About Us
Lead. Grow. Transform.
Ford Australia is constantly evolving and innovating, committed to delivering smarter, more connected vehicles for all Australians, now and for generations to come.
Looking ahead, Ford is excited about the future. With an expanding vehicle lineup, growing digital services, and a strong dealer network, they are well-positioned to support Australian businesses in new ways.
As Australia’s largest automotive OEM employer, we proudly have around 1,500 talented engineers, designers, and specialists working across five Victorian sites. Crucially, Australia is a key global development hub for Ford, and their local design and engineering team lead the creation of vehicles including the Ranger, Ranger Raptor, and Everest – models sold in around 180 markets worldwide.
This position blends Vehicle-in-the-Loop with ADAS software release engineering. You will lead and deliver ViL initiatives to support sign-off readiness while also planning and executing robust ADAS software releases. The ViL responsibilities will be your main focus in day-to-day work and deliverables, with software release activities running in parallel to ensure end-to-end ADAS validation and on-time software delivery.
Why Ford?
For a century, we've been a driving force across Australia, building a legacy that truly speaks for itself. Leading the way, the Ranger continues its rein as Australia's No. 1 Selling Vehicle and our iconic Mustang proudly holds its position as Australia’s No. 1 Sports Car.
These remarkable achievements are a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and a customer-focused approach that has delivered success across our entire lineup, giving us so much to be excited about! But we believe we do more than just build award-winning vehicles—we build careers.
- Discounted lease car options.
- Multiple Employee Resource Groups – Ford Pride, Women of Ford and Ford Empowering Diverse Abilities.
- Flexible Work Arrangements.
- Growth and development opportunities via internal and external training.
- Paid parental leave from day 1.
- Comprehensive Employee Assist Program.
- Wellness Programs including Free Flu Vaccinations and Health Checks.
- Paid volunteer days.
ViL
Lead the ViL project within the ADAS team and coordinate with North American counterparts as needed
Create solutions to improve portability and usability of ViL equipment and setups
Conduct and document tests to ensure ViL results are accurate and well-correlated with physical vehicle tests
Train Ford staff on ViL operation, troubleshooting, and best practices
Maintain and continuously improve the ViL as part of the ADAS test plan, ensuring repeatability and traceability
Ensure ViL activities align with sign-off readiness for major ADAS features
SW Release
Lead robust software delivery on vehicle programs, including gateway sign-off and launch support
Plan and execute ADAS software releases; build software packages for development and service
Support software reviews, release governance, and drive process improvements to reduce cycle times and risk
Conduct tests to verify root causes, validate theories, and ensure issues are fixed right the first time
Utilize JIRA and Confluence to improve issue handling, coordination, and validation efficiency
Support ADAS feature and performance validation within release cycles
Cross-Functional
Work closely with ADAS teams across locations to synchronize ViL and software release activities
Communicate status, risks, and trade-offs clearly to engineering and program leadership
Coach and share best practices; contribute to design reviews, teaching sessions, and process improvements
Education/Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Software, Information Systems, or 5+ years of relevant industry experience in product development or automotive engineering
Technical Experience and Capabilities
Experience leading embedded automotive software delivery on vehicle programs, including launch support and gateway/milestone sign-off activities
Strong understanding of Driver Assistance technologies and sensors: camera, radar, ultrasonics, sensor fusion, and image processing
Knowledge of ADAS software architecture and module-level integration (ECUs, sensors, gateway interactions)
Experience with ViL/HiL test environments, data collection and analysis, and automated test systems.
Proficiency with ADAS simulation tools (e.g., CarMaker, CarSim or similar) and real-time testing workflows.
Familiarity with networking protocols (CAN, XCP, TCP, UDP) and debugging tools (Wireshark, CANalyzer, etc.)
Proficiency in programming or scripting languages common to automotive software and test (C/C++, Java; MATLAB; Shell scripting)
Experience with software development and release toolchains (Jenkins, GitHub, Linux development) and build/package management
Strong stakeholder communication skills; ability to influence without formal authority and align teams toward common release and validation outcomes
Ability to interpret code and logs to aid in issue resolution
Experience with defect management systems (e.g., JIRA) and documentation platforms (e.g., Confluence)
Personal Attributes
Strong written and verbal communication; detail-oriented with the ability to convey complex topics clearly
Proactive, collaborative, and able to work effectively in cross-location teams
Willingness to train others and share knowledge through coaching and sessions
Nice-to-Have (Preferred)
Experience with Ford diagnostic and software tools (e.g., Diagnostic Engineering Tool, IVS)
- Prior exposure to Ford-specific processes or diagnostic environments
If you want to be a part of this challenging and rewarding transformation – Apply Now.
Equal Opportunity
Ford Australia is inclusive employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.
If you require any support or adjustments to the recruitment process, please contact our Human Resources Lead Sophie ([email protected]).
Applicants must be legally authorised to work in Australia. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
---Applications will close on Tuesday 28 April 2026---
Please note due to the high numbers of applications we will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.
