Manager, BESS Platform Engineering

Ford Motor Company

Manager overseeing BESS platform engineering at Ford Energy, leading technical and systems engineering efforts for battery energy storage systems. Collaborating with cross-functional teams in a hybrid work environment.

Posted 5/13/2026full-timeDearborn • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLead💰 $141,700 - $268,300 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Manage, coach, and develop the BESS platform engineering team, ensuring clear technical direction, accountability, and professional growth.
Establish engineering processes, design reviews, and verification gates to improve speed, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
Lead escalation management for technical and systems integration issues, coordinating rapid response across internal and external partners.
Maintain visibility into engineering risks and develop robust mitigation plans with clear ownership.
Own the technical definition of the BESS platform architecture, including requirements flowdown, interface management, and configuration control.
Establish and reinforce systems engineering rigor across all in-house engineering activities (requirements, verification, validation).
Drive systems integration and verification planning across battery, thermal, controls, power electronics, and enclosure interfaces.
Coordinate closely with the Certification Lead to ensure engineering evidence and design intent support UL and regulatory objectives.
Lead the design, development, and release of BESS platform components and subsystems, ensuring rigorous technical review.
Guide and review thermal, safety, and mechanical engineering activities, including CAE analysis (FEA/CFD), design trade studies, and risk reduction.
Drive technical alignment with key suppliers to ensure design intent, quality, and interface compatibility are met.
Lead interactions with external test houses and Independent Engineering firms to ensure credible technical substantiation.
Partner closely with Technical Solutions, Sales, and PMO to ensure customer requirements are translated into executable engineering deliverables.
Ensure technical scope, schedule, and certification dependencies are aligned with project requirements and customer commitments.
Interface directly with internal and external executive-level stakeholders to communicate technical positions, risks, and tradeoffs.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, or related Engineering field.
10+ years of experience in battery systems, energy storage, or complex hardware development.
5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams or technical organizations.
Strong background in systems engineering, requirements management, and technical program execution.
Proven experience leading design, validation, and release activities for complex systems.
Strong understanding of high-voltage systems, thermal management, and product validation.
Even better, you may have...
Master’s or PhD degree in a relevant technical field.
Direct experience with stationary BESS and UL certification programs (UL 9540/9540A).
Experience in thermal, safety, or mechanical CAE (FEA/CFD-based analysis).
Experience with supplier development, product industrialization, and launch readiness.
Background in automotive high-voltage systems or electrified vehicle platforms.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Performance-based bonuses
Ford vehicle discounts

ATS Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

systems engineeringrequirements managementtechnical program executiondesign validationproduct validationthermal managementhigh-voltage systemsCAE analysisFEACFD

Soft Skills

leadershipcoachingcommunicationaccountabilityrisk managementtechnical directioncollaborationstakeholder managementproblem-solvingproject management

Certifications

Bachelor’s degree in EngineeringMaster’s degree in EngineeringPhD in EngineeringUL 9540 certificationUL 9540A certification