PTEC Systems Engineering Supervisor – Powertrain Controls

Ford • Dearborn, MI

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

Ford’s Electric Vehicles, Digital and Design (EVDD) team is charged with delivering the company’s vision of a fully electric transportation future. EVDD is customer-obsessed, entrepreneurial, and data-driven and is dedicated to delivering industry-leading customer experience for electric vehicle buyers and owners. You’ll join an agile team of doers pioneering our EV future by working collaboratively, staying focused on only what matters, and delivering excellence day in and day out. Join us to make positive change by helping build a better world where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.
In this position...
You will provide technical leadership and direct line management for a dedicated team of systems engineering Subject Matter Experts within the Powertrain Controls software organization. In this critical role, you will bridge the gap between high-level vehicle attributes and low-level software implementation for internal combustion engines, automatic transmission, and driveline technologies. You will develop rigorous systems engineering solutions to support increasing system complexity, ensure compliance with End-to-End (E2E) regulatory standards, and shift defect detection earlier in the design cycle. This involves deep collaboration with your team, base software engineers, and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver high-quality mechatronic systems, establish a complete digital thread, and mitigate launch risks. This will involve collaboration with your team, software development teams within the Powertrain & Electrified Controls (PTEC) organization, and other vehicle & controls teams with Ford

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field of study.
• 5+ years of experience in automotive control system design, systems engineering, or requirement specification.
• Experience in powertrain systems engineering or related mechatronic systems.
• Experience leading or supervising a team of engineers.
• Experience teaching and mentoring systems engineering, requirements authoring, Failure Mode Avoidance analysis
• Awareness of Functional Safety processes, analysis and work products and how they interface with DFMEA and systems requirements

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
• 10+ years of Automotive Engineering and Product Development experience, specifically in powertrain or engine controls.
• Strong understanding of internal combustion engines, transmission, driveline controls/systems/components, and integration with electrified architectures, chassis, and ADAS.
• Familiarity with FMVSS regulations, NHTSA compliance standards, ASPICE, and ISO 26262 (Functional Safety).
• Proficiency with Ford systems, software development tools, and requirements management processes (e.g., Jama, FEDE, MagicDraw/MBSE).
• Expertise in generating and managing foundational quality documents (Boundary Diagrams, P-Diagrams, Interface Matrices, DFMEAs) and prioritizing high-severity FMEs.
• Experience with Ford's electrical architecture, over-the-air update processes, and hardware/software interface management.
• Strong problem-solving skills (e.g., G8D, DMAIC) and troubleshooting experience with mechanical, electromechanical, and software systems.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with a very effective ability to explain technical details and gain alignment across several cross-functional groups.

Responsibilities

• Cross-System Integration & New Tech: Define interface requirements for complex powertrain integrations, including applications with new architectures. Align requirements across Chassis and Propulsion teams and support feature compatibility across all power packs. Manage and mentor a team of Systems Engineering Subject Matter Experts.
• System Requirements: Translate vehicle-level attributes, regulations, and program targets into high-fidelity functional specifications. Curate system, logical, and technology requirements to ensure complete linkage (derivation, satisfy by, verify by).
• Risk Prioritization & FMA: Lead the coordination of Failure Mode Avoidance (FMA) efforts, intentionally prioritizing high-severity (Sev 8-10) Failure Mode Effects to prevent Field Service Actions (FSAs). Co-curate FMA libraries and ensure alignment with Vehicle Hardware Engineering.
• Quality & Robustness: Own the delivery of foundational software-specific Quality Documents (Boundary Diagrams, P-Diagrams, Noise Factors, Interface Matrices, DFMEAs) and Design Validation (DVM/DVP&R) to ensure compliance with internal and external standards.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify and prioritize opportunities to simplify or re-architect controls for efficiency (e.g., streamlining CAN interfaces). Enforce process disciplines to prevent late-stage discovery of integration issues. Use connected data and warranty reports to identify and resolve top-quality issues related to engine control software.

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: Manager
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees