Agile Software Development Supervisor

Job title: Agile Software Development Supervisor in Dearborn, MI at Ford
Company: Ford
Job description: Job Category: ManufacturingDegree Level: Bachelor's Degree or equivalentJob Description:Are you an experienced and driven software development leader with a passion for building innovative solutions that transform industrial processes? We are seeking a Principal Lead Software Development Supervisor to lead our talented team within the Automation and Core Engineering (ACE) group. In this role, you will leverage your over 10 years of experience in software development and leadership to guide the team in designing, developing, and deploying high-quality, customer-centric applications for our manufacturing and advanced engineering systems.You will be a key player in our Agile software development environment, focusing on optimizing team performance, fostering technical excellence, and collaborating with cross-functional partners to drive impactful project delivery. Your expertise in modern software practices, coupled with a strong understanding of manufacturing operations and emerging technologies (like AI/ML, IoT, Cloud, and Edge Computing, including industrial controls software development concepts, ObjectOriented Programming, and Web application development), will be critical to advancing our engineering systems strategies. You will be responsible for mentoring and coaching engineers and providing technical guidance and leadership to the team.Responsibilities:What you'll do:

• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and grow a team of software engineers, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing team culture. Provide coaching, conduct performance reviews, and support individual career development, including technical coaching and knowledge sharing to enhance the team's skills in relevant technologies and domain areas such as industrial automation, IIoT, and web technologies.
• Technical Guidance & Oversight: Guide the team in the design, development, testing, and deployment of robust, scalable, and maintainable custom software applications, primarily focused on manufacturing processes (VO, BME & PMTE). Provide technical leadership and direction to ensure architectural soundness, code quality, and adoption of best practices, including those relevant to industrial controls software development, IIoT applications, quality reporting applications, Object-Oriented design principles, and web application architecture.
• Project Planning & Delivery: Oversee project planning, estimation, and execution within an Agile framework (Scrum or Kanban). Ensure timely delivery of high-quality software solutions that meet business requirements.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, including Manufacturing (MFG), Product Development (PD), Research & Advanced (R&A), Process Innovation & Electrification teams, and external Suppliers. Serve as a key liaison to understand needs, define requirements, and ensure alignment.
• Customer-Centric Focus: Champion a customer-centric approach within the team, ensuring applications are intuitive and creating value to end-users, including process coaches, operators, technicians, and maintenance groups.
• Process Improvement & Quality: Drive continuous improvement in development processes, including advocating for and enforcing programming standards, quality assurance protocols, robust testing strategies, and CI/CD practices. Lead the identification and implementation of lessons learned to enhance application reliability and robustness.
• Technology Strategy: Contribute to the technical strategy and roadmap for software development within the ACE group, exploring and integrating advanced technologies relevant to manufacturing and engineering systems (e.g., Cloud, Mobile, AI/ML, IoT, Edge Computing, Low-Code/No-Code, Industrial Controls platforms, relevant programming languages, and web technologies).
• Operational Support: Ensure the team is prepared to support critical application installations and launches, which may occasionally require availability during off-shift hours. Also creation of supporting documentation and training materials to enable launch and maintenance of software solutions.

Qualifications:Minimum Qualifications:

• Over 10 years of experience in software development, with a significant portion in a leadership or supervisory role managing engineers.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Working experience with Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or Certified Agile Practitioner (ACP) preferred.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage software development teams in an Agile environment (Scrum or Kanban).
• Strong understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and modern development practices (CI/CD, Code Review, Quality Assurance).
• Demonstrated experience in project planning, execution, and delivery management.
• Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively interact with technical and non-technical stakeholders across various departments.
• Direct experience with manufacturing operations (Plant, VOME, BME, PTME, etc.) or equivalent industrial application development experience.
• Familiarity with advanced technologies relevant to manufacturing, such as Industrial IoT (IIoT), Edge Computing, AI/ML applications, and Cloud Computing.
• Experience with networking and communication protocols relevant to industrial automation systems.
• Knowledge of Cybersecurity principles and DevSecOps practices.
• Experience with Mobile Application Development (Google and Apple Platforms).
• Understanding of Low-Code/No-Code development platforms.
• Understanding of industrial controls software development concepts and platforms (e.g., PLC programming, SCADA, MES) relevant to the team's work.
• Experience with or strong understanding of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles and practices.
• Experience with or strong understanding of web application development concepts (e.g., front-end, back-end, APIs).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with data collection, AI/ML model deployment, and digital twin concepts in an industrial setting.
• Familiarity with automatic code generation capabilities.
• Ability to understand industrial networking and controls architectures.
• Knowledge of Industrial Engineering concepts (constraint analysis, productivity analysis).
• Understanding of data structures and algorithms. • In-depth knowledge of a packaged application relevant to manufacturing or engineering, along with familiarity with the domain knowledge.
• Experience with Google Cloud Platform and application development.
• Background in SIEMENS Cloud / AI application technology. Familiar with edge management IEM solution and containerization.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Working knowledge or familiarity with specific industrial controls software platforms (e.g., Siemens TIA Portal, SCL/STL, Rockwell RSLogix).
• Specific development experience in OOP languages (JavaScript, Java, C#, Swift, etc.) and/or web technologies (HTML5, CSS, etc.).
• Knowledge and experience with Ford IT Systems.

What defines success in this role?

• Distinctive aptitude for problem-solving, critical thinking, analysis, and clear communication.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships across all levels within the organization and work effectively cross-functionally.
• Strong learning mindset with the ability to quickly grasp modern technologies and domain areas, including complex industrial automation systems and software stacks.
• Disciplined approach to project management and organizational tasks.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving clarity in "new/white space" initiatives.
• Highly initiative-taking attitude and behavior, anticipating needs and taking initiative.
• Ability to thrive and lead effectively in a dynamic, team-based environment.
• Self-starting, self-directed with extremely good influential, organizational, and people skills.

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!As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage

• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and more

• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more

• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases

• Tuition assistance

• Established and active employee resource groups

• Paid time off for individual and team community service

• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day

• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is a leadership level 6.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here:Visa sponsorship is available for this position.Relocation assistance is 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 committed to a culturally diverse workforce. 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.#LI-Onsite#LI-MH5About Us: At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career and help us define tomorrow's transportation.About the Team: We build world-class vehicles in our plants around the world, constantly developing new technologies and processes to further increase our efficiency. It's our people who really make the difference. We encourage all of our employees to think outside the box to help us find better and more efficient ways to manufacture our vehicles.
Expected salary:
Location: Dearborn, MI
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