Principal Technical Specialist - Vehicle & Connected Cyber Security

Reporting to the Senior Director of Vehicle and Connected Cybersecurity, this position plays a critical role in shaping cybersecurity architecture, influencing platform decisions, mentoring technical teams, and representing the organization with regulatory authorities, business partners, and industry forums. Technical Leadership & Strategy Act as the principal technical authority for vehicle, embedded, and connected cybersecurity across all vehicle programs and platforms. Define and evolve cybersecurity architectures and technical standards for ECUs, in-vehicle networks, OTA, cloud backends, mobile apps, and V2X ecosystems. Provide expert guidance on secure-by-design principles and emerging threats affecting automotive and connected systems. Product & Engineering Engagement Partner with vehicle, software, and systems engineering teams to integrate cybersecurity requirements throughout the product development lifecycle. Lead or support threat modeling, risk assessments, and security architecture reviews for vehicle platforms and connected services. Influence design decisions to balance security, safety, performance, cost, and customer experience. Governance, Risk & Compliance Support compliance with automotive cybersecurity standards and regulations (e.g., ISO/SAE 21434, UNECE R155/R156, NIST). Provide technical input for cybersecurity policies, processes, and audit readiness. Advise leadership on cybersecurity risk posture, residual risks, and mitigation strategies. Incident Response & Vulnerability Management Serve as a senior technical advisor during cybersecurity incidents affecting vehicles or connected services. Guide root cause analysis, remediation strategies, and long-term corrective actions. Oversee vulnerability disclosure, penetration testing findings, and coordinated response activities. Industry & External Engagement Represent the company in industry working groups, standards bodies, and technical forums. Engage with suppliers and technology partners to assess cybersecurity capabilities and risks. Monitor emerging threats, technologies, and regulatory trends impacting automotive cybersecurity. Mentorship & Knowledge Development Mentor and develop cybersecurity engineers and specialists across the organization. Elevate overall cybersecurity maturity through knowledge sharing, best practices, and technical reviews. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related field (Master’s preferred) or equivalent experience. 10+ years of experience in cybersecurity, with significant focus on embedded, automotive, or IoT systems. Deep technical expertise in areas such as embedded security, secure boot, cryptography, PKI, in-vehicle networks (CAN, LIN, FlexRay, Ethernet), OTA updates, and cloud-connected systems. Strong understanding of automotive cybersecurity standards and regulatory frameworks. Proven ability to influence technical decisions across multiple teams without direct authority. Preferred Qualifications Experience working at or with an automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier. Familiarity with functional safety (ISO 26262) and its interaction with cybersecurity. Hands-on experience with threat modeling methodologies and security architecture design. Professional certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, CSSLP, GIAC) are a plus. Key Competencies Strategic and systems-level thinking Deep technical credibility and problem-solving ability Strong communication skills for both technical and executive audiences Ability to navigate complex, matrixed organizations High integrity and commitment to safety and customer trust 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 leadership level 5 and ranges from $141,700-$268,300. Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value. For more information on salary and benefits, click here: Visa sponsorship is not 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 View phone number on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr Ford Motor Company