Ford Motor Company

Manager -Technical Leader for Exterior Systems, Lighting & Wipers

Ford Motor Company$141K — $268K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field
  • 10 years of experience in Exterior Systems or Electro-mechanical Systems
  • Evidence book or portfolio showcasing technical experiences and accomplishments
  • Ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders across teams
  • Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering (preferred)
  • 15+ years of experience in specific design aspects of Exterior Systems (preferred)
  • Strong understanding of statistical analysis (preferred)

Responsibilities

  • Partner with management to define and communicate technical strategies and objectives.
  • Own and manage the Exterior Systems Technology Roadmap.
  • Drive continuous benchmarking across product groups.
  • Conduct Technical Design Reviews for alignment with design standards.
  • Lead development and execution of standardized commodity documents.
  • Ensure technical coherence across programs through cross-functional partnerships.
  • Support training and development of department engineers and supervisors.

Benefits

  • Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
  • Flexible family care days and paid parental leave
  • Family building benefits including adoption and fertility treatments
  • Employee vehicle discount program
  • Tuition assistance for further education
  • Active employee resource groups
  • Generous paid holidays and community service time off
Full Job Description
Job Description

In this position...

Champion the deployment of the Exterior Systems, Lighting & Wiper technical strategy, to deliver globally consistent execution, stronger cross-functional alignment, and customer-focused outcomes.
This leadership position is responsible for technical content, strategy & processes for the Global Exterior Systems, Lighting, and Wiper Groups and will lead all technical aspects of our product strategy including early product concept development, business case alignment, supplier development, product verification & validation, launch/sign-off & quality assurance of products in the field.

The Technical Leader will also oversee foundation document creation & enforcement of prevent recurrence while guiding development of Exterior Systems, Lighting & Wipers standardized tools, methods & execution.

The Exterior Systems Technical Leader is a recognized and accomplished technical expert who demonstrates strong business acumen, operates effectively at a global scale, communicates confidently with all levels of leadership and has demonstrated abilities to manage ambiguity, make timely decisions, and drive program alignment.

Responsibilities

What you'll do...

  • Partner with the Global Chief and Management Teammates to define, resolve, and communicate department technical strategies, objectives, mission, and values.
  • Own, maintain, and manage delivery of the Exterior Systems Technology Roadmap
  • Drive continuous benchmarking across the group
  • Drive Technical Design Reviews to ensure solutions are aligned with Ford Design Rules, Requirements, Quality standards, and rooted in Failure Mode Avoidance (FMA)
  • Drive development and execution of standard and modular solutions
  • Lead development & deployment of all commodity foundation documents including DFMEAs, SCCAFs, Boundary Diagrams, P-Diagrams, DVP&R & integration manuals
    • Oversee ongoing maintenance/updates of commodity specific standards, specifications & verification methods
  • Partner with cross functional managers to maintain technical coherence and cross program consistency
  • Partner with Studio, Program Management, and Architecture to ensure early development is aligned with available technology and prioritization of the customers' needs
  • Drive Prevent Recurrence processes and Campaign Prevent Activities for the Global Exterior Systems, Lighting, and Wiper Groups
  • Support Critical Concern Review Group topics for Global Exterior Systems, Lighting, and Wiper Groups
  • Provide technical advice to Automotive Safety Office, Office of General Council & Design Analysis
  • Construct & develop simple and complex business cases for various designs & commercial negotiations
  • Support the professional development of the Global Exterior Systems, Lighting, and Wiper Groups -Guide & oversee training, mentoring & provide consulting to department engineers, supervisors & other interfacing functions


Qualifications

You'll have...

Minimum Requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field
  • 10 years of experience in Exterior Systems (Fascias, Bumpers, Ornamentation, Lighting, Wipers, Exterior Mirrors & Running boards) or Electro-mechanical Systems
  • Candidate must provide an evidence book or portfolio detailing technical experiences, key accomplishments, recognitions, training, publications, patents & other supporting evidence
  • Ability to build strong working relationships with all stakeholders including program teams, purchasing, manufacturing, STA & suppliers


Even better, if you have ...

Preferred
  • Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 15+ years of experience in Exterior Systems or Electro-mechanical system design, specifically focused on Wipers, mechanisms, latching or lighting.
  • An aptitude for developing people & processes
  • Strong understanding of statistical analysis
  • Extensive experience working with FMVSS and IIHS safety critical systems & components

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
• 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.

This position is leadership level 5 and ranges from $141,700-$268,300.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL5

Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position.

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.

#LI-Hybrid

#VehicleHardwareEngineering

#LI-JT1

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company manufactures or distributes automobiles in addition to offering financial services. The company sells to dealerships for retail sales, and for sale to fleet customers, including commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments. Ford’s vehicle portfolio includes automobiles, buses, tractors, and trucks. Retail financing includes retail installment sale contracts for new and used vehicles, and direct financing leases for new vehicles to retail customers, government entities, daily rental car companies, and fleet customers. Finance receivables in the non-consumer portfolio include products offered to automotive dealers. Ford’s environmental initiatives include compressed natural gas, flexible fuel vehicles, electric drive vehicles, Hydrogen, PC power management, and so on. Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903 and is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan.

Ford Motor Company Careers

Join the dynamic team at Ford Motor Company, a global leader in automotive innovation and manufacturing. At Ford, we are committed to driving human progress by providing outstanding vehicles and mobility solutions. This is an exciting time to become part of our inclusive team, where job opportunities abound and growth is not just a possibility, but a promise.

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At Ford Motor Company, you will collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry. Our professionals are at the forefront of automotive technology, leading projects that redefine transportation and sustainability. With a culture rooted in continuous improvement and respect for all, Ford offers a workplace where leadership, diversity training, and innovation are part of everyday life.

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Engage in work that makes a difference. Ford Motor Company is pioneering developments in electrification, autonomous vehicles, and smart mobility solutions. Our team of over 190,000 employees worldwide is dedicated to crafting experiences that improve the way the world moves.

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Working at Ford means more than just having a job; it means being part of a global family. Our culture promotes teamwork, integrity, and respect—values that underpin everything we do. We believe in nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment where every employee can thrive.

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Ford Motor Company is not just a great place to work; it’s a place to build a lasting career. Our employees enjoy competitive benefits, comprehensive health care, and retirement plans that rank among the best in the industry. We support career advancement through extensive training programs and hands-on experience in the latest automotive technologies.

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Learn more about Ford Motor Company
Size
183,000 employees
Market Cap
$44.8 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$1.2 billion
Founded
1903
5 Year Trend
-2.1%
Revenue
$127.1 billion
NASDAQ

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