Job Description

The Principal Diagnostics Engineer role is essential to advancing the development of Manufacturing Diagnostics and Testing Tools for the next generation of Ford vehicles.

In this role, you will lead the creation of advanced diagnostic, testing, and flashing tools across a broad technology stack, from embedded systems to high-level server platforms.

Success requires exceptional technical expertise and innovative problem-solving in safety-critical, real-time environments. This role suits candidates passionate about fast-paced, collaborative environments and eager to shape the future of automotive manufacturing.

The Digital Manufacturing Systems team is seeking a highly motivated Principal Diagnostics Engineer to play a key role in imagining, inventing, and implementing cutting-edge technology that manufactures the next generation of Ford vehicles. This role is not just about writing code; it's about pioneering solutions that push boundaries on uncharted hardware and software platforms within the bold Vehicle-as-X vision, transforming vehicles into intelligent, autonomous participants that self-calibrate, self-test, self-report, and self-manage throughout their lifecycle.

Responsibilities

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the development of groundbreaking diagnostic, testing, and flashing tools that are central to transforming vehicles into intelligent, self-managing entities throughout their lifecycle. You will work on a diverse technology stack that spans low-level embedded systems and high-level server-side platforms, designing solutions to enable continuous self-testing, autonomous software updates, real-time data reporting, and seamless integration between factory systems and vehicle platforms.

You will be instrumental in shaping systems that leap beyond traditional manufacturing and diagnostic paradigms-breaking new ground on never-done-before solutions for not-yet-shipped hardware. This requires exceptional technical expertise, innovative thinking, and a bold approach to problem-solving in a safety-critical, real-time environment.

By owning and advancing in-house diagnostic, testing, and flashing capabilities, you will empower Ford to rapidly innovate, and deliver superior manufacturing yield and customer experiences. Your work will directly contribute to unlocking the full potential of Vehicle-as-X, turning vehicles into active participants in their assembly, quality assurance, and lifecycle management.

If you thrive in an environment of rapid iteration, bold technology challenges, and collective success, and if you want to be a key architect in shaping the future of automotive manufacturing, this role offers an extraordinary opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Extensive experience (10+ years) in software engineering, with a strong background in embedded systems and automotive software platforms.
• Proven leadership in architecting and delivering complex automation, diagnostic, or test frameworks integrated with hardware-software ecosystems.
• Deep understanding of hardware-software integration challenges specific to diagnostic toolchains, including root cause analysis, logging, and fault injection in vehicle assembly and operation.
• Proven ability to lead cross-disciplinary collaboration with hardware engineers, manufacturing quality teams, calibration specialists, and data analytics groups to develop and integrate advanced diagnostic solutions.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing diagnostic tools and frameworks that ensure high performance, scalability, and reliability within high-volume manufacturing and factory-floor environments.
• Experience defining and driving key performance indicators (KPIs) related to manufacturing yield improvement, defect reduction, and failure detection rates, aligning diagnostics development with measurable business outcomes.

Software Development Experience

• 10+ years proficiency in C# and its related frameworks (such as .NET) for server-side development, along with substantial experience in front-end development using AngularJS and its ecosystem.
• 3+ years hands-on experience with cloud technologies, preferably Google Cloud Platform (GCP), including designing and managing scalable cloud infrastructure.
• Expertise in infrastructure as code using tools like Terraform to automate cloud resource provisioning and management.
• Skilled in containerization technologies such as Docker to build, deploy, and manage containerized applications efficiently.
• Strong knowledge of modern software development practices, including test-driven development (TDD), domain-driven design (DDD), and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
• Experience working in fast-paced, innovative environments with emerging hardware and software platforms.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with a passion for mentoring and leading technical teams.

Diagnostics Experience

• Extensive experience with automotive diagnostic protocols and standards such as UDS (Unified Diagnostic Services), OBD-II, CAN, LIN, and ISO 14229.
• Strong knowledge of functional safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262) and cybersecurity principles applicable to automotive diagnostics and flashing tools.

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 a leadership level 5.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL5SP4

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

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About Us

At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career and help us define tomorrow's transportation.

About the Team

We seek to provide the thought leadership essential to achieving Ford's strategic objectives. We translate insight into action by driving toward robust points of view, timely decisions and responsible allocation of enterprise resources.