Staff Systems Engineer, Multimedia Platforms

Ford; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 284,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Prescription drug coverage

Parental leave

Back-up child care

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Employee resource groups

Paid time off

Job summary

Ford is seeking a senior technical leader in Palo Alto to drive end-to-end multimedia architecture and system integration across vehicles, software, and hardware. The role requires deep expertise in graphics, touch, audio, video, and networking, plus strong hardware-software integration and real-time systems know-how.

You will lead cross-functional initiatives, set performance targets, and influence engineering standards while collaborating across domains.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in embedded systems, systems architecture, or multimedia platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Define end-to-end multimedia architecture, interfaces, requirements, and integration strategy.
• Lead integration across applications, middleware, operating systems, drivers, networks, and hardware.
• Establish performance targets and optimization strategies for latency, responsiveness, throughput, CPU, GPU, memory, power, and thermal behavior.
• Drive system characterization, bottleneck analysis, and root-cause resolution using data and telemetry.
• Guide architectural trade‑offs across performance, reliability, scalability, safety, security, cost, and delivery.
• Identify systemic risks and drive resolution across organizational boundaries.
• Influence technical direction and engineering standards across teams.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Technical judgment

System architecture

Multimedia platforms

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

Embedded Linux

Android

RTOS

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 Creation and Industrialization (PC&I) brings together Ford’s vehicle, electric, digital and design teams with our global manufacturing system. Working as one end-to-end organization, we turn ideas into high-quality vehicles, software and experiences across gas, hybrid and electric, designed around what customers need.

What you’ll do

• Define end-to-end multimedia architecture, interfaces, requirements, and integration strategy.
• Lead integration across applications, middleware, operating systems, drivers, networks, and hardware.
• Establish performance targets and optimization strategies for latency, responsiveness, throughput, CPU, GPU, memory, power, and thermal behavior.
• Drive system characterization, bottleneck analysis, and root-cause resolution using data and telemetry.
• Guide architectural trade‑offs across performance, reliability, scalability, safety, security, cost, and delivery.
• Identify systemic risks and drive resolution across organizational boundaries.
• Influence technical direction and engineering standards across teams.

You’ll have

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in embedded systems, systems architecture, or multimedia platforms.
• Deep expertise in graphics, touch, audio, video, networking, and connected systems.
• Strong understanding of hardware-software integration, operating systems, real‑time systems, and distributed architectures.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross‑functional technical initiatives.

Even better, you may have

• Experience with embedded Linux, Android, RTOS, and modern development toolchains.
• Expertise in GPU, display, audio, video, touch, and network architecture.
• Familiarity with rendering pipelines, codecs, hardware acceleration, streaming protocols, and performance‑profiling tools.
• Working knowledge of automotive functional safety, including ISO 26262, hazard analysis, safety requirements, and safety‑oriented system design.
• Understanding of automotive cybersecurity, including ISO/SAE 21434, threat analysis and risk assessment, secure architecture, and defense‑in‑depth.
• Experience designing multimedia systems that meet safety, security, reliability, and performance objectives.
• Strong executive communication, technical judgment, and organizational influence.

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.

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.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage
• 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
• Generous vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day

This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.