About Us
Lead. Grow. Transform.
Ford Australia is a dynamic and innovative organization, deeply committed to delivering smarter, more connected vehicles for all Australians, now and for generations to come. We are constantly evolving and looking ahead with excitement. With an expanding vehicle lineup, growing digital services, and a robust dealer network, Ford is exceptionally well-positioned to support Australian businesses in new ways.
As Australia’s largest automotive OEM employer, we proudly nurture a team of around 1,500 talented engineers, designers, and specialists across five Victorian sites. Crucially, Australia serves as a key global development hub for Ford, with our local design and engineering team leading the creation of world-renowned vehicles including the Ranger, Ranger Raptor, and Everest – models that are sold in approximately 180 markets worldwide.
Complementing this technical expertise, Ford Australia’s National Sales Company (NSC), located in Richmond, acts as the central hub for our commercial and customer engagement activities across the country.
Why Ford?
For a century, Ford has been a driving force across Australia, building a legacy that truly speaks for itself. Our iconic Mustang proudly holds its position as Australia's No. 1 Sports Car, while the versatile Everest has carved out its place as the No. 1 in its segment. Leading the way, the Ranger continues its reign as Australia's No. 1 Selling Vehicle.
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.
Benefits of joining the Ford team include:
- Complimentary vehicle and additional discounted lease car options.
- Recognised by WGEA as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.
- 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.
About the Role
Ford Australia's Programs Office is seeking a highly skilled and strategic Chief Program Engineer (CPE) for Ford Performance/SVE (Specialty Vehicle Engineering). This full-time role, based at our IMG Product Development Centre in Broadmeadows, Australia, reporting into the Ford Performance/SVE Chief Program Engineer.
As a Chief Program Engineer, you will be instrumental in overseeing the product planning, creation, and delivery of our Ranger product line, with a specific focus on flexible capabilities in specialty and niche areas that drive brand excitement, volume, and profitable growth. You will be responsible for the overall product creation and delivery of cost, timing, and functional performance, with the core purpose of growing Ranger's market share in the heavy-duty "work" and off-road "play" segments by offering credible products, features, and services to customers. This role requires a hands-on engineering approach and involves working effectively across all employee levels, from technical personnel to Senior Management.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead overall program delivery, ensuring quality, cost, timing, and functional performance, and drive franchise development for Super Duty, Raptor, Ranger and Everest programs.
- Drive commercial vehicle sales growth through strategic partnerships with qualified vehicle modifiers.
- Develop and execute "how to win" strategies within your program areas.
- Cultivate a strong and deep understanding of customer needs to develop opportunistic and robust business cases for derivative and customization product actions.
- Oversee the expansion of functional options for Ranger/Everest to enhance work, play, and family applications.
- Effectively manage internal and external stakeholders for non-standard products and processes.
- Cultivate and lead high-performing teams, managing assigned program and SVE resources to foster a collaborative, customer-focused, cross-functional, and high-performing environment that champions Ford OS Behaviours.
About You
- A bachelor’s degree in engineering, MBA/MS in Engineering Management or equivalent is preferred.
- Commensurate experience required to successfully perform this role.
- Broad understanding of vehicle systems, program management, and engineering requirements.
- Preferred previous experience in technical roles (PMT, PVT) or program management/program delivery roles (CPE or A-CPE).
- Demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit, with a proactive approach to leveraging opportunities.
- Ability to take calculated and measured risks to drive innovation and growth.
- Experience working with aftermarket suppliers and a deep understanding of industry norms and customer acceptance standards.
- Strong leadership skills with a positive teamwork attitude.
- Proficiency in MS tools, excellent communication skills (both oral and written), and demonstrated 'hands-on' engineering experience.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and influence complex cross-functional teams.
- Strong financial acumen, particularly for business case development.
- Familiarity with vehicle and platform architecture development processes, balancing technical and business considerations.
- Deep understanding of Product Development Processes and deliverables, coupled with familiarity with Human-Centered Design principles and a passion for the customer.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities concurrently and deliver high-quality outcomes in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong desire to deliver results, collaborating effectively with all employee levels, from technical personnel to Senior Management.
- Ability to travel as required.
If you want to be a part of this challenging and rewarding transformation – Apply Now.
Equal Opportunity
Ford Australia is committed to building an inclusive work environment and welcome applications from First Nations, LGBTQI+, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, and people across all life stages.
As part of our commitment to driving equity and inclusion for all, we are now recognised by WGEA as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and all effort will be made to ensure diverse interviewers.
If you require any support or adjustments to the recruitment process, please contact our Talent and Inclusion Lead Sarah at scastr34@ford.com.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorised to work in Australia. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
---Applications will close on Sunday 03 August 2025, however, please do not delay your application as interviews will commence before this date---
Please note due to the high numbers of applications we will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.
*Ford Motor Company of Australia Pty Limited ACN 004 116 223 (Ford) is collecting your personal information in order to consider you for a role at Ford. Ford may also collect personal information about you from third parties such as refereess and recruitment agencies for this purpose. Ford may disclose your personal information to its related companies and third party service providers for purposes such as screening and background checks, aptitude testing and health and safety and human resources management activities. Ford’s privacy policy (available at www.ford.com.au) states how you can seek to access or correct any personal information Ford holds about you, how to complain about a privacy breach by Ford and how Ford will deal with a privacy complaint. You can contact Ford at 13 FORD (13 36 73) or via the contact details set out in Ford’s privacy policy