Solution Architect (Manufacturing)

We are seeking a motivated and forward-thinking Solution Architect to drive key technical initiatives within our Manufacturing IT organization. In this role, you will design and implement modern, cloud-native solutions that align with Manufacturing business objectives and foster Enterprise-wide innovation. You will bridge the gap between complex enterprise strategy and execution - translating technical roadmaps into highly visual storylines while guiding teams in adopting cutting-edge cloud and AI/ML technologies.

In this role, the selected candidate will have the opportunity to:

• Provide Architectural services to support Manufacturing PDO teams to develop and maintain Manufacturing IT capabilities.
• Responsible for understanding enterprise needs and defining Architecture solutions required to meet Ford patterns and standards
• Work on strategic analysis and evaluation of solutions to solve business challenges faced by the PDO teams, clearly articulate architectural decisions and trade-offs.
• Translate complex enterprise architectures and strategic recommendations into clear, highly visual storylines (using tools like Miro and PowerPoint) that connect the "big picture" to specific manufacturing use cases.
• Build Architectural Points of View for proposed initiatives, clearly outlining feasibility, business benefits, implementation risks, and actionable mitigation strategies for both working-level teams and leadership.
• Collaborate with PDO teams to architect and integrate AI/ML capabilities into manufacturing workflows, enabling predictive insights and operational efficiency
• Provide architectural guidance to resolve Application functional, performance, and availability issues, and participate in vendor solution evaluation processes, ensure compliance with Ford security policies
• Modernize Ford's in-house applications by migrating them to cloud platforms, with a strong focus on Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Collaborate closely with the Business community, PDO teams, and partner with other Architects to formulate strategy for MFG Product Lines. 

Our preferred requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or related field. 
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in software development/architecture, combining strong technical proficiency with Manufacturing business knowledge
• Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills; ability to leverage business storytelling to present complex concepts to senior management, and write highly actionable documentation.
• An adaptable, self-motivated, and fast-learning mindset with a "can-do" attitude.
• Understanding of Architecture principles and patterns, including microservices, API first design and event-driven architecture
• Experience in Manufacturing industry-specific technology solutions is desirable
• Deep understanding of cloud platforms (GCP, Azure, AWS) and cloud-native architectures
• The ability to influence and persuade others to adopt Architectural recommendations.
• Strong problem-solving abilities & curiosity towards new technologies
• Proven experience as a Software Developer/Engineer; prior architectural experience is an asset.
• Familiarity with rapid deployment methodologies and the full technology lifecycle

Technologies and Skills:

• Google Cloud Platform, Kubernetes/Serverless hosting, Cloud SQL & NoSQL Databases.
• Microservice architecture, REST APIs and Event-Driven Design
• Knowledge of AI/ML integration patterns
• Functional MFG Business Domain Knowledge (Manufacturing or Automotive industry experience) 
• Visual collaboration and storytelling tools (e.g., Miro, PowerPoint) to build descriptive views, process flows, and executive-ready presentations.
• Enterprise Architecture principles and methods, Infrastructure Architectural Design
• Security & Controls and Vendor SaaS evaluations 
• Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect & TOGAF certification is a plus