Ford Motor Company

Staff Software Engineer - OTA Platform

Ford Motor Company$150K — $283K *
Consumer Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent experience.
  • 7+ years of software engineering experience, including 3+ years in Rust or strong C++ expertise with a willingness to work in Rust.
  • Proven knowledge of async programming and concurrent system design using the Tokio runtime.
  • Solid Linux systems experience, comfortable in developing and debugging software.
  • Experience in designing state machines for distributed or embedded systems.
  • Strong testing discipline across unit, integration, and mock-driven testing.
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and modern build systems.

Responsibilities

  • Own and evolve the OTA software update engine.
  • Design and implement reliable and safe update orchestration logic.
  • Write production-quality async Rust code focusing on correctness and maintainability.
  • Build cutting-edge developer tooling for managing software updates.
  • Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and container infrastructure.
  • Participate in code reviews emphasizing correctness and reliability.
  • Collaborate with teams across firmware, vehicle software, and cloud infrastructure.

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.
  • Employee vehicle discount program and management leases.
  • Tuition assistance for ongoing education.
  • Active employee resource groups for community engagement.
  • Paid time off for community services and a generous holiday schedule.
Full Job Description
Job Description

In this position...
You'll be a core contributor to the In-Vehicle OTA Platform, building the software that will keep Ford's Universal Electric Vehicle fleet up to date. Our OTA software update service is a Rust application responsible for orchestrating vehicle software updates, managing complex multi-stage lifecycles across download, verification, installation, and activation across many ECUs. Your work ships to real vehicles on real roads.

Responsibilities

What you'll do...
• Own and evolve the OTA software update engine.
• Design and implement reliable, safe update orchestration logic.
• Write production-quality async Rust with a focus on correctness, safety, and maintainability.
• Build and contribute to cutting-edge developer tooling that lets engineers create and manage software update deployments.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines, container infrastructure, and multi-target build systems.
• Participate in code review with a high signal-to-noise bar: focus on correctness and reliability.
• Collaborate across embedded firmware, vehicle software, and cloud infrastructure teams to coordinate update flows end-to-end.

Qualifications

You'll have...
• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 7+ years of professional software engineering experience, with 3+ years writing production Rust, or strong, demonstrable C++ expertise with a clear appetite to work in Rust.
• Strong command of async programming, including the Tokio runtime and concurrent system design.
• Solid Linux systems experience-you are comfortable developing, debugging, and operating software in Linux environments.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing state machines for distributed or embedded systems.
• Strong testing discipline: unit, integration, and mock-driven testing.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, containerization, and modern build systems.
• Excellent written communication - you write documentation your teammates actually read.

Even better, you may have...
• Experience with automotive systems, OTA software updates, or vehicle ECU communication protocols such as UDS, CAN, or LIN.
• Familiarity with Yocto/BitBake for embedded Linux image builds and cross-compilation.
• Background in serialization strategies and schema evolution for distributed systems.
• Cross-compilation experience for embedded or constrained targets.
• Experience packaging and distributing developer tooling to engineering teams.
• Experience in regulated industries where software reliability and traceability are required (automotive, medical, aerospace).
• Comfort working alongside AI coding agents and integrating AI-assisted workflows into day-to-day engineering.

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 6 and ranges from $150,200-$283,500.
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/LL6

Visa sponsorship is 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 #LI-JD2 #UEV

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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