Global Sr. Manager, Advanced Seats Engineering, Structures, & Compliance

Ford • Dearborn, MI

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford is seeking a senior global engineering leader to oversee early seating architecture and technology innovation, seat structure design and development, and seat system regulatory compliance. The role leads cross-functional, cross-regional teams to deliver seating systems that meet high standards of safety, quality, performance, and manufacturability while advancing technology and innovation strategies.

The position requires deep automotive engineering expertise, experience building and managing high-performing global teams, and the ability to navigate regulatory and homologation requirements across multiple markets. The leader will guide global seating engineering strategy, support future vehicle programs, resolve compliance risks, and represent Seating Engineering in senior-level reviews and technical discussions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
• 10 or more years of progressive experience managing technical teams of increasing size and complexity.
• Strong automotive industry experience, with demonstrated expertise in seat systems, structures, or related vehicle component engineering.
• Proven experience leading global, cross-regional, and cross-cultural engineering teams.
• Solid understanding of automotive regulatory and homologation requirements, such as FMVSS, ECE, or equivalent global standards.
• Strong knowledge of structural engineering principles, CAE/CAD tools, and industrialization and manufacturing processes.
• Excellent communication, executive presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, resources, and strategic technology roadmaps.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility will be verified at hire.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience with advanced materials, lightweighting, or next-generation seating technologies.
• Six Sigma, PMP, or other relevant process or technical certifications.
• Experience working within a global engineering organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a global team of engineers and managers across disciplines, sites, and time zones.
• Attract, develop, and retain engineering talent and build organizational capability.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, high-performance culture across distributed teams.
• Direct early-phase seating architecture strategy, concept development, and advanced technology roadmaps aligned with future vehicle programs.
• Partner with product planning, design, and innovation teams to identify and mature emerging seating technologies.
• Guide feasibility studies, benchmarking, and technology readiness assessments.
• Oversee structural design, engineering analysis, validation, and industrialization of seat systems from concept through ongoing product development.
• Drive continuous improvement in structural performance, weight optimization, cost, and quality.
• Guide seating development priorities to meet emerging homologation and third-party targets.
• Serve as the technical escalation point for compliance risks and work cross-functionally to resolve regulatory issues.
• Ensure lessons learned and best practices inform forward-model development programs.
• Collaborate with Program Management, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supplier Technical Assistance teams to support integrated program delivery.
• Represent Seating Engineering in senior leadership reviews, program milestones, and executive-level technical discussions.
• Align global engineering standards, processes, and best practices across regions.
• Manage budgets, resources, and strategic technology roadmaps.

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.
• 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: Senior