Senior Embedded Controls Engineer, Vehicle Motion

Ford • Palo Alto, CA

1d • $138,800 - $232,700 • Hybrid

About The Position

The way a vehicle moves — how it responds to driver intent, how it manages lateral and longitudinal forces, and how naturally it connects the driver to the road — defines its character. It is the DNA of the vehicle. We are building the next generation of centralized vehicle motion control systems: advanced embedded control software that unifies vehicle dynamics, improves integration across systems, and creates a more intuitive, confident, and engaging driving experience. We are looking for a highly skilled Embedded Controls Software Engineer to help define, develop, and deliver these next-generation control systems. This role is ideal for an engineer with deep experience in embedded controls, safety-critical systems, vehicle dynamics, and hands-on development of math- and physics-based control strategies. You will work at the intersection of embedded software, electrical systems, vehicle dynamics, functional safety, and systems integration — helping shape how future vehicles feel, respond, and perform.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience with evidence of exceptional technical ability.
• 5+ years of experience developing embedded control systems for chassis systems, vehicle control modules, vehicle motion control, or similar dynamic control functions.
• 5+ years of experience with electrical hardware applications, prototype bring-up, and systems development.
• 5+ years of experience with vehicle network protocols such as CAN, LIN, and Automotive Ethernet.
• Strong electrical engineering fundamentals and hands-on experience using electrical test equipment, including oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, signal generators, and power supplies.
• 5+ years of experience using embedded networking interface tools in automotive, aerospace, or a similarly complex embedded systems environment.
• Working knowledge of systems development, vehicle architecture, diagnostics, network communication, functional safety, and hardware/software integration processes.
• Experience creating and executing component-level test procedures and owning test results through resolution and release.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing vehicle dynamic features such as stability control, anti-lock braking, hill hold, park assist, cruise control, adaptive cruise control, or related motion-control functions.
• Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics, control theory, and physics-based algorithm development.
• Experience with software build tools such as Bazel, SCons, CMake, or similar.
• Experience with PCB-level hardware components and associated analysis/debug tools.
• Ability to write test automation scripts using Python or similar scripting languages.
• Strong software fundamentals, including software architecture, modular design, maintainability, and code quality.
• Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, system debugging, embedded optimization, and vehicle-level integration.
• Knowledge of electrical engineering fundamentals, including circuit analysis and design.
• Familiarity with SIL, HIL, labcar, and vehicle validation environments.
• Highly collaborative mindset with the ability to communicate complex technical topics clearly across software, hardware, systems, safety, and supplier teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement control strategies for advanced vehicle motion functions, including lateral and longitudinal vehicle dynamics.
• Design and mature embedded control algorithms that translate driver intent into natural, precise, and predictable vehicle behavior.
• Support the development of a centralized vehicle motion control architecture by consolidating and integrating vehicle dynamic functions across multiple domains.
• Collaborate with internal engineering teams and external suppliers to define functions, interfaces, and requirements for third-party components.
• Partner with software integration teams to bring up core functions and translate software-level needs into electrical hardware and system requirements.
• Participate in functional safety analyses for complex vehicle subsystems and apply safety-critical development principles throughout the design lifecycle.
• Develop comprehensive test strategies and execute validation activities to verify firmware functionality, robustness, stability, and performance across operating conditions.
• Create subsystem block diagrams, define interfaces, and lead subsystem design reviews across all vehicle program development phases.
• Work with system integration leads to capture component-level requirements, provide technical expertise during sourcing discussions, and review and approve device transmittals.
• Support early-phase firmware development activities, including hardware validation, labcar testing, prototype bring-up, and automation framework development for unit, SIL, and HIL testing.
• Debug complex system issues across software, hardware, networks, and vehicle-level integration environments.

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