Software Quality Engineer

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Software Quality Assurance Engineer is responsible for applying advanced quality methodologies and tools to proactively identify, analyze, and eliminate potential defects throughout the product lifecycle. This role champions a "shift-left" approach, embedding prevention strategies into every stage of software and product development. You will translate quality principles and defect prevention vision into concrete action — acting as a trusted technical partner to cross-functional stakeholders and collaborating closely with engineering teams to embed robust, systemic defect prevention practices across our automotive platforms.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
• 10+ years of software engineering experience in the automotive industry, with a strong focus on software quality and defect prevention (root cause analysis, corrective/preventive action management, quality audits).
• Experience in verification & validation is a plus but is not a substitute for direct defect prevention/quality engineering experience.
• Proven expertise in software defect prevention methodologies, including within embedded software systems
• Hands-on experience with structured problem-solving tools (8D, 5 Whys, Root Cause Analysis facilitation, PDCA)
• Experience conducting quality audits and managing non-conformance resolution
• Strong background in Failure Mode Avoidance (FMA) for software systems
• Strong embedded software development expertise
• Experience applying statistical methods to monitor and improve quality metrics
• Excellent communication, coaching, and training skills to drive cultural and technical improvements
• Experience working within a software quality organization highly desired

Nice To Haves

• ASPICE Assessor Certification
• Experience with software process assessments
• Experience with automotive software engineering development processes
• Experience with Ford GPDS and as a Ford Design & Release Engineer
• Experience with Ford eSoW requirements and supplier quality management
• Experience with DevOps, continuous integration, and automated software testing
• Understanding of open-source software compliance and cybersecurity best practices

Responsibilities

• Facilitate Root Cause Analysis (RCA) of identified issues, collaborating with cross-functional engineering disciplines
• Employ structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D, 3-Legged 5 Whys, PDCA) to identify true underlying causes rather than symptoms
• Document RCA findings, clearly capturing contributing factors and systemic weaknesses
• Define robust Prevent Recurrence Actions (PRAs) with relevant teams to eliminate root causes
• Establish and maintain a systematic tracking mechanism for PRAs, monitoring progress to closure
• Verify implemented actions achieve the desired quality improvement without introducing new issues
• Document identified non-conformances and potential issues
• Collaborate with responsible teams to resolve non-conformances, track progress, and verify corrective measure effectiveness
• Plan, schedule, and perform quality audits across processes and products
• Identify non-compliance, risks, and improvement opportunities
• Generate audit reports, communicate findings to stakeholders, and drive timely closure; escalate as needed to resolve open findings
• Establish and maintain data collection processes for key quality measures
• Apply statistical methods to monitor quality metrics and identify trends
• Partner with cross-functional teams to implement targeted actions, bringing processes and product quality back within control limits
• Synthesize Software Quality Assurance (SWQA) data and activities into clear, actionable summaries
• Develop and maintain dashboards, newsletters, executive summaries, and formal presentations to communicate SWQA status, KPIs, risks, and improvement initiatives to both engineering teams and executive leadership
• Collaborate with supplier quality management teams to ensure externally sourced components meet Ford eSoW requirements and support overall defect prevention
• Conduct software design reviews to ensure compliance with architectural and quality standards
• Participate in engineering joint reviews to reinforce best practices in software development
• Coach and train engineering teams on software quality best practices, including ASPICE compliance

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