What You'll Do...

As an Application Software Engineer specializing in COTS support, you will play a critical role in ensuring the stability, performance, and integration of our essential Commercial Off-The-Shelf applications. You will leverage your strong technical and problem-solving skills to diagnose complex issues, perform deep dives into application code and databases, and collaborate with vendors and internal teams to implement effective solutions. A key expectation for this role is to become a subject matter expert (SME), developing a deep understanding of the application's functionality and underlying architecture.

 

1. Application Maintenance and Stability

• System Health: You are responsible for the uptime and performance of the COTS applications used in the End Of Line testing process. This involves monitoring the software to ensure it meets manufacturing speed and reliability requirements.
• Environment Management: You will manage and support these applications within a Windows Server environment, ensuring the infrastructure supports the software's needs.
• Database Oversight: A core part of your role involves working with Microsoft SQL Server. You will need to maintain, query, and analyze database schemas to ensure data is flowing correctly from the testing equipment to the enterprise systems.
   

2. Deep-Dive Technical Troubleshooting

• Code Investigation: Unlike a standard support role, you will be expected to perform "deep dives" into existing codebases. Even if you didn't write the software, you must be able to read and interpret languages like Java, C#, Python, or JavaScript to identify bugs or bottlenecks.
• Root Cause Analysis: When a testing application fails on the line, you will analyze logs, debug complex code issues, and investigate database discrepancies to find the source of the problem.
• Security & Best Practices: You will apply software security principles to ensure that the integrated COTS applications do not create vulnerabilities within the company network.
   

3. Integration and Development

• API Management: You will connect COTS applications to other internal systems using REST or SOAP APIs. This ensures that the data collected during End Of Line testing is successfully communicated to other business units.
• Protocol Implementation: You will likely work with the MQTT protocol, which is common in manufacturing and IoT (Internet of Things) environments, to facilitate communication between hardware sensors and the software.
• Front-End Support: While the core is back-end/integration, you may be tasked with maintaining or updating web-based interfaces using frameworks like Angular, React, or Vue.js.
   

4. Vendor and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Vendor Liaison: Since the software is "Off-The-Shelf," you will act as the technical point of contact for external vendors. You’ll need to explain complex internal bugs to their engineering teams and coordinate the implementation of patches or updates.
• Internal Teamwork: You will collaborate with designers, product managers, and other engineers to ensure the testing software aligns with the physical production line requirements.
• Agile Participation: You will work within an Agile framework, using tools like JIRA to track tasks, manage sprints, and document progress.
   

5. Subject Matter Expertise (SME)

• Architectural Knowledge: A major goal of this role is to become the "go-to" person for these specific applications. You are expected to develop a deep understanding of the application's underlying architecture and how it interacts with the broader Ford ecosystem.
• Documentation: You will likely be responsible for documenting system configurations, troubleshooting steps, and integration mappings to help the team scale.

1. Educational Background

• Degree: A Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent background) in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
   

2. Professional Experience

• Duration: At least 1+ year of professional experience.
• Focus Areas: Your experience should be in software development, system integration, or supporting enterprise-level COTS applications.
• Specific Capability: Proven experience in investigating existing codebases and database structures to solve problems (rather than just building new features).
   

3. Core Technical Skills (Required)

• Programming Languages: Proficiency in at least one of the following:
  • Java
  • C#
  • Python
  • JavaScript
• Database Management:
  • Microsoft SQL Server (Core Requirement): You must be proficient in MSSQL.
  • Familiarity with others is a plus: Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB.
• Web Technologies:
  • Foundational knowledge of HTML and CSS.
  • Experience with modern frameworks such as Angular, React, or Vue.js.
• Operating Systems: Familiarity with Windows Server-based environments.
• Methodologies: Practical knowledge of Agile software development.
   

4. Software Engineering Competencies

• Troubleshooting: Strong ability to debug complex issues and perform root-cause analysis using logs and database schemas
• API Integration: Experience connecting systems using REST or SOAP APIs.
• Testing & Security: Knowledge of software testing frameworks and a solid understanding of software security best practices.
• Data Structures: Proficiency in working with JSON.
   

5. Recommended Qualifications (Preferred)

• Cloud Platforms: Experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
  Industrial Protocols: Experience with MQTT (highly relevant for manufacturing/testing environments).
• Project Tools: Familiarity with JIRA for task tracking and project management.
   

6. Professional & Soft Skills

• Analytical Thinking: Strong critical thinking skills and the ability to work independently.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for collaborating with internal teams and external vendors.
• Adaptability: A willingness to learn new technologies and the flexibility to handle changing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Organization: The ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously with high attention to detail.

 

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 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 salary grade 8 and ranges from $113,580-190,500.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR

Visa sponsorship 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. 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.

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. 

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