Director - Cloud Software Engineering

Ford • Dearborn, MI

1d • $141,700 - $268,300 • Hybrid

About The Position

This role leads the development, maintenance, delivery, and production support of multiple critical cloud platform components within Ford’s Vehicle, Mobile and Cloud organization, specifically the Device Connectivity Platform. The director owns software delivery and technology strategy for integrating Ford’s Connectivity Platform with partner platforms across Ford-engineered and partner-engineered vehicle programs. The work supports connected vehicle capabilities in a global, always-on environment and advances Ford’s Converged Connectivity strategy.

The role sets priorities and drives predictable execution, measurable improvements in cost, quality, reliability, security, and delivery, and transformation initiatives aligned with enterprise objectives. It leads a global organization of approximately 50 GSR and agency engineers, including four direct reports, and aligns engineering, product, integration, service, executive, and partner organizations. The director translates complex technical designs and partner approaches into recommendations and decisions, and makes data-informed decisions spanning architecture, implementation, program execution, and product lifecycle strategy.

This is a hybrid position requiring onsite work four or more days per week and 25% travel to Europe, Asia/China, and other locations depending on vehicle program timelines. Ford offers a range of health, family, education, vehicle, community service, and paid-time-off benefits. The salary range is $141,700–$268,300; final salary placement depends on skills, experience, job scope, responsibility, and competitive market value. Visa sponsorship is not available. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in software engineering, computer science, or a related technical field.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in cloud software engineering, connected vehicle technology, or a closely related technical field, including significant leadership responsibility.
• At least 3 years of experience leading managers and large, globally distributed engineering organizations through complex, high-visibility initiatives.
• At least 3 years of technical leadership experience delivering cloud applications built on Java, Spring Boot, containerized workloads (Docker/Kubernetes), and Google Cloud Platform.
• At least 3 years of experience defining technology strategy, translating business objectives into executable roadmaps, and delivering business-critical software platforms at scale.
• Executive-level communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical topics into clear options, recommendations, risks, and decisions.
• Ability to travel 25% to Europe, Asia/China, and other locations depending on vehicle program timelines.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility will be verified at hire.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• Proven accountability for delivery, production operations, and measurable improvements in cost, quality, reliability, security, and organizational performance.
• Experience designing, deploying, and supporting cloud-based solutions in a global, always-on production environment.
• Strong technical acumen across cloud platforms, infrastructure architecture, application software, APIs, systems integration, data exchange, and connected vehicle technologies.
• Strong understanding of security, resilience, privacy, and operational risk considerations for cloud-based software platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to build alignment, influence decisions, and manage dependencies across engineering, product, integration, service, executive, and external partner organizations.
• Proven ability to attract, coach, and develop technical leaders and engineering talent while fostering accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Sound judgment and a data-informed approach to decision-making in ambiguous situations with incomplete information and competing priorities.
• Experience leading organizational change and applying Agile principles and delivery tools, such as Jira, in complex software environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical leadership for development, maintenance, delivery, and production support of cloud platform software for connected vehicle capabilities.
• Own technology strategy and software delivery integrating Ford’s connectivity platform with partner platforms across Ford-engineered and partner-engineered vehicle programs.
• Set priorities and ensure predictable execution for business-critical platform capabilities in a global, always-on environment.
• Establish performance objectives and drive measurable improvements in cost, quality, reliability, security, and delivery.
• Advance Ford’s Core Connectivity strategy by translating enterprise objectives into actionable technology roadmaps and transformation initiatives.
• Lead, coach, and develop a global organization of approximately 50 GSR and agency engineers, including four direct reports.
• Build alignment across global engineering, product, integration, service, and partner organizations to resolve dependencies, manage risks, and deliver shared outcomes.
• Translate complex technical designs and partner OEM connectivity approaches into clear recommendations, decisions, and direction for internal stakeholders and senior leaders.
• Make timely, data-informed decisions across technical architecture, software implementation, program execution, and product lifecycle strategy.
• Champion operational discipline, accountability, continuous improvement, and a collaborative, constructive engineering culture.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, and subsidized back-up child care.
• Family-building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement and fertility treatments.
• 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.
• 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: Director