Embedded Software V&V Manager

Ford Motor Company; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 176,000 - 317,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Parental leave

Vehicle discount

Job summary

Ford Model E team is seeking an experienced V&V leader to drive embedded software validation across unit, integration, system, and acceptance testing. You will lead a cross-functional team, implement robust automation, and align validation with safety and quality goals.

This hybrid role focuses on developing and executing comprehensive validation strategies while partnering with software, systems, and product teams to deliver safe, high-quality Ford EV software.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Engineering.
• Experience leading V&V or software quality teams in automotive/embedded environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of V&V engineers, fostering technical excellence.
• Manage tasks, timelines, resources, and budgets for validation activities.
• Provide technical guidance to drive growth and capability.
• Define and implement V&V strategies for embedded software.
• Oversee automated test frameworks to maximize coverage and efficiency.
• Establish and maintain V&V processes and methodologies (Agile, V-Model).
• Oversee test plans, cases, and scripts ensuring coverage of requirements.
• Analyze results, drive root-cause analysis, and track resolutions.
• Collaborate with software, systems engineering, and product management.

Skills

Embedded SDLC

Python

C/C++

Automotive protocols

Leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Bachelors in CS/EE/CE

Tools

Jira

Azure DevOps

DOORS

Job description

Ford Model E is responsible for developing the key technologies and capabilities – such as EV platforms, batteries, e-motors, inverters, charging and recycling – to create ground-up breakthrough electric vehicles.

What you'll do...

By joining the best software, engineering, design and UX talent, you will be a part of creating new technologies and concepts that can be applied across the Ford enterprise.

Being on the Ford Model E team means building the future as Ford’s center of innovation and growth through electric and connected vehicles and services.

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead and Mentor: Manage, mentor, and develop a team of V&V engineers; foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Resource Management: Assign tasks based on team strengths, manage project timelines, and oversee resources and budgets to ensure timely delivery of validation activities.
• Performance Development: Provide technical guidance and feedback to drive individual growth and team capability.

Strategy, Automation & Frameworks

• V&V Strategy: Define and implement comprehensive V&V strategies for embedded software, covering unit, integration, system, and acceptance testing.
• Automation Focus: Oversee the design, development, and maintenance of robust automated test frameworks and infrastructure to maximize test coverage and efficiency.
• Process Improvement: Establish and maintain V&V processes and methodologies (e.g., Agile, V-Model), continuously assessing emerging trends to improve quality and safety culture.

Test Execution & Quality Assurance

• Test Planning: Oversee the creation of test plans, cases, and scripts, ensuring thorough coverage of functional, non-functional, performance, and regression requirements.
• Quality Metrics: Establish quality metrics, analyze test results, lead root cause identification for reported issues, and track resolutions to ensure robust software delivery.
• Compliance: Ensure all activities comply with relevant industry standards (ISO 26262, AUTOSAR) and internal quality processes.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Collaborate closely with software development, systems engineering, and product management to ensure seamless integration and traceability of requirements from system to component level.
• Reporting: Present validation results, status reports, and actionable insights to senior management and external stakeholders (clients/suppliers).
• Design Reviews: Participate in design reviews and safety analyses to integrate validation processes early in the development cycle.

You'll have...

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

• Experience: 8+ years of experience in embedded software Verification & Validation (V&V) or Software Quality Assurance.
• Leadership: At least 3 years of experience in a leadership or managerial role with a proven ability to motivate and guide technical teams.
• Technical Knowledge:
• Deep understanding of the embedded software development lifecycle (SDLC) and methodologies (Agile, V-Model).
• Proficiency in programming languages used in V&V (e.g., Python, C/C++).
• Familiarity with automotive/embedded communication protocols (e.g., CAN, LIN, Ethernet, SPI, I2C).
• Skills: Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving abilities with excellent communication skills for stakeholder management.

Even better, you may have...

• Advanced Education: Master's or PhD degree in a relevant engineering field.
• Industry Standards: Deep knowledge of safety-critical standards such as ISO 26262 (Automotive), IEC 61508, or DO-178C.
• DevOps & Tools:
• Experience with Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.
• Experience with requirements and defect management tools (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps, DOORS).
• Architecture: Knowledge of embedded processor architectures and Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS).

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 leadership level 5 and ranges from $176,200-316,600

Visa sponsorship is 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.