Ford Motor Company

Platform Hardware Technical Manager

Ford Motor Company$120K — $150K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in automotive hardware engineering, program management, or a related field.
  • Experience leading hardware programs from concept to production readiness.
  • Technical leadership skills in coaching and cross-functional alignment.
  • Strong knowledge of automotive hardware development processes.
  • Experience with ECUs and electrical architectures.
  • Ability to navigate ambiguity and resolve complex issues.
  • Excellent communication skills for influencing cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

  • Direct development and manage hardware risk for FNV3.x iterations.
  • Orchestrate technical direction through engineering and financial milestones.
  • Collaborate with teams to ensure program content is delivered on time and with quality.
  • Ensure technical hardware is sourced, validated, and aligned with program timing.
  • Facilitate the DV process and drive hardware audits and test planning.
  • Spearhead ECU updates for platform prototypes and preproduction builds.
  • Represent engineering in various program and vehicle forums.

Benefits

  • Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
  • Flexible family care days and paid parental leave.
  • Family building benefits including adoption reimbursement and fertility treatments.
  • Vehicle discount program for employees and family members.
  • Tuition assistance for further education.
  • Paid time off for community service activities.
  • Generous holiday schedule and additional vacation purchase options.
Full Job Description
Job Description

In this position...

Program (TPP) organization, focused on delivering platform hardware initiatives across the FNV3.x Architecture, including FNV3.2, FNV3.3, and future platform iterations.

Success in this role requires a leader who is centered on product excellence, engineering rigor, technical execution, and bias for action. You will operate in a fast-paced and highly cross-functional environment, partnering across engineering, architecture, program planning, finance, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and vehicle operations to ensure platform hardware is defined, sourced, released, validated, and delivered in support of program milestones.

This role has significant organizational impact. You will provide technical direction, drive resolution of complex hardware risks, influence platform-level decisions, and ensure alignment between technical platform strategy, program objectives, cost, timing, quality, and manufacturing readiness.

Responsibilities

What you'll do...
  • Direct the development and maintain assumptions for Platform Hardware iterations (FNV3.2, 3.3, 3.X), managing and driving resolution of hardware risks, technical challenges, change control, complexity reduction, and cost.


  • Orchestrate Technical Hardware Platform direction through engineering gateways and financial milestones from pre-program (MR) through FEC, acting as single point of contact between SET/VHE/VHM, Program Planning, Tech Strategy, Design/Release, Finance, Quality, Attribute, STA, VO, and NML teams.


  • Collaborate with the Functional D&Rs / Hardware Teams / SETs / TPMs / TPP Applications team to ensure all work in support of Program content is completed on time, with quality. Manage functional content alignment supports Platform initiatives and program objectives.


  • Ensure all Technical Platform hardware is sourced, released, validated and delivered in support of program timing. Review and ensure BOM accuracy and completeness including content alignment with Tech Strategy and Architecture teams.


  • Facilitate the support the DV process by proactively cascading Platform requirements, driving DFMEA development, leading hardware audits/reviews, ensuring proper classification, test planning, vehicle requests and availability.


  • Spearhead ECU part updates for all Platform breadboards and preproduction builds at the build site. Work with D&R Engineers, SETs / VHEs, suppliers, New Models, MP&L, and other stakeholders to organize and lead HW update events. Ensure all required part and vehicle level updates are completed on time and with quality, in support of build timing.


  • Represent the Technical Platform Hardware Team in Program and Vehicle Operations forums (e.g. Hardware Architecture Stand up, PSTs, CNE DF, Change Control, Milestone reviews, Design reviews, AIMs, Jira, Pedigree reviews, etc.). Also, organize, lead and follow-up issue- or deliverable-specific meetings.


  • Manage ED&T and Tooling (Dates, tracking, budget allocation) for Unit/Platform and Program as well as as Platform BOM for Unit/Platform


  • Evaluate feasibility/scoping of Upfront Hardware for highly integrated features (new/major modifiedECUs to platform - New content to on-board, new platform choices, and platform guardrails


Qualifications

You'll have...

  • 10+ years of experience in automotive hardware engineering, technical program management, platform engineering, electrical/electronic systems, vehicle architecture, or a closely related technical field.


  • Demonstrated experience leading complex hardware programs or platform initiatives from early concept through engineering milestones, validation, sourcing, and production readiness.


  • Experience managing or providing technical leadership to engineering teams, including coaching, prioritization, issue resolution, and cross-functional alignment.


  • Strong understanding of automotive hardware development processes, including sourcing, release, validation, BOM management, DFMEA, design reviews, change control, and build support.


  • Experience working with ECUs, electrical/electronic architectures, platform hardware, vehicle integration, or highly integrated vehicle features.


  • Proven ability to lead through ambiguity, make sound decisions with incomplete information, and drive closure on complex technical and business issues.


  • Strong communication skills with the ability to influence engineering teams, program leaders, finance partners, manufacturing teams, suppliers, and senior stakeholders.


  • Demonstrated ability to balance technical depth with business judgment, including cost, quality, complexity, timing, and strategic platform considerations.


Even better, you may have...

  • Experience with Ford engineering systems, processes, milestone reviews, AIMs, Jira, change control, CNE DF, PSTs, or related governance forums.


  • Experience supporting vehicle builds, preproduction events, breadboards, ECU updates, or launch readiness activities.


  • Familiarity with FNV architecture, connected vehicle platforms, electrical/electronic systems, or software-defined vehicle hardware enablement.


  • Experience managing ED&T, tooling budgets, BOM alignment, or program financial milestone deliverables.


  • Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams through high-pressure program timing, technical risk, and launch-critical issue resolution.


What you'll receive in return...

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 childcare 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 a leadership level 4.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here:

2026 LL4 Benefits Summary

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.

Work You’ll Do

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.

Join Our Market-Leading Team

Ford’s commitment to excellence is why we are a leader in the automotive sector. We offer a variety of career paths, from engineering to marketing, all designed to foster professional and personal growth. Our team benefits from Ford’s commitment to professional development and networking opportunities, ensuring that every team member can reach their full potential.

Innovative Work

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.

Be Part of a Great Team

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.

Future-Proof Your Career

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.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a student interested in an internship, Ford has opportunities that will harness your skills and ignite your ambition. Our hiring process is straightforward and respectful, designed to match your skills and passions with the right position.

Stay Connected

Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Ready to start your journey with Ford? Prepare your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and become part of a company that’s building the future of transportation.

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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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