Product Design Lead Job at Ford Motor Company in Palo Alto

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?

Digital Product Design (DPD) at Ford is committed to envisioning and creating simple, thoughtful, enjoyable, and compelling product experiences that our customers need and love. We work in close partnership with product and engineering to deliver best-in-class interactions experiences that meet the needs of people today, and in the future. Our team is comprised of a dynamic group of product designers, researchers, visual designers, industrial designers, modelers, and project managers.

We're looking for an inspiring Product Design Lead to help develop experiences for the “first EV that anyone can understand”, and well as help mentor our talented team of product designers in our Digital Product Design organization. You’ll be a key strategic partner, working closely with product management, engineering, research, and other leaders across the company to define the future of our vehicles and services.

You'll champion user-centered design principles, elevate the craft of design within the team, and foster a collaborative and innovative design culture. If you're passionate about building and leading high-performing teams, setting design strategy, and ensuring we consistently deliver beautiful, intuitive, and impactful experiences, we'd love to talk to you!

This role is located in Palo Alto, CA with an in-office expectation of 4 days / week.

Responsibilities Lead High-Impact Design Work : Own the design of key digital products and experiences from discovery through delivery. Apply user-centered design principles to create intuitive, delightful, and accessible interfaces.

Inspire and Guide Designers : Support a small group of designers through informal mentorship and design direction. Help elevate the quality of the team’s work through thoughtful critique and collaboration.

Shape Product Direction : Work closely with cross-functional partners in product, engineering, research, and data to define problem spaces, explore solutions, and contribute to product strategy.

Champion Craft & Consistency : Push for design excellence at every stage. Help evolve our design system and ensure consistency across platforms and vehicle experiences.

Collaborate Across Teams : Communicate clearly and proactively with stakeholders. Advocate for the user experience while balancing technical and business needs.

Advocate for Users : Participate in user research and testing efforts to deeply understand customer needs—and turn those insights into thoughtful, impactful design solutions.

Qualifications Bachelors Degree or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

8+ years of experience in product design, with a strong portfolio of user-centered digital work across web, mobile, or embedded platforms.

Experience working closely with cross-functional product and engineering teams in agile environments.

Ability to lead end-to-end design efforts on complex projects—from concept through execution.

Passion for systems thinking and interaction design across digital and physical touchpoints.

Familiarity with design systems and component-based UI frameworks.

Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to advocate for design with clarity and confidence.

A collaborative mindset and a desire to mentor and inspire others around you.

We offer a range of benefits, including immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage, flexible family care days, paid parental leave, and more.

Ford Motor Company is 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.

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