Staff Systems Engineer, Multimedia Platforms

Ford • Palo Alto, CA

11d • $150,200 - $283,500 • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford Motor Company is hiring a Staff Systems Engineer for its Advanced EV group within Product Creation and Industrialization. The role leads the architecture, integration, and performance optimization of next-generation multimedia platforms. It drives technical strategy across graphics, touch, audio, video, networking, and embedded systems to deliver responsive, reliable, secure, and differentiated user experiences.

The position defines multimedia architecture, interfaces, requirements, and integration strategy; leads integration across applications, middleware, operating systems, drivers, networks, and hardware; and establishes performance targets and optimization strategies. It also uses system characterization and telemetry to identify bottlenecks and resolve root causes, guides architectural trade-offs, manages systemic risks across organizational boundaries, and influences engineering standards and technical direction.

The position is hybrid, with a requirement to work onsite four or more days per week. Ford lists a salary range of $150,200–$283,500, with final salary grade and base salary determined by candidate skills and experience, job scope, responsibility, and competitive market value. Visa sponsorship is available. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States, with eligibility verified at hire.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in embedded systems, systems architecture, or multimedia platforms.
• Deep expertise in graphics, touch, audio, video, networking, and connected systems.
• Strong understanding of hardware-software integration, operating systems, real-time systems, and distributed architectures.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional technical initiatives.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with embedded Linux, Android, RTOS, and modern development toolchains.
• Expertise in GPU, display, audio, video, touch, and network architecture.
• Familiarity with rendering pipelines, codecs, hardware acceleration, streaming protocols, and performance-profiling tools.
• Working knowledge of automotive functional safety, including ISO 26262, hazard analysis, safety requirements, and safety-oriented system design.
• Understanding of automotive cybersecurity, including ISO/SAE 21434, threat analysis and risk assessment, secure architecture, and defense-in-depth.
• Experience designing multimedia systems that meet safety, security, reliability, and performance objectives.
• Strong executive communication, technical judgment, and organizational influence.

Responsibilities

• Define end-to-end multimedia architecture, interfaces, requirements, and integration strategy.
• Lead integration across applications, middleware, operating systems, drivers, networks, and hardware.
• Establish performance targets and optimization strategies for latency, responsiveness, throughput, CPU, GPU, memory, power, and thermal behavior.
• Drive system characterization, bottleneck analysis, and root-cause resolution using data and telemetry.
• Guide architectural trade-offs across performance, reliability, scalability, safety, security, cost, and delivery.
• Identify systemic risks and drive resolution across organizational boundaries.
• Influence technical direction and engineering standards across teams.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care, and more.
• 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.
• Established and active 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.

What This Job Offers

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