Chassis Controls Software Engineer

Ford Motor Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a forward‑thinking engineer to join the Product Development team. You will drive software delivery, calibration processes, and OTA updates while coordinating with suppliers and cross‑module networks to enable advanced driver assistance and vehicle control systems.

The role requires extensive experience in embedded software, FMEA, and system engineering, with a focus on safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance across networked vehicle environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degrees in engineering or computer science.
• Experience applying FMEA and quality assurance processes.
• Experience managing multiple software teams and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Handle software and calibration delivery management (timing, builds, OTA updates).
• Guide supplier partners through Ford GPDS.
• Support driver assist features and software validation.
• Deliver software work packages for change management and OTA updates.
• Work with cross-module network communications (OTA, E2E, PARSED).
• Investigate DTC issues including QED.
• Support service manual development and HiL activities.
• Support prototype vehicle builds and firmware flashing.
• Release diagnostics specifications.
• Ensure compliance to Central SW requirements.
• Lead SW Technical Design Reviews (TDRs).
• Support End-of-line setup and issue resolution.

Skills

FMEA

Quality assurance

Supplier management

System engineering

Embedded control systems

Vehicle networks CAN

AutoSAR

SAE J1979

MATLAB/Simulink

SysML

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Tools

CANalyzer

GPDS

HiL

DVP&R

Job description

In this position...

At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. We also believe in providing you with the freedom to define and realize your dreams. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career potential as you help us define tomorrow’s transportation.

In this position...

At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. We also believe in providing you with the freedom to define and realize your dreams. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career potential as you help us define tomorrow’s transportation.

Do you have what it takes to make smart vehicles for a smart world? Join the Ford Product Development team. Utilizing Design Thinking and User Experience methods, you will work to deliver breakthrough products and services that delight our customers. We are seeking forward-thinking, laser-focused professionals with a passion for bringing innovative, exciting and sustainable ideas to life. We have opportunities around the world for you to contribute to such advancements as autonomy, electrification, smart mobility technologies and more!

What You'll Do...

• Handle software (SW) and calibration delivery management (e.g. Timing, Coordination with builds and OTA software updates, Change Mgmt, etc)
• Guide supplier partners thru the Ford Global Product Development System (GPDS)
• Support driver assist features
• Deliver software work packages of the software change management process (e.g. release documentation, functional validation, OTA software updates, etc.)
• Work with Cross-Module network communication implementation (e.g. OTA, CS, MA, E2E, PARSED, etc.)
• Investigate Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) issues including Quality Early Detection (QED)
• Support service manual development
• Support the Breadboard/HiL (e.g. issue resolution, software updates, etc.)
• Support prototype vehicle builds (e.g. root cause issues, flashing software, etc.)
• Release diagnostics specifications
• Ensure compliance to Central SW requirements
• Lead SW Technical Design Reviews (TDRs)
• Support assembly plant End-of-line (EOL) setup and issue resolution

You'll have...

• Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, or Computer Science or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 2+ years of experience with design or development in chassis or powertrain controls
• 5+ years of applying FMEA and quality assurance processes to resolve engineering issues using 8D, 3-Legged 5 Whys, Is/Is-Not analysis, and fishbone diagrams to support efficient problem-solving and program timing.
• 5+ years of managing multiple supplier and in-house software teams to ensure on-time delivery of products meeting all requirements, supported by DVP&R planning, data analysis, and reporting documentation.
• 5+ years of developing solutions that meet full vehicle requirements, address technical issues, and ensure the safety and reliability of complex braking systems in advanced vehicle environments by collaborating within automotive systems engineering teams.
• 5+ years experience diagnosing electromechanical systems and leading teams to develop robust designs while incorporating Functional Safety principles to ensure high quality, performance, reliability, and safety of embedded control systems.
• 5+ years designing, developing, diagnosing, and embedded systems using vehicle network communication protocols, AutoSAR, and SAE J1979 to ensure regulatory compliance, enable efficient troubleshooting, and support embedded or mechatronic control technologies.
• 5+ years experience using digital and analog data acquisition systems, including CANalyzer, to collect data for investigating vehicle software issues and validating software requirements.
• 5+ years experience using controls modeling tools including MATLAB, Simulink, Stateflow, and SysML to design, analyze, and optimize complex systems, and to perform data analysis and requirement verification

Even better, you may have...

• Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Computer Science, or related degree, 5+ years of experience with design or development in chassis or powertrain controls
• 3+ years' Experience with FMEA and related quality assurance processes
• Familiarity with vehicle network communication (e.g. CAN, etc.)
• 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

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company.

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:

• 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 salary grade 8 and ranges from $115,000-$192,900.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

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 with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.