Connected Automotive Cybersecurity Manager

Ford • ,

5d • $132,800 - $250,800 • Hybrid

About The Position

Enterprise Technology plays a critical part in shaping the future of mobility. If you're looking for the chance to leverage advanced technology to redefine the transportation landscape, enhance the customer experience and improve people's lives, this is the opportunity for you. Join us and challenge your IT expertise and analytical skills to help create vehicles that are as smart as you are. We are seeking a highly skilled, strategic, and collaborative Connected Automotive Cybersecurity Manager to lead our talented team of cybersecurity engineers. In this pivotal role, you will guide the secure-by-design implementation of our next-generation connected vehicle platforms, embedded systems, in-vehicle and work closely with our offboard team on cloud-connected services, PKI and key management, etc. As a working manager and senior subject matter expert (SME), you will lead a team of 12 cybersecurity engineers, setting the technical direction, priorities, and execution expectations to support global vehicle programs. This position is open to local/hybrid candidates near our Dearborn, MI campus or fully remote candidates within the United States.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, or related OR a combination of education and experience.
• 8+ years of experience in cybersecurity, with a focus on embedded systems, connected vehicles, or IoT security.
• 2+ years of experience leading, supervising, or mentoring engineering teams in a technical environment.
• Proven experience with secure-by-design principles, threat modeling, and cryptographic systems (e.g., PKI, key management, secure boot).
• Strong understanding of in-vehicle networks and communication protocols (e.g., CAN, LIN, Automotive Ethernet, OTA).

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Deep familiarity with Ford-specific or modern automotive architectures and modules (e.g., Telematics Control Unit (TCU), Enhanced Central Gateway (ECG), Infotainment systems like SYNC/Phoenix).
• Mastery of automotive security standards such as ISO/SAE 21434 and UNECE R155/R156.
• Hands-on experience with operating systems like Linux, QNX, or Android and scripting/programming proficiency (e.g., Python, C, Shell scripting).
• Exceptional communication skills with a proven track record of influencing cross-functional engineering teams and external partners/consortia.

Responsibilities

• Lead and Develop: Direct, develop, and mentor a high-performing team of 12 cybersecurity engineers, setting technical direction, priorities, and execution expectations to support Ford's global vehicle programs.
• Requirements Ownership: Lead authorship of, and approve cybersecurity requirements for in-vehicle networks, connected features, and electronic control modules to establish robust security baselines across the vehicle ecosystem.
• Drive Secure-by-Design: Act as a senior SME to guide secure-by-design implementation across multiple vehicle architectures, and work closely with our offboard team on backend, and cryptographic security.
• Manage Design Trade-offs: Partner with engineering teams to translate complex cybersecurity requirements into system architecture, advising on design trade-offs balancing security, safety, performance, and cost.
• Collaboration: Work closely with peers and staff in other areas of the Product Cybersecurity organization, as well as Product Creation and Industrialization.
• Global Alignment: Collaborate with Ford global teams and joint ventures with other automotive OEMs to align cybersecurity practices, standards, and risk postures globally.
• Cryptographic & Key Management: Partner across in-vehicle, In-Vehicle Security Services (IVSS), and cloud teams to support PKI, key management, and cryptographic design for the connected vehicle ecosystem.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure connected vehicle systems align with industry standards and regulatory frameworks, specifically ISO/SAE 21434 and UNECE R155/R156.
• Industry Representation: Represent Ford's connected vehicle cybersecurity interests in internal governance forums and external consortia, such as the SCMS (Security Credential Management System) Manager Consortium, and 5GAA.
• Validation & Testing: Coordinate and prioritize the team's cybersecurity Verification & Validation (V&V) strategy and risk-based testing to effectively validate production vehicle security controls.
• Vulnerability Management: Guide vulnerability management and incident response activities, including the coordination of third-party penetration testing and the remediation of findings in production systems, and binary scanning of software for connected vehicle modules.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager