Manager, SW​/IP Licensing

Manager, SW/IP Licensing We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we’re all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves?

• Lead the commercial transformation toward Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) architectures, ensuring software modularity and reusability are reflected in contract structures
• Own and lead sourcing strategy for in‑vehicle and embedded software categories, aligned to Ford’s technical roadmaps and long‑term business priorities
• Act as the primary commercial owner for strategic software suppliers, accountable for relationship health, performance, cost, and risk
• Partner with engineering, product, legal, and finance leaders to shape make/buy decisions, supplier selection, and contract strategy
• Drive end‑to‑end commercial execution, including licensing purchases, renewals, change management, cost governance, and supplier performance reviews
• Develop and maintain total cost of ownership (TCO) models, benchmarks, and market intelligence to support executive‑level decisions
• Conduct 'should-cost' analysis and technical benchmarking to validate supplier pricing models for complex software development (Agile/Scrum-based delivery)
• Lead complex negotiations across licensing, development, supply, and services agreements, balancing cost, flexibility, IP protection, and long‑term partnership value
• Design and synthesize supplier, market, and industry research to anticipate risks, identify opportunities, and inform strategy
• Establish and evolve supplier performance frameworks to support future sourcing and investment decisions
• Identify and execute sourcing alternatives to improve cost efficiency, resilience, and scalability across the software supply chain
• Drive continuous improvement of software sourcing and licensing processes across global, cross‑functional teams
• Represent software sourcing perspectives in senior leadership discussions, influencing outcomes beyond direct reporting lines

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of experience in software sourcing, supply chain, commodity management, software product management, or software engineering within automotive, electronics, or consumer technology environments
• 5+ years of experience owning software licensing purchases and renewals for production programs
• 5+ years of demonstrated success leading strategic sourcing initiatives, financial analysis, and complex contract negotiations
• Strong working knowledge of software commercial models, legal frameworks, and supplier ecosystems
• Ability to influence and align senior and executive stakeholders across engineering, legal, finance, manufacturing, and product organizations
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data, market signals, and ambiguity into clear recommendations
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with a track record of navigating high‑stakes, cross‑company decisions
• Must be comfortable operating with limited structure and evolving priorities

• Experience in embedded systems, application software, SaaS, or data‑as‑a‑service environments
• Experience negotiating with major software or semiconductor suppliers (e.g., Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, AMD, NVIDIA)
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills (e.g., TCO, scenario analysis)
• Track record of cost optimization, supplier consolidation, or category transformation
• Experience collaborating with engineering teams on BOM optimization and cost reduction initiatives
• Strategic mindset with demonstrated ability to drive change in complex, matrixed organizations

• 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 6 and ranges from $,760.

****** This role is based in Dearborn, MI or Palo Alto, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 4 days in the office per week