Software Engineering Project Manager Jobs in Michigan

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.

In this position... 

Ford is at the forefront of the Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) transformation. The Systems and Core Architecture (SCA) team defines and delivers the foundational software and systems architecture that powers Ford's current and future vehicle platforms.

As an Engineering Project Manager (EPM) on the SCA team, you will connect strategy to execution across some of the most critical technical domains in the vehicle. You will lead complex, cross-functional delivery across hardware and software systems, helping teams move from architecture and system design through execution, validation, launch, OTA evolution, and lifecycle support.

This role will initially focus on diagnostics and in-vehicle networking, where strong program leadership is needed today, while also creating opportunities to expand across broader systems and core architecture domains over time. Your work will directly influence the execution and quality of upcoming programs built on Ford's FNV3.x architecture and help shape the next generation of vehicle architectures as Ford continues its SDV journey.

You will partner closely with engineering, product, validation, platform, strategy, and supplier teams to align technical plans, manage dependencies, resolve risks, and drive high-quality execution. This role is well suited for someone who can move fluidly between system-level technical discussions, program planning, and concise leadership communication.

This role supports foundational vehicle architecture areas including:

In-vehicle networking, including CAN, LIN, Ethernet, interfaces, communication layers, and related software stacks

Diagnostics, including diagnostic data, DTCs, parsed data, prognostics, and related vehicle diagnostic capabilities

Power controls and management

Cross-domain and vertical feature delivery that depends on strong systems and architecture coordination

Current and next-generation vehicle architectures, including work that supports both near-term delivery and long-term platform evolution

Scope and Impact

This role operates across both hardware and software systems with a strong systems-responsible mindset. You will help connect strategy, architecture, execution, validation, and lifecycle support across the full life of the vehicle.

You will work closely with:

Tech Platform teams to align to platform cadence and manage program dependencies

Tech Strategy teams to connect execution to longer-term architectural direction

Engineering and validation teams to drive technical delivery from design through release

Supplier partners to extend execution capacity and support delivery across key technical domains

This is an individual contributor role with significant cross-functional influence and leadership responsibility.

You'll have...

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field

5+ years of experience leading complex product, feature, or technical program delivery across hardware, software, and/or services

3+ years of experience working directly with engineering teams in a technical environment, with the ability to understand system architecture and technical tradeoffs

Experience driving execution across multiple cross-functional teams through the full product lifecycle

Experience managing schedules, dependencies, risks, scope, and stakeholder communications in a fast-paced development environment

Familiarity with Agile development practices and tools such as JIRA and/or Azure DevOps

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tailor messaging to both technical teams and leadership audiences

Even better, you may have...

Experience with automotive systems, embedded systems, or Software Defined Vehicle platforms

Experience with vehicle networking, diagnostics, electrical architecture, or platform software

Experience working across both hardware and software organizations in a systems-responsible environment

Experience coordinating with supplier partners as part of technical program execution

Experience supporting programs from architecture definition through validation, launch, and OTA or lifecycle support

Ability to lead technical planning discussions and contribute effectively in system design and architecture reviews

Experience across multiple product cycles involving software and services

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 salary grade 7 and ranges from $86,600-$144,900.     

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.

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-RR1 

What you'll do...

Drive delivery across foundational architecture domains

Lead execution for initiatives within Systems and Core Architecture, with an initial focus on diagnostics and in-vehicle networking.

Build and maintain delivery plans, milestones, schedules, and dependency maps across multiple teams and workstreams.

Translate architecture strategy into executable plans for current and future vehicle programs.

Lead complex cross-functional programs

Coordinate across hardware, embedded software, platform software, validation, and partner teams to deliver high-quality technical outcomes.

Connect the dots from concept and design through implementation, validation, launch, OTA updates, and end-of-life support.

Partner closely with Tech Platform teams on platform cadence and program dependencies, and with Tech Strategy teams on long-term vision and technology direction.

Drive technical alignment and execution clarity

Work effectively with engineers and technical leaders to understand architecture implications, system tradeoffs, delivery risks, and technical feasibility.

Help teams align on priorities, decision points, milestones, and execution plans.

Support planning and execution across foundational areas such as in-vehicle networking, diagnostics, power controls and management, and cross-domain feature delivery.

Manage risk, scope, and change

Identify program risks early, develop mitigation plans, and escalate issues when needed to protect timing, quality, and business outcomes.

Manage scope changes by assessing impact to timeline, engineering effort, validation, and release readiness.

Ensure upstream and downstream dependencies remain visible, coordinated, and actively managed.

Use data to drive decisions and visibility

Define and track delivery and quality metrics for your programs.

Use dashboards, KPIs, and program health indicators to support decisions and improve transparency.

Communicate progress, risks, tradeoffs, and execution health clearly to stakeholders and leadership.

Improve the operating model

Lead retrospectives and continuous improvement efforts to strengthen team effectiveness and delivery execution.

Contribute to scalable program management practices across SCA and the broader organization.

Help improve how Ford executes across systems, software, and architecture as we advance our SDV operating model.

How You'll Lead

Inclusively: You bring the right people together, ensure diverse perspectives are heard, and build alignment across teams.

Decisively: You create clarity in ambiguous situations, drive decisions forward, and keep teams moving.

Thoughtfully: You balance urgency with quality, technical depth with execution discipline, and short-term delivery with long-term architecture goals.

Collaboratively: You build strong partnerships across engineering, product, validation, strategy, platform, and supplier teams.

With ownership: You take accountability for outcomes and help teams solve problems before they become blockers.