Feature Commissioning Chief Engineer

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

11h • Onsite

About The Position

Ford is seeking a Feature Commissioning Chief Engineer to lead a global team responsible for high-quality electrical systems integration across vehicle programs and platforms. The role provides strategic direction for electrical systems quality delivery and oversees electrical system development from concept through production. Key areas include program and platform integration, vehicle-specific electrical architecture, ECU and wiring functional delivery, system validation, and end-of-line execution at assembly plants. The Chief Engineer partners with product, program, software, hardware, architecture, feature assurance, and manufacturing teams to resolve system-level issues, manage technical risk, and support successful delivery.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 8 years of hands-on experience in system engineering, software development, or related technical roles within the automotive industry.
• Deep understanding of software and hardware systems.
• Expertise defining, developing, and optimizing secure and safe vehicle feature systems, including system architecture, integration, validation processes, and automotive performance requirements.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to engage cross-functional teams, external partners, and stakeholders.
• Proven leadership ability, including mentoring and guiding technical teams, fostering innovation, and delivering feature systems that meet safety, security, and performance objectives.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in a technical or management field.
• 15 or more years of experience in automotive electrical systems.
• 10 or more years in people management.
• Experience launching new vehicles and achieving plant quality targets.
• Mastery of product development deliverables and Ford engineering tools, including AVBOM, WERS, AIMS, 5Ds, eFDVS, Jama, Engineering Sign Off, DFMEA, Six Sigma, Confluence, and Jira.
• Ability to understand end-to-end systems of systems and apply systemic thinking, critical thinking, and strategic reasoning to identify opportunities, understand complex concerns, develop alternatives, and drive strategy from concept through production.
• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to structure approaches to complex problems and clarify solutions.
• A system-oriented design and development approach, with curiosity and commitment to exceptional execution and continuous improvement.
• Experience with electrical systems, vehicle launches, Ford engineering tools, and global team leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to Feature Commissioning Engineering teams, fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
• Oversee the global product portfolio of electrical system development from concept to production, ensuring alignment with product requirements and company objectives.
• Communicate project status, risks, and opportunities to executive leadership and stakeholders.
• Develop and drive next-generation platform integration strategies, providing integration feedback and testing for early hardware and software releases and collaborating with feature teams on deeper testing.
• Collaborate with product and program management, design, software, feature assurance, architecture, and hardware engineering teams to drive execution.
• Lead cross-functional teams in vehicle- and system-level issue root cause across vehicle domains, end-to-end electrical system operation, and signal propagation across networks.
• Ensure quality and reliability through rigorous testing, validation, and verification.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks and proactively address issues to ensure successful delivery at Ford end-of-line.
• Facilitate integration of electromechanical systems and achieve Chief-level systems sign-off across programs.
• Recommend solutions and designs that affect top-level vehicle architecture.
• Drive continuous improvement through AI, automation, and process efficiency to optimize feature development processes, tools, and methodologies.
• Lead a global team of technical leaders.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, and subsidized backup childcare.
• 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.
• 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: Senior