Ford Lead Designer/Design Technologist 

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

449568318

In this position…

We’re looking for an inspiring Product Design Lead to help shape digital products and experiences across both our next‑generation EV programs and our current product lineup — supporting the entire organization with a special focus on the intersection of hardware and software. You’ll join a small prototyping team focused on digital and physical interactions, working most closely with designers, prototypers, and researchers.

What you’ll do…

• Lead high-impact design work: Own the design of key digital products and experiences from discovery through delivery — including internal prototype tools and systems, as well as customer-facing vehicle and app experiences that ship on the road and in the car. Apply user-centered design principles to create intuitive, delightful, and accessible interfaces.
• Inspire and guide designers: Support a small group of designers through informal mentorship and design direction. Help elevate the quality of the team’s work through thoughtful critique and collaboration.
• Shape product direction: Work closely with cross-functional partners in product, engineering, research, data, and prototyping to define problem spaces, explore solutions, and contribute to product strategy.
• Champion craft and consistency: Push for design excellence at every stage. Help evolve our design system and ensure consistency across platforms and vehicle experiences, with particular attention to seamless hardware–software interactions.
• Collaborate across teams: Communicate clearly and proactively with stakeholders. Advocate for the user experience while balancing technical and business needs.
• Advocate for users: Participate in user research and testing to deeply understand customer needs — and turn those insights into thoughtful, impactful design solutions.

You’ll have…

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience
• A strong portfolio of user-centered digital work across web, mobile, embedded, or in-vehicle interfaces.
• Experience working closely with cross-functional product, engineering, research, and prototyping teams in agile environments.
• Ability to lead end-to-end design efforts on complex projects — from concept through execution.
• Passion for systems thinking and interaction design across digital and physical touchpoints, with a focus on hardware–software cohesion.
• Familiarity with design systems and component-based UI frameworks.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to advocate for design with clarity and confidence.
• A collaborative mindset and a desire to mentor and inspire others around you.
• Familiarity with modern prototyping tools and workflows (for example, InVision Studio, Framer X, ProtoPie, or similar).
• Bonus skills: CAD or 3D modeling tools, Arduino or similar microcontroller prototyping, and basic programming understanding for interactive prototypes.

• Automotive background not required. We value diverse domain experience and welcome candidates from adjacent industries.

  Portfolio of work must be provided

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 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.

This position is a leadership level 6.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here:

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.