Director, Cloud Platform Engineering

Job Description:

• Set Ford's multi-year strategic roadmap for cloud databases and analytics platforms
• Establish a platform engineering mindset using self-service APIs, golden paths, paved roads, and clear SLOs
• Define, provision, and manage database and analytics infrastructure through version-controlled, testable Infrastructure-as-Code
• Build, mentor, and lead a global team of platform engineers, architects, and SREs
• Architect and operate GCP-native database platforms across Cloud SQL, Spanner, AlloyDB, BigTable, and Firestore
• Own platform engineering for BigQuery and the broader analytics stack
• Build governed, self-service data pipelines and reusable analytics tooling
• Create golden-path templates, service APIs, and IaC-based automation
• Own Ford's Cloud Database-as-a-Service strategy
• Define database architecture patterns for fit-for-purpose technology selection
• Partner with Product Development Organizations on design reviews, reference architectures, and reusable templates
• Lead enterprise-wide SaaS database consolidation and cost optimization
• Manage platform lifecycle activities including versioning, patching, upgrades, end-of-life tracking, and decommissioning
• Manage vendor contracts and negotiate enterprise agreements
• Define Ford's Agentic Data Cloud strategy
• Provide patterns for database MCP servers
• Lead Knowledge Catalog deployment and Conversational Analytics rollout
• Define guardrails and human-in-the-loop controls aligned with Ford's Agentic AI Rubric
• Partner with Google product and engineering teams on proof-of-concept design and service launch frameworks

Requirements:

• 15+ years in software engineering, cloud architecture, and data platform services, including significant leadership experience
• Proven platform engineering ownership of large-scale database and analytics environments on GCP, including Cloud SQL, Spanner, AlloyDB, BigTable, Firestore, and BigQuery
• Strong hands-on experience with Infrastructure-as-Code tooling and practices
• Direct experience with SaaS database platforms including MongoDB, Neo4J, Elastic, and Redis
• Experience with consolidation and cost-optimization initiatives at enterprise scale
• Demonstrated success owning DBaaS and defining fit-for-purpose database architecture patterns adopted by application/product teams
• Experience with agentic AI and data platform concepts, including MCP servers, Knowledge Catalog, Conversational Analytics, and AI governance frameworks
• Strong background in DevOps/SRE practices, automation, CI/CD, and observability
• Bachelor's degree required
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Visa sponsorship is not available
• Master's degree preferred

Benefits:

• 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
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
• Fertility treatments
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members
• Management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• Generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off
• Option to purchase additional vacation time