job description

About Us

Lead. Grow. Transform.

Ford Australia is constantly evolving and innovating, committed to delivering smarter, more connected vehicles for all Australians, now and for generations to come.

Looking ahead, Ford is excited about the future. With an expanding vehicle lineup, growing digital services, and a strong dealer network, they are well‑positioned to support Australian businesses in new ways.

As Australia’s largest automotive OEM employer, we proudly have around 1,500 talented engineers, designers, and specialists working across five Victorian sites. Crucially, Australia is a key global development hub for Ford, and their local design and engineering team lead the creation of vehicles including the Ranger, Ranger Raptor, and Everest – models sold in around 180 markets worldwide.

Complementing this technical network, Ford Australia’s National Sales Company (NSC) located in Richmond, is the central hub for commercial and customer engagement activities across the country.

Why Ford?

For a century, we've been a driving force across Australia, building a legacy that truly speaks for itself. Leading the way, the Ranger continues its rein as Australia's No. 1 Selling Vehicle and our iconic Mustang proudly holds its position as Australia’s No. 1 Sports Car.

These remarkable achievements are a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and a customer‑focused approach that has delivered success across our entire lineup, giving us so much to be excited about! But we believe we do more than just build award‑winning vehicles—we build careers.

• Discounted lease car options.
• Multiple Employee Resource Groups – Ford Pride, Women of Ford and Ford Empowering Diverse Abilities.
• Flexible Work Arrangements.
• Growth and development opportunities via internal and external training.
• Paid parental leave from day 1.
• Comprehensive Employee Assist Program.
• Wellness Programs including Free Flu Vaccinations and Health Checks.
• Paid volunteer days.

About the Role

As a Feature Software Test Planner, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the quality, robustness, and timely delivery of software features for our major global vehicle programs (including our midsize truck and SUV platforms). You will lead the development and coordination of test plans, optimize resource utilization, manage external engineering service providers, and drive engineering excellence across running changes, vehicle launches, and Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates. This is a dynamic role that bridges technical software validation, project management, and cross‑functional leadership.

This role reports directly to integration supervisor and is based at YYPG, Little River site based on a 4-day from home working arrangement.

• Test Planning & Resource Strategy:

  • Develop & Optimize Test Plans: Lead the consolidation, optimization, and scheduling of test requests into detailed feature team test plans to align with critical vehicle program milestones and Global Product Development System (GPDS) gateway deliverables.
  • Resource Allocation: Ensure feature test plans are fully supported with necessary resources, including physical test vehicles, laboratory facilities, tools, equipment, and Feature Testers.
  • Vehicle preparation: Oversee the readiness of test vehicles by liaising with the Fit for Test team to deploy latest software and hardware baselines required for feature validation. Coordinate vehicle preparation, track software maturity and ensure that all test properties are fully prepared before testing begins.
  • Program Tracking & Reporting: Maintain and report program status on a weekly basis. Provide 'live' tracking of test progress versus plan, proactively developing and executing recovery plans for any workstreams tracking oA-schedule.
  • Cross-Functional Alignment: Drive cross‑functional resolution of testing plan gaps and act as the primary Single Point of Contact (SPOC) representing the Feature Test Planning team in Test & Development Product Action Team (PAT) forums. Team Leadership & Partner Coordination
  • Coordinate Test Planning Teams: Lead and mentor a team of Feature Testers, ensuring the supplemental/agency engineering workforce is appropriately sized and skilled to fulfill department feature testing programs.
  • Vendor & Resource Management: Partner directly with external service provider leads to manage labour requirements, ensuring short-, medium-, and long‑term leave is seamlessly managed by the provider to prevent any operational disruption to Ford.
  • Promote a Safe Culture: Lead a team of feature testers in maintaining a safe, collaborative, and high‑performing work environment. Technical Execution & Engineering Excellence
  • Regression Testing: Plan and oversee Design Verification (DV) regression testing for running changes, vehicle launches, and Over-the-Air (OTA) software update workstreams.
  • Data Acquisition & Validation: Plan and coordinate data acquisition and validation activities to quickly troubleshoot and resolve current production issues.
  • Global Standards: Ensure common global testing standards, test methodologies, and reporting formats are consistently applied across global vehicle platforms.
  • Root Cause Analysis: Drive engineering excellence by analysing and root‑causing complex issues across software, electrical hardware, and mechanical hardware using Failure Mode Avoidance (FMA) tools (e.g., Boundary Diagrams, Fishbone, 3‑Legged 5‑Why, DFMEA, 8D, and 14D). Training is available in these disciplines if required.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

  • Experience: 3-5+ years of experience in automotive systems engineering, software testing, or product development.

Our preferred requirements:

• Project & Test Planning: Proven experience in a Test Planning or Project Planning role, with a strong grasp of resource leveling, prioritization based on business needs, and maximizing resource efficiently (strong Business Acumen).
• Technical Tools & Diagnostics: Hands‑on experience analysing CAN communication data and performing ECU diagnostics.
• Problem Solving & Innovation: A mindset focused on continuous improvement—willingness to develop, test, and implement new ways of working to reduce waste, improve quality, and streamline communication.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to lead, influence, and collaborate efficiently with cross‑functional and multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to synthesize complex technical data into clear presentations for diverse audiences.
• Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment while role‑modelling a positive, resilient attitude.
• Academic Diversity: Additional studies or coursework in Business, Commerce, or Project Management is highly advantageous.
• Culture Alignment: Strong understanding of, and commitment to, Ford+ Behaviours and Our Beliefs (such as playing to win, putting customers first, and caring for one another).

Equal Opportunity

Ford Australia is inclusive employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

To be considered for this role, you must be legally authorised to work in Australia (verification required upon hire). Please note that the successful candidate will also be required to complete a pre-employment background and national police check.

---Applications will close on Sunday 22 November 2026---