Director, Test Architecture

The Director, Test Architecture is a senior individual contributor leadership role responsible for defining the future technical direction of Verification & Validation test architecture.

This role will serve as the principal technical authority for AI-Assisted and AI-Led testing innovation, test framework architecture, and next-generation V&V operating models across on-board and off-board software products.

The ideal candidate is self-driven, deeply technical, and future-facing,able to look beyond immediate process gaps and define how Ford should model, optimize, and scale testing operations around AI.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the reference architecture for AI-Assisted and AI-Led V&V test frameworks, including reusable patterns, common libraries, data interfaces, orchestration models, reporting integration, and governance standards.
• Shape how Ford models testing operations around AI, moving beyond tactical automation fixes to a predictive, closed-loop, intelligence-driven V&V capability.
• Lead technical value stream mapping across requirements, test design, test planning, execution, defect triage, analytics, and release readiness to identify where AI-Assisted workflows can augment engineering decisions and AI-Led capabilities can automate repeatable, data-driven interventions to reduce waste, improve flow, and increase engineering leverage.
• Architect scalable frameworks for test automation, AI-assisted Gherkin authoring, automated test code generation, smart regression selection, failure pattern detection, coverage heat maps, and reusable test assets.
• Develop multi-year technical roadmaps for AI-Assisted and AI-Led V&V innovation, including pilots, reference implementations, adoption milestones, KPI targets, and convergence plans across teams and toolchains.
• Lead through influence across V&V, software engineering, systems engineering, DevSecOps, simulation, lab infrastructure, analytics, and product teams to drive adoption of common technical standards without relying on direct reporting authority.
• Define how test data, defect data, requirements traceability, execution evidence, and release metrics should be structured and connected to enable AI-Assisted insights, AI-Led closed-loop recommendations, and measurable improvements in quality outcomes.
• Establish technical standards for framework design, repository structure, data quality, model usage, evidence capture, traceability, configuration management, security, and responsible AI practices within V&V.
• Identify, prototype, and scale high-impact AI-Assisted and AI-Led use cases such as autonomous test exploration, requirements-to-test generation, anomaly detection, root-cause assistance, test optimization, and predictive release readiness.
• Translate complex AI, data, and test architecture concepts into clear technical recommendations, business cases, implementation plans, and leadership-ready narratives tied to quality, speed, cost, and risk reduction.

Qualifications

• Proven experience at a Director or senior leadership level within software, software architecture, test management, systems integration, software quality, or automotive product development.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and inspire global teams of managers and technical leaders, establish operating models, and drive execution across complex vehicle programs and software release plans.
• Experience with enterprise lifecycle and test management tools such as Jira, Test Case Management, Program Management, dashboards, KPI reporting, and end-to-end traceability methodologies.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with a track record of articulating complex technical risks, bottlenecks, status, and recommendations clearly to senior executives and external partners.