Release Train Engineer, Systems and Core Architecture

Job Description

We made history and now we work to transform the future - for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

In this position...

This role operates across the full SCA domain, with the EPM team supporting:

In-vehicle networking, including CAN, LIN, Ethernet, interfaces, communication layers, and related software stacks

Diagnostics, including diagnostic data, DTCs, parsed data, prognostics, and related vehicle diagnostic capabilities

Power controls and management

Cross-domain and vertical feature delivery that depends on strong systems and architecture coordination

Current and next-generation vehicle architectures, including FNV
3.x delivery and next-generation platform planning

Scope and Impact

This role carries dual accountability - for the health and performance of the SCA Agile Release Train and for the people on the EPM team delivering within it. You will influence how Ford executes across systems, software, and architecture at scale, while directly developing the next generation of technical program leaders within SCA.

You will work closely with:

Your EPM team to coach, develop, and support execution across SCA delivery domains

Tech Platform teams to align the ART to platform cadence and manage cross-ART program dependencies

Tech Strategy teams to connect ART execution to longer-term architectural direction and SDV roadmap priorities

Engineering and validation teams to drive technical delivery from design through release at the ART level

Supplier partners to extend ART execution capacity and coordinate delivery across key technical domains

Other RTEs and similar leaders to maintain enterprise agile alignment and contribute to broader SAFe maturity at Ford

What Success Looks Like

In your first 12 months, you will:

Establish a healthy, high-performing ART operating rhythm across the SCA team, with clear PI Planning, ART Sync, and Inspect and Adapt practices in place

Build a cohesive, growing EPM team with clear roles, strong delivery practices, and visible career development momentum

Improve ART-level visibility into dependencies, risks, and execution health across all SCA domains

Establish and baseline ART-level metrics that give SCA and program leadership meaningful, real-time insight into delivery performance

Drive meaningful improvements in Program Predictability Measure (PPM) and cross-team dependency management across the ART

Support the execution of one or more major FNV
3.x architecture or feature areas from planning through delivery with stronger predictability and accountability

Build trusted working relationships across engineering, platform, strategy, validation, supplier, and leadership teams

Contribute to how Ford evolves its SDV delivery operating model at the ART and enterprise level

Responsibilities

What you'll do...

Lead and Develop a Small Team of Engineering Project Managers

Directly manage a team of Engineering Project Managers supporting critical SCA domains including diagnostics, in-vehicle networking, power controls, and cross-domain architecture delivery.

Provide coaching, feedback, and career development support to help EPMs grow their technical program management capabilities and cross-functional influence.

Set clear expectations for delivery quality, stakeholder communication, and program health across each EPM's portfolio.

Model and reinforce strong program management practices - including planning rigor, dependency management, risk identification, and leadership communication - across the team.

Build a strong team culture rooted in accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and trust.

Partner with SCA leadership on staffing, role scoping, and organizational design as the team evolves.

Own the SCA Agile Release Train

Own the operating model and delivery health of the SCA Agile Release Train, aligning to SAFe principles and Ford's evolving SDV execution framework.

Facilitate PI Planning events across the SCA ART, helping teams define program increments, identify dependencies, surface risks, and commit to realistic, coordinated execution plans.

Lead ART-level ceremonies including System Demos, Inspect and Adapt (I&A) workshops, ART Syncs, and Scrum-of-Scrums, ensuring these events drive real alignment and decision-making rather than status reporting.

Track and communicate ART-level metrics including Program Predictability Measure (PPM), feature flow, PI objectives completion, and risk burn-down.

Serve as the primary escalation path for cross-team impediments and systemic risks that the team cannot resolve independently.

Coach teams on SAFe practices, agile delivery principles, and continuous improvement - adapting approaches as Ford's SDV operating model matures.

Partner with the LACE (Lean-Agile Center of Excellence) and other RTEs across Ford's broader ART ecosystem to maintain alignment, share practices, and contribute to…