Engine Controls Software Engineer

Ford-Motor-Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 85,400 - 192,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Immediate medical coverage

Hybrid work arrangement

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount program

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a software engineer to join the Air Path / Turbo Controls team. You will design and implement estimation and control algorithms for turbocharged engines and work across calibration, systems engineering, and vehicle integration to deliver robust, production-ready software.

You will validate algorithms using unit tests (Unity/Ceedling) and SIL/MIL/HIL, develop plant models, and ensure traceability and documentation across releases.

Qualifications

• Design and implement air charge temperature estimation algorithms and boost control logic.
• Develop control algorithms and validate them against functional, emissions, and safety requirements (ISO 26262).
• Apply powertrain software validation methods including unit tests (Unity/Ceedling), SIL, MIL, and HIL.

Responsibilities

• Design TBCT estimation and turbo control strategies in PCM software.
• Develop and validate control algorithms in C for automotive powertrain systems.
• Perform software validation using unit tests, SIL/MIL/HIL techniques.
• Create and maintain plant models for turbocharger dynamics and charge air systems.
• Troubleshoot system issues with data analysis, testing, and simulation.
• Maintain software documentation, calibration guides and release notes.
• Lead project planning and cross-program coordination.

Skills

C programming

Embedded software

ISO 26262

Unit testing (Unity/Ceedling)

SIL/MIL/HIL testing

Jira/Jama

GitHub/ClearCase

SAFe

Education

B.S. in mechanical engineering

B.S. in electrical engineering

B.S. in computer engineering

B.S. in computer science

B.S. in aerospace engineering

Tools

Jira

Jama

Unity/Ceedling

GitHub

ClearCase

Job description

We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

Product Development uses design thinking & user experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that delight our customers. We bring innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. We have opportunities around the world for you to contribute to advancements in autonomy, electrification, smart mobility technologies, and more!

In this position... As a member of the Air Path / Turbo Controls software team, you will collaborate across departments—including calibration, systems engineering, and vehicle integration—to develop robust, production-ready solutions for current and next-generation boosted engine programs. The primary responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to:

What you'll do...

• Design and implement air charge temperature estimation algorithms, turbocharger speed and boost pressure control strategies, wastegate and bypass valve actuation logic, and compressor surge/over-speed protection within the PCM software
• Develop and validate control algorithms using C-code to meet functional, emissions, performance, and functional safety requirements (ISO 26262)
• Apply powertrain control system software validation test methods—including unit testing (Unity/Ceedling), SIL, MIL, and HIL—to ensure system functionality and robustness
• Develop and maintain plant models for turbocharger dynamics, intake manifold thermodynamics, and charge air cooler systems to support simulation and validation objectives
• Troubleshoot vehicle and powertrain air-path functional and diagnostic issues; determine and validate corrective actions through data analysis, vehicle testing, and simulation
• Maintain software description documentation, calibration guides, release notes, and requirements traceability for air-path software components
• Lead control system project planning and program management to meet functional, quality, and timing objectives across multiple vehicle programs

You’ll have…

• B.S. degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, aerospace engineering, or related field; or foreign equivalency degree, or a combination of equivalent experience and education
• 2+ years’ experience in C software development in automotive powertrain systems

Even better, you may have…

• M.S. degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or related field
• Experience with turbocharger or supercharger boost control systems, wastegate control, or air charge management
• Knowledge of intake manifold dynamics, charge air cooler modeling, or compressor/turbine map-based controls
• Familiarity with OBD-II diagnostic monitoring for boost system components and air charge temperature sensors
• Awareness of ISO 26262 Part 6, MISRA-C coding standards
• Familiarity with tools such as Jira, Jama, Unity/Ceedling, GitHub, and/or ClearCase
• Experience with Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
• 5+ years of experience with embedded control software and design experience

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 6 and ranges from $85,400-$143,200.

This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $99,600-$166,600.

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