Product Manager, AI Vision Systems

About the role

The Manufacturing Quality AI Vision Information Technology (IT) Team, part of Product Creation & Industrialization Technology (PC & I Tech), supports Ford Motor Company’s global manufacturing production environment. We develop, deploy, and support plant floor systems that enable the Ford Production System worldwide.

Responsibilities

• Manage a global team of software development and product support personnel focused on AI Vision Systems to improve Ford product quality.
• Lead the team in prioritized decision making, development, and maintenance of products in the manufacturing space using systems thinking and test-driven development principles.
• Work closely with Business Owners and partners to deliver across four main focus areas: Business Advancement, Modernization, Run and Protect, and Compliance.
• Manage the full product lifecycle for IT Quality Vision Systems application(s), including ideation, development, maintenance, technology refresh, and production support for AI-enabled manufacturing quality solutions.
• Promote adoption of AI and machine learning solutions across Ford Manufacturing and related business areas.
• Partner with global cross-functional teams to gather requirements, provide technical guidance, and deliver effective Vision Systems solutions.
• Lead planning, prioritization, and execution through the Vision Systems Steering Team to deliver high-value capabilities aligned to business needs.
• Define and publish product metrics to measure adoption, assess feature value, and guide future enhancements.
• Champion Agile and product-driven practices to help teams deliver working, tested software.
• Manage budget, resources, and forecasts to ensure program commitments are delivered.
• Lead and develop the technical product team, including mentoring, performance management, career planning, and onboarding/offboarding.
• Coordinate with IT, business leaders, and Ford partners on project proposals, approvals, contracts, budgets, purchase orders, and implementation oversight.
• Communicate effectively with product owners, designers, software engineers, and technical experts to align priorities and execution.
• Stay current on industry standards and emerging technologies and share relevant insights with the team.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship across frontend, backend, and software engineering practices.
• Support team growth and delivery quality through design reviews, code reviews, documentation, Agile practices, and knowledge-sharing sessions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 3+ years of Technical Product Management experience.
• 3+ years of Software Delivery experience using Agile and/or Lean practices including defining and prioritizing product features and working with backlog management tools.
• 2+ years of progressive responsibilities within technology and software functions such as software engineering/development, software/application delivery, product delivery, and/or product management.
• 2+ years of experience managing user requirements and user stories, tracking the delivery process, and managing software projects using CA Agile Central (Rally) or Jira, or similar Agile Tools.
• 1+ years of experience working with Cloud Technologies such as Google Cloud Platform, AWS, or Azure.
• Knowledge and experience with MQTT and Industrial Internet of Things.
• Experience in one or more of the following domains: Vision Systems / IoT / Manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Exposure to Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or Computer Vision application deployments.
• Visionary leadership behaviors (servant leader; transformational; long term resiliency; tactical; strategic).
• Excellent written and oral communications skills to a range of target audiences: Executives, Technical Engineers, Plant manufacturing teams, Operators.
• Ability to lead software engineers to understand and rapidly learn technical acumen in AI/ML space, gather requirements, understand the customer, and come up with solutions.
• Experience collaborating with engineers, designers, and product owners as part of co-located teams.
• Experience defining product vision, strategy, and product roadmaps and creating and managing backlogs.
• Willingness to periodically travel to Ford Vehicle Operations and Powertrain facilities - United States, Canada, Mexico.

Skills

• Technical Product Management experience.
• Software Delivery experience using Agile and/or Lean practices.
• Cloud Technologies such as Google Cloud Platform, AWS, or Azure.
• Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or Computer Vision application deployments.
• MQTT and Industrial Internet of Things.
• Leadership behaviors (servant leader; transformational; long term resiliency; tactical; strategic).
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to lead software engineers to understand and rapidly learn technical acumen in AI/ML space, gather requirements, understand the customer, and come up with solutions.
• Collaboration with engineers, designers, and product owners as part of co-located teams.
• Defining product vision, strategy, and product roadmaps and creating and managing backlogs.
• Periodic travel to Ford Vehicle Operations and Powertrain facilities - United States, Canada, Mexico.

Benefits

Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care 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.

Pay

This position is leadership level 6 and ranges from $132,800-$250,800. 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.

Schedule

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.