Application Manager Jobs in Rochester Hills, MI (NOW HIRING)

BCM & PDC Software Application Supervisor 
We made history and now we work to transform the future - for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

Ford's Electric Vehicles, Digital and Design (EVDD) team is charged with delivering the company's vision of a fully electric transportation future. EVDD is customer-obsessed, entrepreneurial, and data-driven and is dedicated to delivering industry-leading customer experience for electric vehicle buyers and owners. You'll join an agile team of doers pioneering our EV future by working collaboratively, staying focused on only what matters, and delivering excellence day in and day out. Join us to make positive change by helping build a better world where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.

In this position... 

Lead the global Body Control Module (BCM) and Power Distribution Controller (PDC) software application development and Software Development Life Cycle activities for Gen1/1M, Gen2, Gen3.x BCMs and PDC. The BCM/PDC Software Application Supervisor will own end-to-end software application execution, release management, and supplier collaboration to ensure on-time, high-quality BCM/PDC solutions that meet Ford's performance, reliability, and cost targets. Crucially, this role ensures that all BCM/PDC software and architecture comply with strict Functional Safety (FuSA), Automotive SPICE (ASPICE), and Ford Cyber Security standards. This role is critical in driving DFMEA, PPAP readiness, and launch readiness activities across cross-functional teams, suppliers, and manufacturing, while serving as a strategic leader and mentor for the software application team.

You'll have...

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Experience: Minimum 8 years in automotive electrical systems engineering, with hands-on Body Control Module or equivalent complex automotive embedded ECU experience.
• Leadership: Minimum 2 years of experience in a technical leadership or supervisory role, with a proven ability to manage cross-functional teams, coordinate with global Tier-1 suppliers, and manage complex commercial/technical negotiations.

Even better, you may have...

• Advanced degree (MS) in a related engineering discipline or Business Administration (MBA).
• 10+ years of Body Control Module or equivalent complex automotive embedded ECU experience, with deeper exposure to End-of-Line (EOL) testing and vehicle launches.
• Six Sigma training (Green/Black Belt) or other structured quality/continuous improvement credentials.
• Extensive Ford-specific program experience, particularly with 5Ds and advanced DFMEA practices.
• Team Leadership: Passion for mentoring engineers and building high-performing, accountable teams.
• Safety & Security Mindset: Proactive approach to identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring fail-safe operations in complex vehicle networks.
• Communication: Exceptional ability to interface clearly and distill complex technical issues for executive management, internal engineering teams, suppliers, and manufacturing plants.
• Analytical Mindset: Ability to translate complex electrical/system issues into actionable, robust solutions.
• Strategic Thinking: High systems-level awareness ("systems of systems" thinking).
• Financial Acumen: Capable of managing budgets, cost targets (EDT), and resource allocation effectively.

Technical Skills: 

• Safety, Security & Quality: Working knowledge of Functional Safety (ISO 26262) processes, ASIL compliance, Automotive Cyber Security principles, and ASPICE software development processes.
• Proficiency with vehicle networks and diagnostics: CAN, CAN-FD, LIN, and UDS.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing End-of-Line (EOL) processes, with the ability to analyze EOL data for rapid issue resolution at the plant.
• Strong understanding of electrical packaging, vehicle system, vehicle schematics, and vehicle power distribution architectures.
• Expertise in DFMEA, 8D problem solving, PPAP, and D/PVPR.
• Hands-on experience with CANalyzer, Jira, Jama, and Teamcenter.
• Strong working knowledge of Ford Software Development Life Cycle deliverables and toolchains (WERS, AVBOM, SIMPSN, eFDVS, GPDS).

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 6 and ranges from $132,800-$250,800.     
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: 

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.

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-JS1 

What you'll do...

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of software application engineers; manage resource allocation, performance reviews, and career development to foster a culture of technical excellence and accountability.
• Oversee the end-to-end Software Development Life Cycle for BCM/PDC software applications, ensuring strict alignment with program milestones, quality gates, and platform strategies.
• Lead the software release process for global Core components, utilizing WERS, IVS, JFROG, and other applicable toolchains to ensure smooth, fully traceable software delivery.
• Manage high-level technical relationships with Tier 1 suppliers; handle critical escalations regarding software quality, timeline risks, and commercial/technical trade-offs (including EDT costs and global DCRs), while leading Technical Design Reviews (TDRs).
• Oversee Functional Safety (ISO 26262) compliance for the BCM/PDC by ensuring suppliers correctly implement cascaded requirements, and review test reports to verify appropriate ASIL ratings are achieved without issues.
• Ensure Ford Cyber Security standards and protocols are embedded within the ECU's architecture.
• Enforce compliance with automotive software quality processes (ASPICE) across all internal and supplier deliverables.
• Drive supplier compliance with safety and security deliverables, ensuring technical safety concepts and security requirements are properly cascaded, implemented, and tested.
• Oversee component-specific communications, power moding, power distribution strategies and overall system stability across various vehicle environments.
• Support Design and Release (DR) teams (vehicle-specific sourcing) and participate in the sign-off of component DV testing and vehicle-level testing (PEC/FEC) for launches.
• Maintain core subsystem DFMEA for the BCM and PDC; ensure linkage to subsystem quality documents and FEDE release.
• Act as the escalation point and champion for complex, cross-functional Root Cause Analysis (8D, 5 Whys, 6-Panel) for high-severity software/hardware interaction bugs and launch feedback.
• Demonstrate strong capability in vehicle manufacturing End-of-Line (EOL) processes, actively reviewing EOL data and logs to troubleshoot and promptly resolve plant-level software and integration issues.
• Lead Launch Readiness activities (Hard Rocks, Major Matters, VPATs, EMMs, launch reviews) and ensure regional regulatory alignment.
• Lead BCM feature definitions and configuration releases (Methods 2 and 3); coordinate with cross-functional teams to define behavioral requirements, ensuring alignment with Product Definition Letters (PDL) and regional regulatory requirements.
• Direct DFMEA for BCM/PDC subsystems and assist DR/Suppliers in closing open quality issues, including AIMS, DPAs, and Voice of Customer (VOC) fleet issues.
• Provide technical guidance for problem resolution using CAN data, schematics, and vehicle EDS; apply Interim/Permanent Corrective Actions (ICA/PCA).
• Develop and maintain critical engineering documents such as DFMEA, Software D/PVPR and 6-EYEs Reviews.
• Ensure proper release and tracking of artifacts within Ford quality systems (FEDE, GPDS, Integrator, Jama, DOORS, JFROG, etc.).