Manager, BESS Platform Engineering, Ford Energy

Ford Energy is a newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company dedicated to accelerating U.S. energy independence. Leveraging Ford’s century of manufacturing excellence and world-class battery energy storage systems (BESS) technology, Ford Energy designs, manufactures, and services grid-scale and commercial DC battery energy storage systems (BESS). Ford Energy is uniquely positioned to capture the growing demand for reliable, US-built energy storage systems. We are not just building batteries; we are building the infrastructure for the next generation of the American grid.

Why Ford Energy?
At Ford Energy, you have the backing of an industrial manufacturing powerhouse with the agility of a dedicated energy startup offering industry leading technology. We offer a competitive compensation package including performance-based bonuses, Ford vehicle discounts, and the opportunity to shape the energy strategy of one of the world's most iconic brands.

In this position... 

The Manager, BESS Platform Engineering, will be accountable for the systems engineering leadership and execution of Ford Energy’s BESS platform. Reporting to the Chief Engineer, you will lead a multi-disciplinary team responsible for requirements definition, architecture development, and industrialization readiness. This is a critical leadership role that combines deep technical expertise with operational discipline to ensure our BESS products are technically sound, safety-compliant, and ready for large-scale deployment.

What you'll do...

• People & Organizational Leadership
  • 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.
• Systems Engineering & Platform Architecture
  • 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.
• Technical Design & CAE Oversight
  • 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.
• Commercial & Project Integration
  • 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.
    

You'll have...

• 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.
• Leadership Attributes
  • Organizational Architect who can build and scale high-performing engineering teams with disciplined execution.
  • Decisive Decision-Maker capable of balancing technical rigor with the speed and agility of a startup environment.
  • Player-Coach who operates with credibility at the expert level while effectively managing people and priorities.
  • Collaborative Partner who can bridge the gap between engineering, manufacturing, sales, and executive leadership.
• Location & Travel
  • Flexible Location: This position is hybrid-friendly for candidates with a proven ability to deliver results outside of a traditional office environment.
  • Travel Expectations: This role requires travel to support manufacturing sites, supplier locations, and test labs to ensure engineering standards are being executed.

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!

This position is leadership level 5 and ranges from $141,700-268,300.      

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL5FE

Company: As Ford establishes a wholly owned subsidiary focused on Battery Energy Storage Systems, this role will initially be employed by Ford and is expected to transition to the subsidiary within one year.

Visa sponsorship is not 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.

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week. 

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