Defense Vehicle Program Manager

Ford-Motor-Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 268,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Coverage

Parental Leave

Tuition Assistance

Employee Discounts

Paid Holidays

PTO

Job summary

Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan is seeking a Program Manager to lead and mentor a high‑performing team, delivering defense and defense-adjacent ground vehicle programs while partnering with the Chief Program Engineer (CPE) to navigate a highly regulated development environment.

You will drive end‑to‑end program execution, governance, risk and issue management, and cross‑functional collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, sourcing and finance to ensure on‑time, on‑cost delivery for

Qualifications

• Defense program leadership experience and knowledge of DoD acquisition processes.
• Experience managing complex, cross-functional programs with senior technical leaders.
• Familiarity with defense compliance (ITAR, CUI, export control, DFARS).

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end program execution from capture to delivery and sustainment.
• Manage risks and issues with clear owners and dates, integrating engineering, sourcing, manufacturing readiness, and quality.
• Interface with government and defense partners, supporting requirements, proposals, and execution planning with the Chief Program Engineer.

Skills

Program Management

Defense Experience

Cross‑functional Leadership

Stakeholder Communication

Budget & Forecasting

Strategic Advisory

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

GPDS

Job description

In this position...

Lead and mentor a high-performing program management team, driving key processes and ensuring on-time delivery as we bring Ford's world-class commercial solutions to tactical defense applications. We are seeking a program leader with proven defense sector or defense/military ground vehicle program experience to serve as a key advisor to the Chief Program Engineer (CPE), navigating the complexities of global product development within a highly regulated defense environment.

This critical role is essential to the success of our product development lifecycle as we bring Ford's world-class commercial solutions to tactical defense applications. As Program Manager, you will lead and develop a team, manage resources effectively, and ensure the seamless execution of complex, global defense and defense-adjacent ground vehicle programs. Working directly with the Chief Program Engineer (CPE), you will provide strategic guidance and support while driving cross-functional collaboration and influencing key decisions as we build out this incubating business.

What you'll do...

• Program Execution, Governance & Process Excellence: Lead end-to-end execution of the program from capture through delivery and sustainment using established gated processes. Own program imperatives (scope, schedule, cost, resources, risk, quality) and establish standard operating mechanisms (integrated master schedule, risk register, financial reviews, issue dashboards). Champion and continuously improve program processes, ensuring adherence to gated program cadences and governance reviews consistent with defense industry standards. Lead program decision forums with the CPE, clear scope, schedule, cost decisions and accountability for closure. Drive launch and quality disciplines to ensure on-time, on-cost delivery.
• Risk & Issue Management: Partner with the CPE to identify, quantify, and mitigate program risks and issues — technical and business alike — developing contingency plans and gap-closure actions with clear owners and dates. Integrate supporting functional processes (engineering release, sourcing, validation, manufacturing readiness, quality, sustainment) into a coherent plan that reflects defense program requirements and constraints.
• Customer & Stakeholder Interface: Serve alongside the CPE as a primary interface to government and defense industry partners, leading day-to-day interactions and formal program reviews with military/DoD stakeholders. Represent the program in business development and capture activities, including shaping requirements, proposal content, cost estimates, and execution plans in coordination with the CPE.
• Culture & Compliance: Foster, jointly with the CPE, a culture of safety, defense-specific compliance (including CUI/ITAR/export control), integrity, and continuous improvement, while balancing government/customer priorities with Ford’s broader business objectives in a changing mission and technology environment.
• Team Leadership & Management: Directly lead, mentor, and develop program management staff, while jointly partnering with the cross-functional teams (engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, contracts, finance, and business development) to ensure seamless program execution and alignment across defense-oriented programs.

You'll have...

• Bachelor's degree required (Engineering, Business Administration, or related technical/business field preferred).
• Demonstrated experience in the defense sector and/or defense ground vehicle programs — this may include military/tactical vehicle development, DoD acquisition programs, defense contracting, or comparable government/defense platform experience.
• Demonstrated program or project management leadership of complex, cross-functional initiatives, including experience partnering closely with senior technical leaders (e.g., Chief Engineers).
• Working knowledge of the defense sector, spanning DoD acquisition processes, business development, portfolio planning, engineering, manufacturing, finance, purchasing, and supply chain.
• Familiarity with defense compliance and regulatory frameworks (e.g., ITAR, CUI, export control, DFARS) as they apply to program management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including delivery of executive-level briefings to internal leadership and government/industry customers, and the ability to build immediate trust and rapport with a technical counterpart.
• Strong business acumen with demonstrated ownership of program financial outcomes, including budgets, forecasts, and profitability management within government or defense contract structures.
• Demonstrated resilience and sound judgment in high-pressure, time-sensitive environments.
• Proven track record leading and developing high-performing, cross-functional teams across a global organization.

Even better you'll have...

• Master's degree in Engineering or MBA.
• Direct hands-on experience with special-purpose, armored, tactical, or military ground vehicle programs, or other offerings that blend government and commercial vehicle requirements.
• A background leading defense or military vehicle programs, particularly those adapting commercial truck platforms for government or military use.
• Hands-on experience with automotive design and release processes in a defense or government vehicle context.
• Solid grasp of Ford's Global Product Development System (GPDS) or a comparable gated development framework.

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 leadership level 5 and ranges from $141,700-$268,300.

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.