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. 

Complementing this technical network, Ford Australia’s National Sales Company (NSC) located in Richmond, is the central hub for commercial and customer engagement activities across the country. 

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. 

Complementary Vehicle including fuel.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.    

 

About the Role  

We are seeking a highly strategic and commercially minded Program Manager to lead the continued growth and market leadership of our Ranger, Raptor, and Super Duty product lines. As the Special Vehicle Engineering Programs Manager for Ford Racing (previously known as Ford Performance) and Ranger Super Duty, you will oversee the product delivery of customization and racing programs, driving expansion into heavy-duty 'work' and off-road 'play' segments through innovative products, features, and services. 

The Program Manager will also be responsible for the operational oversight of our Special Vehicle Engineering (SVE) and Super Duty teams, supporting vehicle conversions, modifications, and ensuring the future growth of the Super Duty nameplate. A key focus will be to champion the development of the Raptor Franchise, cementing its position as the undisputed global leader in the off-road space by delivering efficient platforms that support its future expansion and align with our vision of being the undisputed No.1 global off-road brand.

This position reports directly to the Ford Racing/Special Vehicle Engineering Chief Program Engineer and is based in Australia at our International Market Group Product Development Centre in Broadmeadows, Melbourne. The role operates under a hybrid work arrangement, requiring four days in the office.

A bachelor’s degree in engineering is a minimum requirement. Must be a Registered Professional Engineer of Victoria (RPEV) or demonstrate a clear willingness and eligibility to obtain RPEV registration within a specified timeframe (6-12 months) of commencing employment.A master’s degree in business or engineering is highly desirable but not essential for candidates with sufficient relevant experience.Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in automotive engineering, in technical roles (e.g., PMT, PVT), program management, or program delivery roles (e.g., Program Supervisor, A-CPE).Demonstrated experience in vehicle upfitting.Experience working with aftermarket suppliers and a solid understanding of industry norms and customer acceptance standards.Proven experience in a supervisory or leadership role within an engineering environment.Broad understanding of vehicle systems, program management principles, and engineering requirements.Knowledge of motorsport, vehicle upfitting, CCRG (Corporate Common Requirements Group), DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis), Powertrain, and Vehicle Architecture.Understanding of global automotive regulatory frameworks, particularly ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) regulations and ADR (Australian Design Rules).Familiarity with establishing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and contract creation.Strong leadership skills, with a positive, collaborative, and solution-oriented approach to teamwork.Proficiency with engineering design tools and software (e.g., FEDE).Ability to travel as required.

 

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.

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.

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 Friday 24 October 2025, however, please do not delay your application as interviews may 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 

Manage program and project governance for the Raptor portfolio, Special Vehicle Engineering (SVE), and vehicle conversion teams.Develop and implement engineering processes for the approval of vehicle modifications, including fleet-specific fit-outs.Ensure the on-time and on-cost delivery of key programs within the Ford Racing (Raptor) initiative.Oversee all aspects of Special Vehicle Engineering, including the Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) program, Body Equipment Mounting Manual (BEMM), and niche work vehicle applications.Cultivate and manage relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including Fleet, Marketing, Ford Pro, E&SE, TVM, and external partners (e.g., GFS, Premcar, ARB, Segula, RMA), particularly for non-standard products and processes.Support incremental sales growth for large fleet orders by identifying and engineering custom solutions for fleet tenders and sales teams.