Principal Architect and Software Supervisor

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?

In this position...

The Motorsports Performance Engineering Group is seeking a Principal Architect to support and lead full stack development of our Vehicle Dynamics, Aerodynamics and Performance Engineering tool set.  This role will be responsible for adapting and creating tools that fit into an enterprise architecture strategy that aligns with business objectives, data mesh principles, and distributed cloud-native systems.

The Principal Architect will work with engineers and developers to deliver projects and features to support simulation, prototype testing, wind tunnel testing, CFD and total vehicle performance.  In this position, you will collaborate directly and continuously with technical engineering groups and software development partners to deliver enterprise level solutions across a wide array of programs.  The team is focused on building software to realize efficiencies across multiple platforms, leveraging existing software base and Google Cloud Platform, (GCP), functionality.  

As a technical thought leader, you will architect scalable, resilient, and secure platforms, collaborating with engineering teams to ensure best practices in cloud infrastructure, data engineering, and automation. You will also play a pivotal role in influencing technical roadmaps, mentoring engineers, and championing innovation.

What you’ll do:

Enterprise & Cloud Architecture

• Execute the technical vision and strategy for cloud modernization, leveraging Google Cloud Platform (GCP) .
• Lead design, implementation and integration of scalable, resilient, and secure cloud-native architectures, integrating machine learning, big data, and observability solutions.
• Establish best practices for automation, CI/CD, and DevSecOps to drive operational efficiency and software quality.
• Lead technical governance to ensure alignment with business objectives, security policies, and compliance requirements.

Data & AI Enablement

• Architect and implement event-driven data architectures that support data mesh principles, data as a product, and domain-driven design (DDD) .
• Define strategies for data interoperability, governance, and self-service platforms to enable AI and analytics-driven decision-making .
• Lead the adoption of MLOps practices, ensuring seamless deployment and monitoring of machine learning models in production.

Technology Leadership & Mentorship

• Partner with engineering teams to define scalable and cost-efficient architectural solutions.
• Act as a mentor and coach to engineers and developers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and technical excellence.
• Drive technical innovation by researching emerging technologies and working cross functionally with technical groups to bring new technology forward 

You'll have...

• 10+ years of experience in software architecture, cloud engineering, or enterprise systems design.
• Previous experience standing up, developing and/or managing enterprise level software solutions
• Experience with C#, Python, Go, Typescript, MatLab, Java
• Extensive knowledge in cloud-native platforms (GCP, AWS, Azure) and containerized microservices architectures (Kubernetes, Docker, Istio, Service Mesh).
• Strong knowledge of distributed data systems, event-driven architectures (Kafka, PubSub, etc.), and API design (GraphQL, REST, gRPC) .
• Hands-on experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible), CI/CD pipelines, and observability tools (Prometheus, OpenTelemetry, Grafana).
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong ability and desire to work collaboratively with multiple groups and personnel across numerous disciplines 
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills

Even better, you may have...

• Experience in Motorsports
• Experience with SQL, PostgreSQL
• Experience in data governance, security, and compliance in cloud environments.
• Hands-on experience with AI/ML deployment, MLOps, and model monitoring.
• Certifications such as GCP Professional Cloud Architect, AWS Solutions Architect, or Azure Solutions Architect.

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 leadership level 6.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here

Visa sponsorship is 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.

Onsite work of up to three days per week may be required for candidates within commuting distance of a Ford hub location.  #LI-Hybrid   #LI-DP1