Software Engineering Manager, Robotics

Ford Motor • Redford, MI

1d • $132,800 - $250,800 • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford’s Advanced Technology & Platforms organization is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead and grow a global robotics software engineering team. The team develops application software for multiple types of robots, including mobile robots, manipulators, and humanoid systems. The software must accommodate different physical configurations and capabilities while reusing common components wherever practical.

The manager will guide software development, establish delivery plans, and ensure software is tested and ready for use on physical robots. The role is responsible for team leadership, software delivery, and technical execution, including hiring and coaching engineers, setting priorities, coordinating work across teams, and contributing to technical reviews. The manager will work closely with robotics architecture, hardware, simulation, platform, and testing teams.

This hybrid position requires onsite work four or more days per week. The position is leadership level 6, with a salary range of $132,800–$250,800. Visa sponsorship and domestic relocation are available.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent practical background.
• Hands-on robotics software experience, including ROS 2, navigation software, robot models and kinematics, and device drivers.
• Strong C++ and Python skills.
• At least 3 years of experience managing software engineers.
• Experience delivering software for physical robots.
• Experience developing software used across more than one robot platform or hardware configuration.
• Experience hiring, coaching, and developing software engineers.
• Experience leading distributed engineering teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience creating and delivering engineering plans with milestones, owners, and dates.
• Ability to work effectively with technical leaders and partner engineering teams.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, or Electrical Engineering.
• Humanoid, mobile manipulator, or legged platform experience.
• Simulation-driven development with Isaac Sim, Gazebo, MuJoCo, or equivalent, including sim-first bring-up and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Experience with behavior trees, state machines, or task planning software.
• Experience developing shared software platforms used by multiple products.
• Experience working with international engineering teams.
• Familiarity with technology or manufacturing readiness processes.
• Experience with software updates, configuration management, and version control for deployed robot fleets.
• Safety-relevant or regulated software development.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and delivery of the software application stack used across Ford’s advanced robotics programs.
• Define delivery plans, milestones, responsibilities, and dependencies.
• Support reuse of common software components across different robot platforms.
• Oversee software for robot description and kinematics, device integration, navigation, manipulation, simulation, and system bring-up.
• Establish software quality, testing, and release practices.
• Track progress, manage risks, and communicate issues with proposed actions.
• Lead, coach, and develop a globally distributed robotics software engineering team.
• Hire engineers as the team and project portfolio grow.
• Set clear goals, responsibilities, and expectations; support professional development and build technical leadership within the team.
• Maintain regular communication and effective working practices across locations and time zones.
• Participate in code reviews, design reviews, and technical problem solving as needed.
• Turn technical direction into practical engineering plans.
• Coordinate software interfaces with robotics platform, data, and infrastructure teams.
• Partner with hardware teams on robot builds and system integration.
• Work with simulation and testing teams to validate software before deployment.
• Provide clear status updates and raise risks early.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• 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.
• Employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• Generous vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.
• Visa sponsorship.
• Domestic relocation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager