Sr. Manager, UEV Elements

Ford • Long Beach, CA

10h • Hybrid

About The Position

This role owns the end-to-end product lifecycle—from trend-spotting and ideation to hardware/software integration, supplier management, and global market launch. The successful candidate will navigate the friction between agile consumer tech lifecycles and traditional automotive development, delivering high-margin, highly desired electronic accessories (e.g., dash cams, rear-seat entertainment, smart storage, connected IoT devices). This leader will ensure that all products not only delight the customer but also meet Ford’s rigorous standards for safety, durability, and software integration.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer science, product design, or business.
• Experience managing products that require companion mobile apps, cloud connectivity, and physical hardware integration.
• Familiarity with automotive electrical architectures (e.g., CAN bus, Ethernet), automotive-grade testing standards (AEC-Q100), and vehicle integration processes.
• Deep understanding of hardware development lifecycles (EVT, DVT, PVT) combined with modern Agile software development methodologies.
• Strong intuition for user experience, specifically regarding driver distraction guidelines (e.g., NHTSA) and seamless human-machine interfaces (HMI).
• Proven ability to manage complex relationships with external tech companies and contract manufacturers.
• A relentless drive to challenge the automotive status quo and bring "Silicon Valley" speed and innovation to vehicle accessories.
• Comfort operating in a highly matrixed environment, successfully bridging the cultural and operational gaps between software developers, hardware engineers, and commercial teams.
• Dedication to creating "surprise and delight" moments for the customer through flawless tech integration.

Nice To Haves

• Fortune 100 Consumer Electronics (e.g., Apple, Google, Samsung)

Responsibilities

• Trend Forecasting: Monitor global consumer electronics trends (e.g., CES innovations, mobile tech, gaming, smart devices) and translate them into a compelling automotive accessory roadmap.
• Business Case Development: Own the P&L for the CE accessories portfolio. Develop robust business cases, pricing strategies, and take-rate forecasts for both Factory-Installed Options (FIO) and Dealer-Installed Options (DIO).
• Lifecycle Synchronization: Develop strategies to decouple fast-moving consumer electronics lifecycles (6–12 months) from traditional vehicle development cycles (3–4 years), ensuring Ford vehicles always offer fresh, relevant tech.
• Requirements Definition: Write comprehensive Product Requirements Documents (PRDs) that bridge consumer tech features with automotive-grade requirements (e.g., extreme temperatures, vibration, crash safety).
• Ecosystem Integration: Champion the software integration of accessories with the vehicle’s infotainment system (SYNC/Android Automotive) and the FordPass mobile app, ensuring a seamless, single-ecosystem user experience.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead matrixed teams across Electrical Engineering, Software Development, Vehicle Integration, UI/UX, and Automotive Safety to deliver products on time and on budget.
• Strategic Partnerships: Identify, negotiate, and collaborate with leading consumer electronics brands, Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers, and Contract Manufacturers (CMs) to co-develop or white-label innovative hardware and software.
• Licensing & IP: Work with legal and business development teams to manage software licensing, data privacy compliance, and intellectual property integration for third-party tech.
• Launch Strategy: Develop GTM plans in partnership with Vehicle Program Management, Marketing, and Sales to bundle CE accessories into high-value vehicle packages or standalone retail offerings.
• Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates: Define the OTA roadmap for connected accessories, ensuring hardware can receive feature enhancements, bug fixes, and security patches post-purchase.
• Performance Analytics: Monitor customer telemetry, app store reviews, and warranty data to drive continuous product improvement and inform next-generation accessory designs.

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