Staff Technical Program Manager, Software Verification & Validation

In this role, you will be supporting hardware & software Integration planning, vehicle software integration defect management, and release management for Ford Motor Company.

Responsibilities

Program Management

• Lead and manage multiple validation and verification activities, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to project plans.
• Develop and maintain detailed program plans, schedules, and budgets.
• Ensure alignment between testing activities and project timelines, milestones, and resource allocation.
• Manage dependencies for the engineering team including procurement of test platforms and equipment in support of test execution.
• Manage program risks, identify dependencies, and develop mitigation strategies to ensure timely execution of milestones.

Team Leadership

• Provide guidance to the V&V team, fostering a culture of quality and continuous improvement.
• Lead internal bug triage meetings where next steps of all open issues are identified and assigned.
• Coordinate with other teams, including development, product management, and operations, to align V&V activities with overall project goals.

Stakeholder Management

• Communicate program status, progress, and issues to stakeholders, including senior management.
• Manage go/no-go meetings where technical merits of all open issues will be reviewed to make a release decision.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather and analyze requirements for testing.
• Drive closure to key issues by working with development teams and other TPMs.

Continuous Improvement

• Analyze defect trends and patterns and recommend process improvements.
• Drive continuous improvement of V&V processes and methodologies, leveraging industry best practices and emerging technologies to optimize efficiency and effectiveness.

Program Tracking & Reporting

• Track and report program status, KPIs, and deliverables to leadership and stakeholders.
• Identify risks to program and work cross-functionally though organization to resolve conflicts.
• Triage defects resulting from Software integration and lab car testing.
• Triage defects from testing outside of Software organization such as various vehicle tests, driver mileage accumulation, etc.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S in computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering or relevant work experience as a technical program manager in automotive software space.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in program management, with a focus on software development, verification and validation or quality assurance.
• Direct experience with automotive and electric vehicles experience preferred. Will consider candidates with experience in similar domains such as aerospace.
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex projects in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

• Strong understanding of V&V methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Knowledge of Electric Vehicles and basics on EV architecture. Experience validating software on HILs or other test platforms is a big plus.
• Knowledge of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and quality assurance practices.
• Excellent project management skills, including the ability to create and manage detailed project plans.
• Strong understanding of Agile/SCRUM methodologies, and related tools.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency in project management tools and software (e.g., Microsoft Project, Confluence, JIRA).
• PMP or other Project Management certifications preferred.
• Experience in Defect Management.
• Experience in Release Management.

Benefits

• 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.