Variable Data Programmer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

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.
At Ford, the Vehicle Hardware Engineering teams are using Design Thinking & User Experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that will delight our customers. Our employees are laser-focused on bringing innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. From autonomy and electrification to smart mobility technologies, our teams around the world are working together with excitement to make smart vehicles for a smart world.
As a Labels Application & Core Supervisor, your passion is to be part of movements much bigger than yourself. You will be the pivotal liaison between Product Development, Manufacturing Engineering, Corporate Quality, IT, and our supplier network, working together to ensure global regulatory compliance and flawless vehicle production. You will lead a dynamic, large-scale team of approximately 20 regional and international engineers dedicated to the design, release, and application of vehicle labels, as well as the critical execution of part traceability. Your leadership will empower our engineering teams to deliver compliant, high-quality labeling solutions and robust data tracking that our manufacturing plants and customers rely on.
You will champion a proactive approach to managing complex matrices, resolving daily production roadblocks, and implementing advanced traceability methodologies. Your strategic oversight will directly impact Ford Motor Company's ability to meet stringent government regulations, ensure accurate Variable Data Label System (VDLS) execution, and flawlessly track components from the supplier to the vehicle. As the Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) for the VIN Traceability workstream, you will guide Ford's cross-functional digital and physical data flow, ensuring systems like FEDEBOM, WERS, and TRACE DB are perfectly synchronized. This role demands a flexible, adaptable, and inspiring leader capable of balancing multiple global workstreams and guiding a diverse team within a rapidly evolving, highly critical environment.
Responsibilities
In this position...
As the Labels Application & Core Supervisor, you will:

• Lead a Global Team: Manage and mentor a large team of ~20 regional and international engineers, fostering continuous growth, expertise, and seamless cross-border collaboration.
• Oversee Label Design & Release: Direct the end-to-end workstreams for label design and release in WERS, ensuring all labels comply with government regulations and critical Ford requirements across all global markets.
• Manage Proprietary Label Matrices: Oversee the maintenance of the Global Generic Label Matrix (GGLM) and ensure the accurate drafting and maintenance of Program Specific Label Matrices (PSLM) in accordance with LQOS 570.
• Drive Variable Data Label Systems (VDLS): Act as the Business Owner of VDLS. Monitor system signoffs for on-time delivery (TT and beyond), resolve daily issues to support North American production, and continually develop system enhancements for matrix-based variable data labels globally.
• Act as DRI for VIN Traceability: Lead the VIN Traceability workstream across the enterprise. Drive the process flow from Trace Requirements and Product Development through Manufacturing Engineering, Corporate Quality, and Data Storage.
• Cross-Functional System Integration: Ensure seamless integration of traceability data across proprietary Ford systems, including FEDEWB, VSEM, FEDEBOM, Teamcenter, WERS, GSPAS, and TRACE DB.
• Supplier & Manufacturing Alignment: Collaborate with suppliers to ensure part serialization specs are met. Oversee in-plant label audits (TT, PP, MP1) and ensure error-proofing stations and plant IT infrastructure (CDCII, IQT) are configured for accurate component and VIN association.
• Ensure Launch & Compliance: Provide the Annual Label Letter, support Program VI Sign Off, and support ASO/OGC-led meetings pertaining to regulatory, corporate, and due care label requirements.

Qualifications
You'll have...

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 3+ years in a leadership role with proven experience managing large, distributed, or international teams.
• Demonstrated experience in engineering design and release processes, manufacturing traceability, or regulatory compliance.\
• Exceptional teamwork and collaboration skills, with a track record of partnering with cross-functional stakeholders (PD, Manufacturing, Quality, and IT).
• Strong project management skills with the ability to triage complex production or system issues daily.

Even better, you may have...

• Master of Science degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field.
• 5+ years in a leadership role with proven experience managing large, distributed, or international teams.
• Deep, hands-on understanding of Ford proprietary systems and processes, including WERS, VDLS, FEDEBOM, FEDEWB, VSEM, TRACE DB, and GSAR.
• Extensive knowledge of Ford's Label Quality Operating System (LQOS 570), GGLM, and PSLM structures.
• Prior experience working with Variable Data Labels and resolving plant-level production issues.
• Experience with error-proofing processes, plant manufacturing IT (CDCII/IQT), and supplier part serialization requirements.
• Comprehensive understanding of Ford GPDS processes, deliverables, and global regulatory compliance standards.

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.
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 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
#VehicleHardwareEngineering #LI-CW1