> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/4026827-chief-of-staff-operations-hardware-engineering](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/4026827-chief-of-staff-operations-hardware-engineering). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Chief of Staff & Operations - Hardware Engineering - **Company:** Ford Motor Company - **Location:** Dearborn, MI, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Computer Engineering, Failure Mode Effects Analysis - **Published:** October 30, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=ce27beefad5ffcbb ## About the Role * Education: Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), or related technical management field required. Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, or Automotive Engineering strongly preferred. * People Management & Team Leadership: 2+ years of direct experience managing high-performing teams of operational, process, or program management professionals within complex global manufacturing/automotive organizations. * Progressive Engineering Experience: 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in automotive hardware engineering, D&R processes, GPDS vehicle gateways, FEDE BoM management, and B10 reliability standards. * Process & Quality Mastery: Demonstrated expertise in 8D root-cause problem solving, Failure Mode Avoidance (FMA), DFMEA, Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DFM/DFA), and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). * Strategic & Business Acumen: Proven track record in multi-year strategic planning, engineering productivity modeling, ED&T should-cost analysis, prototype multiplier management, and footprint optimization. * Executive Presence & Communication: Exceptional oral and written communication skills; ability to synthesize complex technical challenges, present to Executive Leadership Teams (ELT), and drive cross-functional consensus. * High Reliability Leadership Mindset: Deep commitment to First-Principles thinking, intellectual humility, operational curiosity, and building safe, structural escalation mechanisms for technical risks. ## Description The Chief of Staff & Business Operations Manager for Vehicle Hardware Engineering (VHE) is a leadership position reporting directly to the Vice President of Vehicle Hardware Engineering. In this high-impact role, you will lead and manage the dedicated VHE Business Operations & Strategic Engineering Management Team-the operational engine responsible for strategy, process governance, business performance, and cultural execution across global hardware engineering. As Chief of Staff, you serve as a strategic partner, trusted proxy, and operational integrator for the VP. You will lead your team to bridge Executive Leadership Team (ELT) objectives with ground-level engineering execution, transitioning VHE from a traditional product developer into an enterprise Strategic Asset delivering market-leading product quality, bulletproof reliability, and unmatched cost efficiency. The Chief of Staff leads, directs, and develops the VHE Business Operations team across five core functional pillars: 1. Executive Support & Chief of Staff Operations * Executive Proxy & Stakeholder Alignment: Manage team members representing VHE across enterprise forums (Software, Program Management, Finance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality), ensuring hardware engineering standards and strategic priorities are advocated. * Strategic Communications & Thought Leadership: Orchestrate high-stakes communications, drafting executive whitepapers, ELT presentation decks, board materials, and mass organizational updates on behalf of the VP. * Leadership Alignment & Feedback Cadence: Establish structured governance loops between VP, Director, and Chief Engineer levels to accelerate decision-making, remove organizational silos, and maintain transparency. * VP Priority Initiatives & Special Projects: Lead rapid-response cross-functional teams to resolve urgent operational, technical, or strategic challenges. 2. Business Operations & Enterprise Governance * Multi-Year Strategic Planning: Direct the multi-year planning process, converting ELT strategic objectives into actionable functional roadmaps (3-Year Strategy pillar of VHE Management System). * Performance Management & Digital Dashboards: Oversee the design and implementation of automated, real-time KPI/OKR dashboards, providing unvarnished operational visibility across program execution. * Enterprise SPoC Leadership: Serve as and manage the team acting as the primary Single Point of Contact (SPoC) for the Office of General Counsel (OGC), regulatory compliance bodies, and internal control test audits. 3. Continuous Improvement & Efficiency Leadership * Project Synergy & Efficiency Targets: Direct team initiatives to achieve efficiencies (2026-2030) and sustain 3% YoY engineering productivity gains across labor and non-labor spend. * Operational Waste Elimination: Spearhead cross-functional problem-solving to eliminate engineering friction, increase 'time to engineer,' and optimize workflow execution. 4. Organizational Strategy, Culture & Footprint * HRO Cultural Integration: Institutionalize HRO practices and rapid iteration, fostering psychological safety to surface weak signals early and convert unknown risks into managed solutions.