Staff Embedded Platform Engineer

Ford; Long Beach, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 284,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Ford seeks a Staff Embedded Software Engineer to architect and build the foundational software for automotive ECUs. You will shape the platform with real-time drivers, RTOS configurations, and middleware, mentoring engineers and enforcing safety-critical coding practices.

You will drive cross-functional collaboration, embed ISO 26262 principles, and craft robust networking stacks across CAN, LIN, Ethernet, SPI, and I2C. This is a leadership role shaping Ford's software platform.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related STEM field.
• Extensive experience in embedded C programming and MISRA C guidelines.
• Hands-on experience configuring embedded RTOS and developing low-level drivers for automotive-grade MCUs.

Responsibilities

• Define architecture and roadmap for real-time drivers, RTOS config, and platform middleware.
• Collaborate with systems, safety, and hardware teams to build platform libraries.
• Mentor engineers on embedded architecture, safety-critical design, and driver development.
• Develop and optimize networking stacks for in-vehicle communication (CAN, LIN, Ethernet, SPI, I2C).

Skills

Embedded C

MISRA C

RTOS configuration

Automotive networking

Driver development

Education

B.S./M.S. in EE/CS/CE

Tools

JTAG

GDB

CANoe

CANalyzer

CANape

Job description

We are seeking a Staff Embedded Software Engineer who will architect and develop the foundational software platform that powers our next-generation automotive electronic control units (ECUs). In this role, you will design and implement embedded platform software including Real-Time Drivers (RTD), embedded RTOS configurations, low-level drivers, and middleware that other teams build upon across the vehicle program.

You will work cross-functionally to develop common libraries, embed functional safety principles (ISO 26262) into memory layouts and driver architectures, and build out robust networking stacks spanning CAN, LIN, Ethernet, SPI, and I2C. You will provide unified technical leadership across the platform team, setting standards for code quality, safety-critical design, and low-level software craftsmanship, while directly mentoring engineers across the organization. Your expertise in embedded systems and automotive industry knowledge will help ensure the quality, reliability, and safety of our software platform.

What you'll do...

Platform Architecture & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Define the architecture and roadmap for real-time drivers, embedded RTOS configuration, and platform middleware shared across multiple vehicle programs.
• Work cross-functionally with systems, application, and safety teams to develop and maintain common libraries used platform-wide.
• Establish unified best practices for embedded coding standards, safety-critical design, and low-level software quality across the platform team.
• Mentor engineers on embedded architecture, functional safety design principles, and low-level driver development.

Real-Time Drivers, RTOS & Middleware Development

• Configure and optimize Real-Time Drivers (RTD) and embedded RTOS for deterministic, safety-critical automotive applications.
• Develop low-level embedded drivers and middleware that abstract hardware peripherals for use by upper application layers.
• Design and manage memory layouts to meet real-time performance, resource constraints, and functional safety requirements.

Networking Stack Development

• Architect and implement networking stacks including CAN, LIN, automotive Ethernet, SPI, and I2C for reliable in-vehicle communication.
• Optimize network stack performance for throughput, latency, and determinism across safety-relevant communication paths.
• Collaborate with systems and hardware teams to ensure networking stack designs align with hardware-software interface definitions (HSI).

Functional Safety

• Embed ISO 26262 functional safety principles into platform software architecture, memory design, and driver implementation.
• Ensure code developed for the platform adheres to MISRA C coding guidelines and safety-critical software development practices.
• Partner with safety and V&V teams to align platform software design with safety goals and ASIL requirements.

You’ll have...

• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related STEM field.
• Embedded Programming: Strong hands-on experience developing in Embedded C, with adherence to MISRA C coding standards.
• Functional Safety Standards: Working knowledge of ISO 26262 functional safety processes as applied to embedded software architecture and development.
• Automotive Communication: Hands-on experience developing and debugging networking protocols including CAN, LIN, and other automotive communication buses.
• Debugging Toolkit: Familiarity with common embedded debugging tools such as JTAG, GDB, and similar hardware/software debug interfaces.
• RTOS & Drivers: Proven experience configuring embedded RTOS and developing low-level embedded drivers and middleware for automotive-grade microcontrollers.

Even better, you may have...

• Testing & Build Frameworks: Familiarity with embedded testing frameworks such as Renode, and build systems such as Bazel.
• Automotive Test Tools: Experience with automotive test and network analysis tools such as CANoe, CANalyzer, and CANape.
• Real-Time Control Systems: Experience developing or integrating software for real-time control systems.
• Extended Networking Experience: Familiarity with additional in-vehicle networking interfaces such as automotive Ethernet, SPI, and I2C beyond baseline requirements.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

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 6 and ranges from $150,200-$283,500.
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.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6

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 with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.