Hardware Architecture Manager

Ford • 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 particular focus on suspension, steering, brakes, and wheels/tires. The role is central to Underbody Systems’ modularity strategy, establishing architectural direction that manages complexity, enables efficient design, and supports fast program execution without compromising quality.

The manager leads chassis architecture from program start through the early UNVx milestones of GPDS, integrating chassis commodities with frames/subframes, body structure, driveline, and propulsion across global vehicle platforms. The position owns the multi-year underbody architecture roadmap and translates vehicle strategy, cycle plans, and technology vectors into architecture decisions, investment priorities, and resource plans, with a 5–10-year outlook.

The role partners with Vehicle Architecture, Vehicle Engineering, Program Leadership, Underbody Systems leadership, Vehicle Planning and Programs, Supply Chain, downstream underbody engineering, Research & Advanced Engineering, and Technical Experts. It drives trade-offs and alignment on cost, weight, timing, performance, and complexity; supports program hardware definition, investment, staffing, and milestone alignment; and leads technical governance, competitive benchmarking, and the transition of chassis technology toward industrialization.

The manager champions “Engineer as Designer,” strengthens CATIA/3DX, CAE, and ADAMS MBD capabilities, implements an internal Build-to-Print strategy for key chassis commodities, and leads adoption of AI-augmented engineering. The role also develops analytical capability in early program phases and 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.

Requirements

• B.S. in Mechanical, Automotive, or Aerospace Engineering.
• 10 or more years of experience in automotive chassis product development and systems engineering, including early-phase architecture.
• Proven ability to set long-range technical direction, influence senior leaders without direct authority, and align multiple teams on complex trade-offs.
• Deep chassis expertise.
• Working knowledge of modular architecture, CATIA/3DX, component FEA, and MBD/ADAMS systems modeling.
• Experience with Agentic and Generative AI.
• Experience leading and developing leaders in a global organization, with accountability for cost, timing, and talent.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.

Nice To Haves

• M.S. or MBA.

Responsibilities

• Lead the global department defining early underbody architecture, with focus on suspension, steering, brakes, and wheels/tires.
• Own the multi-year underbody architecture roadmap, including common interfaces, scalable building blocks, and design rules that reduce variation and complexity.
• Translate vehicle strategy, cycle plans, and technology vectors into architecture decisions, investment priorities, and resource plans with a 5–10-year view.
• Lead chassis architecture from program start through the early UNVx milestones of GPDS.
• Integrate chassis commodities with frames/subframes, body structure, driveline, and propulsion across global vehicle platforms.
• Partner with Vehicle Architecture, Vehicle Engineering, Program Leadership, and Underbody Systems leadership to negotiate trade-offs and drive alignment on decisions.
• Represent Underbody Systems to 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 connect Research & Advanced Engineering with industrialization of chassis technology vectors in partnership with Technical Experts.
• Champion “Engineer as Designer” and strengthen CATIA/3DX, CAE, and ADAMS MBD proficiency.
• Implement an internal Build-to-Print strategy for key chassis commodities and grow engineering expertise as needed.
• 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, deploying resources in response to shifting cycle plans.
• Set expectations for technical rigor and foster transparency, accountability, sound risk-taking, and succession development for 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.
• 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