Senior Staff Engineer – CCC Specialist

We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we’re all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves?

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...
We are seeking an exceptional and highly experienced Senior Staff Engineer with deep expertise in Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) specifications and certification processes. In this critical role, you will be the primary technical authority and catalyst for our CCC certification initiatives, guiding our development teams from initial design to final product certification. Your profound understanding of "Phone as a Key" technology, NFC lock/unlock mechanisms, and the intricacies of Google and Apple wallet integrations will be instrumental in accelerating our time to market for cutting-edge connected car features.

What you'll do...
• CCC Technical Leadership: Act as the subject matter expert on all CCC specifications (e.g., Digital Key 3.0, 4.0, and future iterations), providing authoritative guidance and technical direction to engineering, product, and quality assurance teams.
• Certification Strategy & Execution: Develop and implement comprehensive strategies for achieving CCC pre-certification and final product certification efficiently and effectively.
• Team Enablement: Work closely with software, hardware, and systems engineering teams to ensure designs and implementations adhere strictly to CCC specifications, fostering a deep understanding of compliance requirements across the organization.
• Process Acceleration: Identify and implement best practices, tools, and methodologies to significantly accelerate the CCC certification process, acting as a true catalyst for our development cycles.
• Troubleshooting & Debugging: Lead efforts in diagnosing and resolving complex technical issues related to CCC compliance, interoperability, and performance during development and certification testing.
• OEM & Partner Collaboration: Leverage your experience working with automotive OEMs to navigate the unique challenges and requirements of the automotive industry in the context of CCC certification. Collaborate with external partners, test houses, and the CCC organization itself.
• Feature Integration: Drive the successful integration of key features such as "Phone as a Key," secure NFC lock/unlock functionalities, and seamless integration with leading mobile ecosystems like Google Wallet and Apple Wallet.
• Documentation & Training: Create and maintain detailed technical documentation, guidelines, and training materials to disseminate CCC knowledge and best practices throughout the engineering organization.
• Future-Proofing: Stay abreast of evolving CCC specifications, industry trends, and competitive landscapes, proactively advising on future architectural and design considerations.

You'll have...

Masters or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

• 10+ years of experience in product development, with at least 5 years specifically focused on automotive connectivity or related embedded systems.
• Proven track record of successfully achieving CCC certification (Digital Key) for automotive products with an automotive OEM.
• Deep, thorough understanding of the CCC specification, including Digital Key architecture, security protocols, and communication layers.
• Expertise in NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, particularly in secure access and authentication applications (e.g., NFC lock unlock).
• Solid understanding of mobile ecosystem integrations, especially with Google Wallet and Apple Wallet for "Phone as a Key" functionality.
• Demonstrated ability to act as a technical leader and mentor, guiding cross-functional teams through complex technical challenges.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating risks.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and presentation skills.

Even better, you may have...
• Experience with secure element (SE) and trusted execution environment (TEE) technologies.
• Familiarity with automotive communication protocols (CAN, Ethernet, LIN, etc.).
• Experience with certification tools, test harnesses, and m