Director – Vehicle Software Platform Architecture at Ford Motor Company
Columbia, SC
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Jul 22, 2026
Columbia, SC
Jul 23, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
A senior leadership role responsible for turning Ford's vehicle software platform architecture strategy into a functioning, governed platform that vehicle programs actually build on. The work spans owning the architecture roadmap, setting standards, driving adoption across large cross-functional engineering teams, and ensuring coherent integration between the vehicle platform and cloud systems. Suited to experienced architects who have scaled complex, distributed software systems across multiple products or deployed units — automotive or otherwise.
Principal level · 12+ years · Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI · Full-time
Posted 11 times — it's one opening, so apply once.
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
Why we read it this way (7)
This is a senior people-management and technical leadership role (Ford 'leadership level 4') responsible for owning the vehicle software platform architecture roadmap, leading a team of platform software architects, and driving org-wide adoption — squarely 11-3021. The alt code 15-1299 reflects the unusually deep hands-on architectural scope that blurs the line with a Principal/Distinguished Architect IC role.
The title carries no explicit seniority label, so the title states no level. However, the actual scope — org-wide platform authority, executive stakeholder engagement, team building, 12+ years required — supports Principal-band classification.
The role is framed as onsite/hybrid ('up to four days per week onsite for candidates within commuting distance of a Ford hub'); it is not fully remote.
No compensation figures are disclosed. No degree requirement is stated — the JD lists no minimum education gate.
Most skills in this posting are domain capabilities and architectural principles rather than named technologies or tools. Only concrete named technologies/patterns (OTA, digital twin, IoT, SIL/MIL/HIL, service-oriented/cloud-native architecture) appear, and all are listed under the 'You may also have' (preferred) section. The required skills block names no specific tools — only experience domains.
Visa sponsorship is explicitly not available; candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Ignored 4 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): distributed systems architecture, software platform architecture, OTA lifecycle management, service-oriented architecture.
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