
Sr. Staff Embedded Controls Engineer Body Controls
Ford · Palo Alto, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $256k–$307k
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Industry
- Automotive
- Posted
- 3 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior controls role at Ford (automotive) in Palo Alto, CA. Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the aforementioned worksite.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Automation
- Base pay
- $256k–$307k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $127k–$179k. This one lists $256k–$307k.
Median of the low and high ends of 66 live postings that list pay, out of 122 controls engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 121 other live controls postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 87% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 5+)
Typical $123k–$179k, from 62 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Automation 67%
- Robotics 44%
- PLC 43%
- ✓ Python 34%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 34%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Ford
We found 10 people at this company and state: 8 in this kind of role, 2 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Douglas → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Ford in Palo Alto
6 other open roles at this site · 10 people we found in controls roles at Ford.
- Senior Validation Engineer - DCE · Quality · Senior
- Senior Embedded Controls Engineer, Vehicle Motion · Controls · Senior
- Senior Embedded Controls Engineer, Body Controls · Controls · Senior
- Embedded Controls Engineer, Body Controls · Controls
- Lead Engineering Technician | Vehicle · Manufacturing · Manager
- Lead Engineering Technician | Vehicle Systems (Powertrain) · Manufacturing · Manager
Full description from FordAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
to electrical hardware and systems teams. Understand functional safety principles and participate in functional safety analyses of complex vehicle subsystems. Develop comprehensive test plans and perform thorough testing to validate firmware functionality, stability, and performance under various conditions, including low power modes. Spearhead body controls feature development, working cross-functionally with hardware, software, architecture, and many other teams to author feature boundary diagrams and validation strategies. Author subsystem block diagrams and lead subsystem reviews through all vehicle program development phases. Early phases of firmware development will focus on hardware validation, labcar testing, and setting up the automation framework for unit, SIL and HIL testing. Domestic Travel Required up to 10%.
You'll have...
Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related field and 10 years of progressive, post-baccalaureate experience in the job offered or a related occupation. 10 years of experience with each of the following skills is required: 1. Conducting firmware code reviews using C, coupled with experience in analyzing diverse code paths to develop detailed and comprehensive test plans. 2. Testing equipment including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, and digital multimeters. 3. Converting initial design
requirements
into clear and actionable functional specifications. 4. Leveraging Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to ensure seamless integration of software changes and correct deployment of shipping software. 5. Interacting between hardware and software components, utilizing programming languages including Python and C. 6. Testing firmware functionality through the application of automation toolchains. 9 years of experience with each of the following skills is required: 1. Using vehicle network protocols including CAN and LIN.
We are offering a salary of $255,653.00 - $307,200.00/yr.
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 the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
- ✓Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage
- ✓Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care 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.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. We also believe in providing you with the freedom to define and realize your dreams. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career potential as you help us define tomorrow’s transportation.
Do you have what it takes to make smart vehicles for a smart world? Join the Ford Product Development team. Utilizing Design Thinking & User Experience methods, you’ll work to deliver breakthrough products and services that delight our customers. We’re seeking forward-thinking, laser-focused professionals with a passion for bringing innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. We have opportunities around the world for you to contribute to such advancements as autonomy, electrification, smart mobility technologies, and more!
What you’ll be able to do
Sr. Staff Embedded Controls Engineer Body Controls - positions offered by Ford Motor Company (Palo Alto, California). Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the aforementioned worksite. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance from the worksite. Create control/estimation algorithms for various body control features like window control, closure system, and lighting. Lead the design and integration of various body controls hardware components on electrical test assets such as benches, bucks, labcars, and vehicles. Collaborate with software integration teams to bring up core functions and broadcast software level
For a detailed look at our benefits, click here
https://fordcareers.co/LL5
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.
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