VHE System Engineering Team Architecture Manager

Ford; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Stock/incentive compensation

Job summary

Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI is seeking a leader to head the Systems Engineering Team within Vehicle Hardware Engineering. You will drive MBSE modeling, optimize part counts, and coordinate with Program, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and other interfaces to ensure cost-effective, integrated vehicle systems.

The role requires 5+ years in Functional or Vehicle Engineering, CAD/CAE proficiency, and demonstrated leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.
• 5+ years experience in Functional or Vehicle Engineering.
• Experience with CAD/CAE tools; ability to interface and manage virtual design data.
• Experience in Systems Engineering, Design Thinking and user experience.
• Experience with Studio process for early theme development and feasibility assessment.
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead Systems Engineering Team (SET) Leaders and guide design and integration decisions.
• Own system-level decisions for Vehicle Hardware Engineering functions and interfaces.
• Optimize vehicle environment to reduce part counts and weight.
• Collaborate with Planning, Marketing, Supply Chain, and other teams to align content and costs.
• Lead SET target setting and benchmarking using Global Lifecycle Cost Process.
• Manage engineering data via 3DX PLM to enable focus on engineering work.

Skills

Systems Engineering

CAD/CAE

Design Thinking

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Masters in Engineering or MBA preferred

Tools

3DX PLM

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.

At Ford, the Vehicle Hardware Engineering teams are using Design Thinking & User Experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that will delight our customers. Our employees are laser-focused on bringing innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. From autonomy and electrification to smart mobility technologies, our teams around the world are working together with excitement to make smart vehicles for a smart world.

In this position...

You will lead Systems Engineering Team (SET) Leaders, through Systems Design methodology. You will identify and deliver cost / weight efficiencies, component part reductions, quality improvement, labor savings, and service efficiency.

You Will...

• Engage Systems Engineering for integration of MBSE modeling of critical systems of interest.
• Own system level decision making for Vehicle Hardware Engineering (VHE) functions and represent VHE with Program, Attribute, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and other interfaces.
• Optimize vehicle environment within SETs to reduce overall part counts, drive toward direct mounting and minimize brackets and fasteners where possible.
• Collaborate with Planning, CNE, Marketing, VEM, Supply Chain, and VOME to align vehicle content to ensure competitive, compatible, and efficient lifecycle cost.
• Lead SET target setting, through extensive benchmarking and leverage Core team opportunities / technology, using Global Lifecycle Cost Process.
• Leverage 3DX PLM platform to manage engineering data centrally, enabling SET to focus on engineering vs data management and reporting.
• Advocate for VHE to ensure factory recognition of implications from assumptions change.
• Lead Systems Technical Design and Compatibility Reviews to optimize designs, resolve issues, and deliver all Program Milestones on-time / on-target.
• Interface with VHE functional leadership to elevate critical technical issues as needed
• Champion trade-off decisions to manage design and cost status to balance SET target delivery and co-lead content and attribute proposals with CNE and VEM.
• Co-Lead with DTO to manage Studio feasibility and theme progression through D-loop process, enabling Applications engineering delivery in K-Loop process
• Collaborate with SET members and external partners for System Level Engineering Sign-Off

You'll Have...

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering required.
• 5+ years experience in Functional Engineering or Vehicle Engineering
• Experience with CAD and CAE tools, ability to interface and manage virtual design data.
• Experience in Systems Engineering, Design Thinking and user experience.
• Experience with Studio process for early theme development and feasibility assessment.
• Demonstrated courage, humility, decisiveness, flexibility, knowledge, and vision.
• Proven technical depth and ability to make decisions and balanced trade-offs.
• Ability to build strong effective relationships with cross-functional teams (Program, Studio, Purchasing, Finance, Engineering, Manufacturing and Suppliers).
• Demonstrated ability to simultaneously manage multiple issues effectively and efficiently.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize workload managing immediate and future needs.
• Outstanding communication skills (open, clear and inclusive) up to senior management.
• Outstanding leadership skills with demonstrated ability to deliver results.
• High integrity with effective coaching and mentoring skills.
• Availability to travel globally as required
• Strong fundamentals and working knowledge of Cost, Appearance, and GPDS processes.
• Masters in Engineering or MBA preferred
• Demonstrated Production Launch experience
• Experience with Electrification and EV commodities

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, 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 4.
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.

Onsite work of up to four days per week may be required for candidates within commuting distance of a Ford hub location. #LI-Onsite #LI-MB3