Vehicle Integration and Software Test Lead

Ford Motor • Long Beach, CA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated Vehicle Integration and Software Test Lead to help bring our electric vehicle platform from concept to production. This role will lead vehicle-level software integration and testing across the full vehicle, working closely with software, hardware, controls, validation, electrical, product, manufacturing, technicians, operators, and suppliers. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, can solve complex integration challenges, and is passionate about building exceptional EVs from the ground up. We are looking for a systems-minded technical leader who can connect software, hardware, and vehicle behavior; drive issues to closure; influence across disciplines; and balance strategic planning with hands-on execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in automotive software, vehicle integration, software testing, systems engineering, or related technical roles.
• Strong understanding of vehicle architecture, embedded systems, software integration, and vehicle-level test workflows.
• Experience with CAN, LIN, Ethernet, diagnostics, flashing, and software release processes.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting vehicle systems, integration issues, and test failures.
• Experience developing or executing software test plans for vehicle or embedded systems.
• Familiarity with automotive development tools and processes.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to lead cross-functional technical discussions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with prototype vehicle bring-up, test track validation, and production launch.
• Prior proving ground or track driver training.
• Experience in an EV startup or high-growth automotive environment.
• Knowledge of OTA updates, functional safety, cybersecurity, or diagnostics.
• Experience with model-based development or middleware integration.
• Familiarity with ISO 26262, FMVSS, ACC2, or related compliance standards.
• Experience building processes from the ground up in an early-stage organization.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the vehicle integration roadmap and software test strategy, including validation plans, regression coverage, and vehicle-level test plans.
• Align integration and test activities with program milestones, hardware/software roadmaps, dependencies, and delivery timing.
• Lead cross-functional coordination between software, systems, electrical, mechanical, validation, manufacturing, technicians, operators, and suppliers.
• Serve as the central technical point of contact for vehicle integration and software test topics.
• Lead vehicle-level software integration and testing across major domains, including powertrain, battery management, charging, infotainment, body controls, ADAS, and connectivity.
• Partner with software and systems engineering teams to develop and execute embedded and vehicle-level test plans.
• Lead pre-merge and post-merge vehicle-level testing, regression strategy, dogfooding activities, and defect closure.
• Support software release planning and integration testing across a fleet of 150+ vehicles.
• Plan test fleet utilization, including retrofits, instrumentation, vehicle shipping, and offsite testing at locations such as winter testing, MPG, and APG.
• Coordinate prototype and production build bring-up, validation, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis.
• Establish integration and software test processes, tools, dashboards, and best practices for a growing engineering organization.
• Support calibration, tuning, data collection, logging, A2L, XCP/ATI usage, and vehicle attribute evaluations.
• Own software maturity gate sign-off for track release, road release, customer release readiness, and launch milestones.
• Document integration status, test results, risks, dependencies, and provide regular updates to engineering and program leadership.
• Escalate risks and recommend tradeoffs across quality, cost, schedule, and regression coverage.

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: Manager