Embedded Software and Cybersecurity Engineer, Ford Energy

Ford Energy; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 99,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Vehicle discount

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Ford Energy is seeking an experienced embedded firmware engineer to design, develop and secure firmware for battery management systems. You will implement secure boot, OTA updates, and driver stacks for CAN/UART/SPI peripherals while collaborating with cross‑functional teams.

Location is Dearborn, MI with hybrid work options. A strong background in RTOS, cybersecurity, and power electronics is required; a Bachelor's degree or equivalent and 5+ years’ experience are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Electrical, Computer, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or Cybersecurity or related field.
• 5+ years of embedded software/firmware development experience (C/C++, RTOS, microcontrollers) in BMS or battery electronics.
• Experience in embedded software, controls, or firmware development, preferably in energy storage, power electronics, EV, or renewable energy systems.
• Practical experience in TARA, cybersecurity architecture, and authoring technical security requirements implemented at the software level.
• Demonstrated experience with secure embedded design (Secure Boot, cryptographic implementation, bootloader development).

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain embedded C/C++ firmware for BMS controllers and battery monitoring electronics; develop higher level applications using Python, C#, Java.
• Architect secure-by-design firmware structures, including memory partitioning, secure bootloaders, and modular software layers.
• Implement hardware root of trust, secure boot chains, code signing pipelines, and cryptographic key lifecycle management in embedded software.
• Develop and maintain low-level drivers and middleware for MCU peripherals (ADC, UART, SPI, CAN).
• Lead cybersecurity architecture and risk assessment (TARA) for BMS electronics and firmware.
• Develop secure OTA and field update firmware with authentication, anti-rollback, and fail-safe recovery; design SOC/SOH algorithms and thermal management.

Skills

Embedded firmware

Secure-by-design

Cybersecurity architecture

RTOS

CAN/UART/SPI

JTAG debugging

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Python

C#

Java

JTAG/SWD debugging tools

Job description

Ford Energy is a newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company dedicated to accelerating US energy independence. Leveraging Ford’s century of manufacturing excellence and world-class battery energy storage systems (BESS) technology, Ford Energy designs, manufactures, and services grid-scale and commercial DC battery energy storage systems (BESS). Ford Energy is uniquely positioned to capture the growing demand for reliable, US-built energy storage systems. We are not just building batteries; we are building the infrastructure for the next generation of the American grid.

Why Ford Energy?

At Ford Energy, you have the backing of an industrial manufacturing powerhouse with the agility of a dedicated energy startup offering industry leading technology. We offer a competitive compensation package including performance-based bonuses, Ford vehicle discounts, and the opportunity to shape the energy strategy of one of the world's most iconic brands.

What you’ll do

• Embedded Firmware Development & Architecture
  • Design, develop, and maintain embedded C/C++ firmware for BMS controllers and battery monitoring electronics, including drivers, RTOS tasks, and control logic. Develop and maintain higher level applications that utilize Python, C#, Java.
  • Architect secure-by-design firmware structures, including memory partitioning, secure bootloaders, and modular software layers that support both functional and security requirements.
  • Implement Hardware Root of Trust, secure boot chains, code signing pipelines, and cryptographic key lifecycle management directly within embedded software.
  • Develop and maintain low-level drivers and middleware for microcontroller peripherals (ADC, UART, SPI, CAN controllers) used in battery sensing and monitoring.
• Cybersecurity Architecture & Risk Management
  • Lead cybersecurity architecture and TARA (Threat Analysis and Risk Assessment) for battery monitoring electronics and their firmware.
  • Focus on mitigating risks related to sensor spoofing, unauthorized SOC manipulation, malicious commands, remote access, and firmware compromise through robust software design.
  • Define and maintain testable cybersecurity requirements for BMS and monitoring functions, ensuring traceability from concept to release, and implement them directly in embedded code.
• Communication Stack & Secure Update Software
  • Develop and secure embedded communication stacks, including CAN, SPI, Ethernet, and Modbus TCP protocol implementations.
  • Design and implement secure OTA (Over-the-Air) and field update firmware, including bootloader-level authentication, anti-rollback protection, and fail-safe recovery/rollback logic.
  • Design and implement algorithms for state of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH), thermal management, and fault detection.
  • Build and integrate embedded intrusion/anomaly detection routines into firmware for real-time attack awareness at the edge.
• Validation, Testing & Response
  • Write and execute unit, integration, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) tests for embedded firmware; support vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, and fuzz testing on battery monitoring and connected interfaces.
  • Debug firmware issues using JTAG/SWD, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes; lead issue remediation planning and establish response processes for product vulnerabilities and field issues.
  • Develop technical security case materials and evidence for design gates, audits, and compliance reviews.
• Cross-Functional Co-Engineering
  • Collaborate with software, controls, and safety teams to ensure embedded security controls are compatible with functional safety and safe-state behavior.
  • Align with Ford Energy Engineering and global suppliers on shared firmware architecture, release, and implementation standards.
  • Communicate technical security risks, tradeoffs, and firmware design decisions to executive-level stakeholders.

You’ll have

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, or Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or Cybersecurity or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of embedded software/firmware development experience (C/C++, RTOS, microcontrollers) in BMS or battery electronics.
• Experience in embedded software, controls, or firmware development, preferably in energy storage, power electronics, EV, or renewable energy systems.
• Practical experience in TARA, cybersecurity architecture, and authoring technical security requirements implemented at the software level.
• Demonstrated experience with secure embedded design (Secure Boot, cryptographic implementation, bootloader development).
• Hands‑on experience with embedded debugging tools (JTAG/SWD, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers) and unit/HIL test frameworks.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to navigate cross-functional engineering teams.

Even better, you may have

• Master's degree in a relevant technical field.
• Experience with AUTOSAR, embedded Linux, or other software platforms.
• Direct experience with IEC 61508/62443, NERC CIP, or NIST SP 800-82 frameworks.
• Familiarity with functional safety (ISO 26262) and the co‑engineering of safety and security in embedded systems.
• Experience developing secure OTA update mechanisms and vulnerability response firmware in a utility‑scale environment.
• Deep knowledge of communication protocol stacks such as Modbus TCP, Ethernet, and CAN‑FD at the driver/software level.
• Security‑Minded Firmware Architect who views cybersecurity as a fundamental pillar of embedded software design, grid‑scale safety, and reliability.
• Collaborative Technical Lead capable of bridging embedded software practices with industrial energy requirements.
• Analytical Problem Solver who can anticipate emerging threats and translate them into actionable firmware and architecture requirements.
• Strategic Gatekeeper dedicated to ensuring the integrity of data and commands across the entire BESS software lifecycle.
• Location & Travel
  • Location: Dearborn, MI. This position is hybrid‑friendly for candidates with a proven ability to deliver results in a flexible environment.
  • Travel Expectations: Occasional travel to support suppliers, test houses, and customer sites.

Company

As Ford establishes a wholly owned subsidiary focused on Battery Energy Storage Systems, this role will initially be employed by Ford and is expected to transition to the subsidiary within one year.

Visa sponsorship

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Work eligibility

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.

Equal Opportunity

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.

Hybrid Work

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.

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
• 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.

Salary

This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $99,100–166,200. 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.

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