Principal Technical Program Manager

Seeking an exciting challenge? Ford's new Technology Platform Programs (TPP) team is at the forefront of the Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) revolution, reimagining vehicle electrical architecture and software platforms. We are pivoting to a streamlined, scalable, platform-first strategy, and we need your talent to drive this vision. At TPP, you'll be instrumental in driving Ford's minimum complexity vision, boosting quality and speed by enabling faster, higher-quality software delivery, optimizing programs to make vehicle execution significantly more efficient, and scaling solutions by leading cross-functional strategies for broad impact across our vehicle lineup. This is where people solve challenges and execute breakthroughs that define the future of Ford; join TPP and help shape the next generation of vehicles!"

In this position…

Ideal candidates will have experienced multiple product cycles involving software and services, including up- and down-stream dependencies. You will engage with complex engineering programs, demonstrating leadership and a strong command of the tools and process required to achieve the teams’ goals. You’ll lead programs in a principled way, and by example when called upon. You will have consummate communications skills, keeping up- and down-stream dependencies well aligned, and entire companies well-informed. You’re as comfortable presenting to the senior leadership as you are coaching a new hire. 

You will lead and influence cross-enterprise initiatives and product launches for our software and services division. Success in this role requires someone who is centered around product and engineering excellence with a bias for action; thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; successfully partners with a wide group of people across the company; and embodies our ideas for building diverse teams. You will own cross-cutting initiatives, identify best practices and bring deep industry experience to bear on a company-wide scale. 

 

What you'll do…

• Owns ensuring delivery of sw products/systems with multi-year time horizons.
• Roadmaps technologies that span multiple generations of products; builds strategies that change the course of delivery of the product.
• Defines and monitors Technical Success Metrics including KPIs); identifies reaction plan as needed.
• Converts customer requirements into actionable software plans that can span across sw division; identifies opportunities and takes action to improve the Product lines.
• Identifies trends across internal and external data sets which have impact across product lines, and makes recommendations on adjusting structural issues to achieve product goals.
• Predicts challenges with interdependencies spanning the product line that go beyond technical and works to eliminate them; proactively helps teams understand complex technical implications of design decisions and features.
• Manages effective and collaborative relationships with stakeholders across the organization to achieve execution of product objectives. 
• Identifies the highest priority technical issues that span across products and drives to closure across teams.
• Leads status reporting that spans products, and creates new ways of reporting status that are clearer and more efficient.
• Creates new Kaisen methods which span development teams.
• Owns retrospectives which improve the quality of the product; defines new governance programs and processes and drives adoption across products.

You'll have…

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent work experience.
• 10+ years of experience in direct product/technical program management, including multiple successful release cycles of significant commercial software from concept to production.
• 8+ years of experience leading cross-functional and/or cross-organization projects.
• Extensive experience with the following technologies: [INSERT TECH STACKS, TOOLCHAINS].
• Demonstrated success delivering complex cross functional programs and driving results across product lines or systems.
• Excellent ability to communicate, influence and resolve conflict effectively at multiple levels, including executive leadership.
• Demonstrated experience managing partnerships across a diverse set of functions and stakeholders.
• Excellent analysis and problem-solving skills working with complex disparate data sources to create a comprehensive view and recommendations.
• Extensive experience estimating effort and sizing of work for sucessful delivery of the product, with an understanding of trade-offs and impacts. 
• Extensive experience guiding and influencing solutions across product lines or systems.
• Experience designing and implementing programs and processes that suppor