Global Manager - Variable Braking Systems

Ford; Livonia (MI); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Stock options

Retirement plans

Job summary

Ford is seeking a senior manager to lead the design and verification strategy for Variable Braking Systems, including Electronic Brake Booster, ESC modules and ECU hardware. You will translate performance goals into requirements, manage architectures, and drive improvements in efficiency, quality, and cost.

Your role spans global teams, hardware/software integration, and cross-functional collaboration with suppliers, vehicle teams, and the Supply Chain.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science/Engineering required with design and release experience.
• 10+ years automotive experience; 6+ years in design and release processes.
• Strong knowledge of automotive electronics and control systems.
• Willingness to travel to supplier or Ford plants as needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead global teams across regions to align on approach and discipline.
• Own hardware/software system integration from virtual phase to launch.
• Manage cost, tooling and TVM initiatives to hit EBIT targets.
• Drive lifetime quality and continuous improvement across programs.
• Develop 1-, 3-, and 5-year strategic initiatives for the department.
• Oversee department budgets and headcount planning annually.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Quality focus

Program management

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

MBSE tools

Embedded software tools

Data analysis platforms

Job description

You will have global responsibilities leading corporate design and verification strategy for Variable Braking Systems, employing manufacturing best practices, leading new program development at critical engineering milestones, and leading quality improvement efforts.

What you'll do...

This Manager leads the design and integrates vehicle variable braking systems (Electronic Brake Booster, ESC modules and ECU hardware, Wheel Speed Sensors, brake pedals, hydraulic components, and park brake systems), translating performance goals into component requirements, leading trade-off studies, collaborating cross-functionally (suppliers, vehicle teams), managing the system architecture, and driving improvements for efficiency, performance, quality, and cost - with a growing emphasis on the electronics and software content within the commodity.

You Will...

• Manage the global teams in various regions to ensure alignment on approach and discipline. These regions include North America, Europe, South America, Australia, and China.
• Application Engineering: Own the hardware and software system integration of the Variable Braking commodity from the virtual phase through prototyping, design verification, and product launch.
• Own the Variable Cost and Vendor Tooling of all in-flight braking commodities to produce efficiencies that deliver company EBIT targets.
• Lead the comprehensive Total Value Management (TVM) of year-over-year cost-save initiatives on current production programs.
• Total Responsibility for Lifetime Quality: 0, 1, 3, 36 Months in Service
• Formulate and deliver the department's 1, 3-, and 5-year strategy initiatives, in line with the larger Underbody Systems Engineering foundation, including continued growth of electronics and software capability within the organization.
• Manage and deliver department spending budgets (headcount, materials, services) on an annual basis with an outlook to forward years.
• Work directly with the System Architecture and Core Manager in Variable Braking for the following:
  • Shape system selections of new programs at early adoption, with particular focus on electronic brake booster, ESC, and sensor technologies.
  • Maintain yearly commodity business plans in partnership with our Supply Chain team to ensure a strategic approach to quality, cost, and supplier resilience (including resiliency of critical materials such as rare earth elements).
  • Deliver a Year-over-Year reduction in high time in service quality (36 Months in Service), becoming Best in Class in Variable Braking Systems.

You'll Have...

Bachelor of Science/Engineering

6+ years of experience with Design and Release processes of vehicle systems or components; specific braking commodity experience is not required.

• 10+ years of automotive experience
• Effective knowledge of automotive electronics and control systems (e.g., ECU hardware, sensors, actuators) and/or mechanical component manufacturing processes.
• Self-directed, excellent people and communications skills with a laser focus on Quality
• Be able to lead a diverse team from many organizations to resolve issues.
• Travel to supplier or Ford assembly plants, and critical customers may be required
• Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics and vehicle NVH

You may also have...

Master of Science/Engineering

• 8+ years of experience in electronic or software-intensive vehicle system design
• Experience with brake system technologies such as Electronic Brake Booster (EBB), ESC, or Wheel Speed Sensors
• Advanced problem-solving skills including 8D and 3x5 Why disciplines
• Systems Engineering: Deep expertise in systems engineering principles, including P-diagrams, DFMEA, and functional safety.
• Tools: Proficiency in MBSE tools, embedded software/controls development tools, and data analysis platforms.

What you'll receive in return...

As part of the Ford family, you'll enjoy excellent compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous PTO, retirement, savings and stock investment plans, incentive compensation, and much more. You'll also experience exciting opportunities for professional and personal growth and recognition.

Our benefits summary can be found here:

2026-New-Hire-Benefit-Summary-LL4.pdf

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,