Product Development Technical Manager - Electrical Distribution System

Ford • Dearborn, MI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Product Development Technical Manager – Wiring is a key technical leadership role responsible for delivering wiring systems excellence across Ford’s global product portfolio. This leader sets the strategy to deliver quality, cost, and programs through strong technical acumen, disciplined processes, and aligned team execution. This role leads multiple functional teams and partners cross-functionally to ensure robust wiring requirements, standards, tools, and validation processes that enable flawless program execution and product sign-off. The Technical Manager also defines and executes the long-term wiring strategy, aligning to Ford+ priorities and evolving industry trends. This position requires a leader with deep technical knowledge who also demonstrates Ford’s expected leadership behaviors while building a high-performing, inclusive, and accountable team culture. The role involves delivering results with excellence in quality, cost, and delivery, leading, coaching, and developing three functional teams (Technical Specialists, Campaign Prevention, EDS Tools), fostering a high-performance culture, and driving disciplined problem-solving.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• 15+ years of experience in automotive wiring systems / Electrical Distribution Systems (EDS) and product development
• Strong understanding of wiring design, validation, and integration within vehicle systems
• Experience with engineering tools and systems (e.g., CAD, PLM, wiring design and validation tools)
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing teams; fosters an inclusive, people-first environment
• Strong enterprise mindset; able to balance functional excellence with program and business needs
• Proven ability to drive results through others, manage ambiguity, and make data-driven decisions
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization
• Experience managing budgets, suppliers, and external partners
• Strong problem-solving skills with experience in structured methodologies (e.g., 3L5W, root cause analysis)
• Knowledge of regulatory, safety, and compliance requirements in automotive development

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop three functional teams (Technical Specialists, Campaign Prevention, EDS Tools), fostering a high-performance culture focused on accountability, continuous improvement, and technical excellence
• Drive disciplined problem-solving (3L5W) to identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and ensure prevent recurrence actions
• Ensure compliance with Ford standards, regulatory requirements, and safety expectations to mitigate risk and protect the customer and the business
• Own and continuously improve wiring foundation documents, including requirements, standards, design rules, checklists, and validation methods
• Ensure technical rigor, standardization, and reuse across programs to improve efficiency and reduce complexity
• Serve as a technical leader and escalation point for critical wiring issues
• Lead strategy, selection, and lifecycle management of wiring design and validation tools, ensuring alignment with Ford’s CAD/PLM ecosystem
• Drive standard work, process adoption, and global consistency of EDS tools and methodologies across Ford and supplier teams
• Work across Product Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, Supplier Engineering, Quality, Field Operations, and IT to ensure alignment and integration of wiring solutions
• Influence without authority to remove barriers, drive decisions, and ensure program readiness and successful product sign-off
• Represent wiring in enterprise forums, ensuring risks are clearly communicated and managed
• Define and execute the multi-year wiring technical strategy and roadmap aligned to enterprise priorities
• Identify and integrate emerging technologies, automation, and digital tools to improve speed, quality, and cost
• Build organizational capability through talent development, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• 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
• A generous schedule of 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
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees