Manager, Battery Management Systems, Ford Energy

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

Benefits offered by this job

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid time off & holidays

Healthcare coverage

Job summary

Ford Energy in Dearborn, MI is seeking a senior leader to drive BMS hardware and software development across the full product lifecycle. You will own program timing, risk management, and design optimization while collaborating with internal engineering teams and external suppliers.

Ideal candidates have extensive experience in BMS, safety standards, and cybersecurity, with a proven ability to lead multiple programs and deliver results in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, or Systems Engineering.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in engineering leadership and cross-functional programs.
• Experience delivering BMS hardware/software through full product development.
• Strong knowledge of electrical engineering, control theory, signal processing, and electrochemistry.
• Experience leading multiple programs with internal teams and external suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end BMS hardware, software, and system architecture development for Ford Energy.
• Own program timing, scope, risk, and issue resolution across teams and suppliers.
• Drive BMS design optimization to reduce cost while improving performance and life.
• Provide leadership for cybersecurity and functional safety per standards.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and Ford Auto Engineering for knowledge sharing.

Skills

People leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

BMS experience

Functional safety

Cybersecurity

System engineering

Electrical engineering fundamentals

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer/Systems Engineering

Tools

APQP

PPAP

DV/PV

Job description

Job Description

Ford Energy is a newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company dedicated to accelerating U.S. 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. Learn more at https://fordenergy.com. In this position...

Responsibilities

What you'll do...

• BMS Technology Development & Program Leadership
  • Own end-to-end delivery of BMS hardware, software, and system architecture for Ford Energy — from concept through design release, validation, launch, and production stabilization — on time, with quality, at or below cost.
  • Lead BMS hardware design: voltage/current/temperature sensing, isolation monitoring, contactor control, cell balancing, and communication interfaces; own BMS interfaces to plant-level EMS/PCS/SCADA systems.
  • Own integrated program timing, scope, risk, issue resolution, and action tracking across internal teams and suppliers; drive program reviews and escalation with the Chief Engineer and leadership.
  • Develop and maintain BMS technology roadmaps and cost models; lead design optimization to reduce cost while improving performance and life.
• Diagnostics & Prognostics - Driving Superior Customer Quality
  • Lead development of advanced diagnostic and prognostic capability (SOC/SOH estimation, fault detection, degradation and remaining-useful-life prediction) as a core differentiator for customer-facing reliability, uptime, and total cost of ownership.
  • Leverage field data analytics, edge/cloud algorithms, and digital-twin approaches to enable predictive maintenance and proactive fleet health management.
• Cybersecurity
  • Drive adherence to Ford Energy's cybersecurity strategy: secure architecture, secure communications, secure OTA update processes, and support threat modeling across the BMS hardware/software/network stack.
  • Align BMS cybersecurity practices with applicable grid and industrial standards (e.g., NERC CIP, IEC 62443) and Ford Energy cybersecurity requirements; partner with cybersecurity and IT/OT teams on assessments and remediation.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leveraging Automotive BMS Expertise
  • Serve as primary technical/program interface for BMS across Ford Energy Engineering, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, planning, and supply chain.
  • Actively draw upon Ford's automotive BMS resources, talent, tools, and processes, adapting battery control, safety, and diagnostic strategies to stationary storage; build strong ties with Ford Auto Engineering to share learnings across programs.
  • Build strong technical relationships with suppliers (BMS controllers, ASICs, software tools) and align with external module/pack/line suppliers on interface requirements and manufacturing readiness.
• Benchmarking, Functional Safety & Advanced Technology
  • Lead competitor benchmarking/teardowns for BMS hardware, software, and control strategies.
  • Lead BMS functional safety process (e.g., ISO 26262 and applicable grid-storage safety standards): HARA, safety goals, technical safety requirements, and safety case documentation.
  • Lead advanced BMS technology development with suppliers, evaluating emerging sensing, balancing, and controller technologies.
• Documentation, Quality, Product Support & Governance
  • Lead key engineering documentation: boundary diagrams, interface matrices, DFMEA/Software FMEA, robustness checklists, system/software requirements.
  • Support manufacturability assessments; review quality history and apply lessons learned; support root-cause investigations for safety, thermal, diagnostic, and field concerns.
  • Initiate robustness activities (Design for Six Sigma, coding-standard compliance, static/dynamic software analysis); support requirements flow-down/validation with module, cell, and pack teams.
  • Lead applicable regulatory requirements process for BMS; maintain visibility into timing, cost, risk, and open actions; prepare executive-level updates for the Chief Engineer and leadership.
• People Leadership & Resource Management
  • Lead the BMS department through subordinate engineering leads/supervisors across key sub-disciplines (e.g., BMS Hardware, Embedded Software & Platform, and Controls/Diagnostics), ensuring clear accountability and coordinated execution across teams.
  • Own the department's operational business plan, including headcount planning and resource/budget allocation (materials, testing, tools, licenses, travel) across the multi-disciplinary BMS organization.
  • Set department/employee objectives aligned to Ford Energy's goals and roadmap; hold regular 1:1s and recognize performance; lead team meetings and development planning.
  • Build team capability in BMS hardware/software, state estimation, functional safety, balancing/thermal strategy, diagnostics/prognostics, cybersecurity, and design optimization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree (or 8+ years with a Master's degree) in Electrical, Computer, or Systems Engineering.
• Demonstrated people leadership / direct management experience (leading engineering teams/leads).
• Demonstrated experience leading complex cross-functional programs with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Experience delivering BMS hardware and/or software through the full product development process, including embedded hardware, firmware, and software.
• Strong first-principles knowledge of electrical engineering, control theory, signal processing, and electrochemistry.
• Proven ability to manage multiple programs/projects simultaneously, balancing timing, risk, and stakeholder communication.
• Strong ability to work across departments, organizations, suppliers, and global teams.

• Even better, you may have...
  • Experience with automotive BMS/BECM programs, translatable to stationary energy storage.
  • Familiarity with LFP cell architectures and prismatic/pouch module/pack designs.
  • Experience with APQP, PPAP, DV/PV, launch readiness, or similar industrialization processes.
  • Experience with ISO 26262 functional safety and cybersecurity standards (e.g., NERC CIP, IEC 62443).
  • Background with BMS controller/ASIC suppliers, module/pack suppliers, or battery line integrators.
  • Master's or PhD in Engineering or related field.
  • Leadership Attributes
    • Execution-focused leader with urgency and accountability for on-time, on-cost, on-quality delivery.
    • Skilled at driving alignment across engineering, manufacturing, supplier, and cross-functional organizations.
    • Technically credible across battery management, controls, cybersecurity, and manufacturing issues.
    • Clear communicator across working-level and executive discussions with the Chief Engineer and leadership.
    • Collaborative and resilient; effective at bridging Ford Energy and Ford Auto to leverage automotive BMS knowledge.
    • Location & Travel
      • Location: Dearborn, MI, hybrid.
      • Travel: Domestic/occasional international travel to support suppliers, development builds, launch activities, and coordination with Ford Auto teams.

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 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.

Internal applicants: moving into this role may result in an adjustment to your current compensation based on the posted pay range for this role, taking into consideration your qualifications and other relevant factors.

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 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.

#FordEnergy