Ford is committed to envisioning and creating compelling product experiences. The UX Program Manager will play a crucial role in managing prototyping operations, ensuring design teams have the necessary resources to prototype and iterate on product concepts efficiently.
Develop and maintain a system for tracking and managing prototype builds and components
Manage inventory and status of preproduction parts, prototyping materials, tools, and equipment
Oversee procurement, usage, maintenance, and upgrades to our digital design prototyping platforms
Support the Palo Alto site and digital design team as the subject matter expert on local prototype properties and methodologies, ranging from low-fidelity and rapid prototyping to working with production-grade automotive hardware on static and drivable platforms.
Support designers and teammates in ongoing learning and usage of equipment, serving as the primary point of contact for design reviews and research sessions
Troubleshoot technical and procedural issues related to prototyping & onsite equipment
Identify and implement improvements to the prototyping workflow
Establish and enforce protocols for Digital Product Design team’s workspace and equipment
Develop and maintain documentation for prototyping processes, onsite assets, and available equipment
Share knowledge and best practices with the design team
Contribute to a culture of experimentation, innovation, and growth mindset
Support design reviews in Palo Alto
Manage workstreams that reduce hardware / software complexity
Qualification
Required
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, industrial design, human centered design, product management, or related field (or equivalent experience)
2+ years Experience working to develop and deliver design work alongside technical teams
Experience with a variety of digital prototyping tools and techniques
Experience with design software (Figma, ProtoPie)
Proficiency in a variety of rapid prototyping techniques, including 3D printing, laser cutting, and electronics assembly
Ability to troubleshoot technical issues and perform basic repairs on prototyping equipment
Excellent organizational and time-management skills
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Strong attention to detail
Experience with inventory management and procurement process
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment
Ability to explain technical concepts clearly
Passion for helping others and willingness to learn new things
Preferred
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.
