Hardware Architecture Manager

Ford Motor Company • Dearborn, MI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Global Chassis Architecture Manager (Leadership Level 4) leads the global department responsible for defining early underbody architecture, with a focus on suspension, steering, brakes, and wheels/tires. The role is central to Underbody Systems’ modularity strategy, establishing an architectural path that manages complexity, enables efficient design, and allows programs to move quickly without compromising quality.

The manager leads chassis architecture from program start through the early UNVx milestones of GPDS, integrating chassis commodities with frames and subframes, body structure, driveline, and propulsion across global vehicle platforms. The role owns the multi-year underbody architecture roadmap, translates vehicle strategy into architecture and investment decisions, and aligns stakeholders on trade-offs and technical decisions.

This position leads a global team of supervisors and product design engineers across US, European, and Australian product development centers. The direct reporting organization is based in Dearborn, Michigan. The role develops leaders and technical specialists and provides oversight to the broader global chassis organization.

Requirements

• B.S. in Mechanical, Automotive, or Aerospace Engineering.
• 10+ years in automotive chassis product development and systems engineering, including early-phase architecture.
• Proven record of setting long-range technical direction, influencing senior leaders without direct authority, and aligning multiple teams on complex trade-offs.
• Deep chassis expertise.
• Working knowledge of modular architecture, CATIA/3DX, component FEA, and MBD/ADAMS systems modeling.
• Experience leading and developing leaders in a global organization, with accountability for cost, timing, and talent.

Nice To Haves

• M.S. or MBA.
• Knowledge of Agentic and Generative AI.

Responsibilities

• Own the multi-year underbody architecture roadmap, including common interfaces, scalable building blocks, and design rules that reduce variation and complexity across global platforms.
• Translate vehicle strategy, cycle plans, and technology vectors into architecture decisions, investment priorities, and resource plans, ensuring a 5–10 year view informs near-term program choices.
• Partner with Vehicle Architecture, Vehicle Engineering, Program Leadership, and Underbody Systems leadership; negotiate cost, weight, timing, performance, and complexity trade-offs and drive alignment.
• Serve as the Underbody Systems point of contact for Vehicle Planning and Programs on hardware definition, weight, tool and facility investment, engineering headcount, and GPDS milestone alignment.
• Lead architectural milestone reviews, health charts, design-rule adherence, and sourcing package definition with Supply Chain and downstream underbody engineering.
• Benchmark competitors and bridge Research & Advanced Engineering to industrialization of chassis technology vectors in partnership with Technical Experts.
• Champion “Engineer as Designer” by strengthening CATIA/3DX, CAE, and ADAMS MBD proficiency.
• Implement an internal Build-to-Print strategy for key chassis commodities, growing engineering expertise as required.
• Lead the shift to AI-augmented engineering to improve quality, cost, and speed.
• Grow analytical capability and depth in early program phases.
• Lead and develop a global team of supervisors and product design engineers across US, European, and Australian product development centers; deploy resources against shifting cycle plans and oversee the broader global chassis organization.
• Set a high bar for technical rigor and build a culture of transparency, accountability, and sound risk-taking.
• Develop a succession pipeline of technical specialists and future engineering leaders.

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 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: Manager