System Manager

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The System Manager leads the integration and program execution of Interior Systems for assigned forward-model vehicle programs. Reporting to the Interior Systems Management Group Lead, this Leadership Level 6 position is accountable for an integrated system-level view across Seats, Restraints, Cockpit, and Trim. The role drives progress toward cost, weight, timing, and quality targets while supporting vehicle design intent and market positioning.

The System Manager coordinates subsystem work, identifies and resolves issues, and keeps program stakeholders informed of status, risks, and decisions needed. Through influence, the role aligns Design Release Engineers (DREs) and cross-functional partners around an integrated delivery plan and escalates issues that could affect program milestones or readiness.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a closely related technical field.
• Experience in automotive product development, preferably in one or more Interior Systems areas: Seats, Restraints, Cockpit, or Trim.
• Experience leading projects, programs, or cross-functional teams, including driving action and issue resolution without direct reporting authority.
• Understanding of vehicle development processes and program timing, deliverables, and readiness expectations.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, including the ability to synthesize information from multiple subsystems into a clear status and recommendations for leaders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, build alignment across teams, and escalate risks appropriately.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting forward-model vehicle programs or early-stage vehicle development.
• Familiarity with Ford product development processes and systems, including PDP, FEDE, DPA, APQP, PPAP, TKO, and BPR.
• Experience with system-level target management, sourcing and delivery tracking, or manufacturing readiness.
• Experience with interior content or price-class differentiation, part-count reduction, or other complexity-reduction initiatives.
• Experience working with global teams, suppliers, DREs, or vehicle program organizations.
• Schedule flexibility to work outside normal business hours to coordinate with global teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the integrated Interior Systems view for assigned forward-model programs, coordinating activities across all interior commodities.
• Own system-level metric tracking and reporting, including cost, weight, sourcing, delivery, timing, and quality status.
• Prepare and lead Interior Systems status reporting for applicable Business Performance Reviews (BPRs), providing roll-ups of progress, risks, and decisions needed.
• Drive resolution of technical, packaging, cost, content, and timing issues with DREs and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Guide system-level trade-offs involving interior content and design to support vehicle targets, design intent, and price-class positioning.
• Lead part-count reduction and other complexity or efficiency initiatives.
• Coordinate Interior Systems delivery plans, including production-tooled build and pre-DCV testing dates, TKO glidepaths, and Sign-Off (S/O) reviews.
• Monitor APQP and PPAP status across applicable Interior Systems parts and raise risks to manufacturing readiness.
• Support timely Matched Pair (MP) decisions and other program decisions needed to protect component delivery plans and milestones.
• Guide DREs as they deliver components to target, maintaining the integrated system glidepath while respecting component-level ownership, including SOW and FEDE maintenance.
• Promote disciplined use of program processes and tools, and share lessons learned to improve execution across programs.

Benefits

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