Ford Motor Company

Product Manager, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Ford Motor Company$99K — $192K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field or equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years in product management, project management, or software engineering.
  • Experience managing critical industrial applications requiring business, manufacturing, and technical expertise.
  • Proficient in Agile/Lean practices including backlog management and sprint planning.
  • Driven experience with business OKRs/KPIs and data analysis for product development.
  • Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills.
  • Familiarity with modern technology stacks, cloud infrastructure, and AI technologies.

Responsibilities

  • Own product lifecycle from ideation to delivery and sunset.
  • Translate product vision into a prioritized backlog for development teams.
  • Lead project management: define scope, timelines, budget, and risk management.
  • Manage Agile processes using tools like JIRA and facilitate Agile ceremonies.
  • Track and report project health metrics to stakeholders and leadership.
  • Balance business, user, and technical needs in product delivery.
  • Collaborate with engineers and designers to ensure quality product delivery.

Benefits

  • Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
  • Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, and subsidized back-up childcare.
  • Family building benefits, including adoption and fertility treatments.
  • Employee vehicle discount program and management leases.
  • Tuition assistance for continued education.
  • Active employee resource groups for diverse interests and backgrounds.
  • Paid time off for community service and a generous holiday schedule.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Join Ford's mission to modernize automotive manufacturing through innovative, intelligent software. As a Product Manager, you'll drive vehicle scheduling applications from vision to reality - owning the roadmap while managing the timelines, budgets, risks, and cross-team execution that turn ideas into platforms running on the factory floor. You'll be the driving force keeping delivery on track as we bring data, automation, and intelligence to Ford's plants.

This is a high-impact opportunity to lead delivery of key enterprise initiatives, working alongside engineers, data scientists, DevOps, automation, controls, and manufacturing teams to plan, build, and scale Billion-Dollar ideas. We need an experienced Product Manager who thrives on the discipline of project execution - managing scope, schedule, and stakeholders end-to-end - just as much as shaping product strategy. This is a rare chance to put your signature on how Ford plans, builds, and delivers the future of vehicle manufacturing.

Responsibilities

  • Own a product or product family across the full product lifecycle, from ideation and business case development through delivery, adoption, and sunset.
  • Partner with Business Partners and Product Owners to translate product vision into a prioritized, actionable backlog of epics and user stories for the development team.
  • Lead end-to-end project management for initiatives within the product family: define requirements and scope, build and maintain timelines/roadmaps, manage budget and resource allocation, identify and mitigate risks/dependencies, and drive stakeholder communication from ideation to delivery.
  • Manage Agile tooling (JIRA) and facilitate Agile ceremonies (sprint planning, stand-ups, retrospectives, backlog grooming).
  • Track and report project health (scope, schedule, budget, risks/issues) to stakeholders and leadership, escalating and resolving blockers proactively.
  • Balance business viability, user desirability, and technical feasibility when delivering software products with cross-functional teams.
  • Collaborate with Product Designers and Software Engineers to ensure timely, high-quality delivery of designs, assets, and specifications to the development team.
  • Work hands-on across cross-functional and cross-organizational teams to prioritize, plan, and deliver software that meets requirements, timelines, and quality standards.
  • Define specs, requirements, and acceptance criteria for product capabilities and deliverables in partnership with the product team.
  • Coach Business Partners on iterative/incremental delivery approaches and the rationale behind prioritization decisions.

Deliverables:
  • Product Strategy & Roadmap: Define product vision, strategy, and roadmap; collaborate with Product Owners and stakeholders to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
  • Project Plans & Governance: Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, RAID logs, and status reports; ensure on-time, on-budget delivery across the product family.
  • Requirements Gathering & Prioritization: Elicit and prioritize requirements across teams, balancing business needs, technical feasibility, and resource constraints.
  • Product Design & Development: Partner with Architects, Designers, and Engineers to design, build, and launch new features; create detailed specs, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
  • Product Discovery: Apply product discovery techniques to identify and validate opportunities before committing engineering resources.
  • Product Monitoring & Optimization: Track platform performance, adoption, and usage data post-launch; identify and prioritize improvement opportunities.
  • Stakeholder & Executive Communication: Communicate product vision, strategy, project status, and progress to stakeholders including executive leadership, engineering, and business units.
  • Customer Discovery: Engage regularly with users via interviews, surveys, and usability testing to understand needs and pain points.
  • Leadership Reviews: Prepare and present product and project performance updates to leadership on a regular cadence.
  • Business Impact: Deliver measurable business value against defined OKRs/KPIs and support organizational change management as new capabilities are adopted.


Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 5+ years of experience in a product manager, project manager, or software engineering role.
  • Demonstrated experience owning or managing critical applications for industrial use cases requiring a blend of business, manufacturing, and technical expertise.
  • Experience managing project scope, schedule, budget, and risk, in addition to Agile/Lean product delivery practices (backlog management, sprint planning, prioritization frameworks).
  • Proven experience driving business OKRs/KPIs through product development, data analysis, and user experience optimization.
  • Strong analytical skills with a focus on data-driven product and project decision-making.
  • Proficiency with modern technology stacks and familiarity with cloud infrastructure and AI technologies.
  • Strong organizational, planning, and time-management skills; able to manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities in a fast-paced, global environment.
  • Familiarity with engineering practices such as Test-Driven Development, Pair Programming, and Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience presenting to executive stakeholders.


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 range of salary grades 7-8 and ranges from $99,600-$192,900.
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/GSR

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Domestic relocation is available for this position.

This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-PW1

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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