Chassis Controls Software Application Design and Release Engineer

Ford Motor Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 83,280 - 190,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Parental leave and family care support

Vehicle employee discount program

Tuition assistance

Employee resource groups

Paid time off and holidays

Additional vacation time option

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a Chassis Controls Software Application Design and Release Engineer in Dearborn, MI. You’ll bridge advanced software algorithms with vehicle dynamics, influencing regenerative braking, driver assist features, and the software-defined vehicle architecture.

You will own software delivery, coordinate with builds and OTA updates, lead supplier engagement, and guide cross‑module communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or computer science.
• 5+ years of experience with design or development in embedded systems development.
• 2+ years of experience in requirements management.

Responsibilities

• Own software and calibration delivery with timing and change management.
• Guide suppliers through the GPDS process.
• Support driver assist features and software enabling active safety systems.
• Deliver work packages with release documentation and validation.
• Enable cross-module network communication (OTA, CS, MA, E2E, PARSED).
• Diagnose and resolve DTC issues and QA events.
• Contribute to service manuals, HiL testing, and prototype builds.
• Publish diagnostics specs and ensure compliance with software requirements.
• Lead technical design reviews shaping chassis software.
• Support production EOL setup and issue resolution.
• Work within AGILE SW processes and shape chassis requirements.
• Evaluate new toolchains and software development processes.

Skills

Embedded systems development

Requirements management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Computer Science

Job description

Where Safety Meets Next-Gen Software. Help Us Redefine Vehicle Dynamics for the Electric Era. At Ford, braking is no longer just about stopping a vehicle - it's the foundation of regenerative braking for our cutting-edge EVs, the backbone of active safety for our advanced Driver Assist Technologies (like BlueCruise), and a critical node in our Software-Defined Vehicle architecture. As a Chassis Controls Software Application Design and Release Engineer, you won't just write or manage code - you'll be the architect bridging the gap between sophisticated software algorithms and physical vehicle dynamics. Your work will show up on the road every single day, keeping millions of drivers safe while delivering the exhilarating driving experience Ford is known for. Join the Ford Product Development team, where Design Thinking and User Experience methods drive us to deliver breakthrough products that delight our customers and define tomorrow's transportation.

What You'll Do

• Own Software & Calibration Delivery - Manage timing, coordination with vehicle builds, OTA software updates, and change management processes.
• Guide Suppliers - Lead supplier partners through the Ford Global Product Development System (GPDS).
• Support Driver Assist Features - Contribute to the software enabling Ford's advanced driver assistance systems.
• Deliver Work Packages - Execute the software change management process, including release documentation, functional validation, and OTA updates.
• Enable Network Communication - Implement cross-module network communication (OTA, CS, MA, E2E, PARSED, etc.).
• Diagnose & Resolve - Investigate Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) issues, including Quality Early Detection (QED).
• Support Documentation & Testing - Contribute to service manual development, Breadboard/HiL issue resolution and software updates, and prototype vehicle builds (root-cause analysis, flashing software, etc.).
• Release with Rigor - Publish diagnostics specifications and ensure compliance to Central SW requirements.
• Lead Technical Reviews - Drive SW Technical Design Reviews (TDRs) that shape the future of chassis software.
• Support Production - Assist assembly plant End-of-Line (EOL) setup and issue resolution.
• Work in Agile - Learn and participate in SW AGILE processes.
• Shape Requirements - Support Chassis Controls requirement development.
• Innovate the Toolchain - Evaluate new software development toolchains and processes.

You'll have

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Computer Science
• 5+ years of experience with design or development in embedded systems development
• 2+ years of experience in requirements management

Even better, you may have

• Experience with FMEA and related quality assurance processes
• 5+ years of experience with design or development in Chassis or Powertrain controls
• Familiarity with vehicle network communication (e.g. CAN, etc.)
• Familiarity with Ford embedded software requirements
• Self-starter who can learn to use new tools and find solutions - ability to resolve vehicle problems
• Outstanding leadership and communication skills
• Experience in supplier management and cost negotiation
• Motivation to bring new technologies from concept to production in a short time period
• Familiarity with digital and analog data acquisition systems
• Awareness of and/or experience with ISO 26262
• Experience with sophisticated system analysis tools and methods
• Experience with controls modeling (e.g. Matlab/Simulink, Stateflow, SysML, etc.)
• Experience with HIL simulation and testing

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is a range of salary grades 6-8 and ranges from $83,280 - 190,500. For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.