
Jeff D.
5.0
(4)
Engineering leadership coach: From Technical Expert to Trusted Leader
Studied at Stanford Center for Professional Development
Works at Ford Motor Company
Successful clients at
Available Saturday at 1:00 PM UTC
I am not currently accepting clients in the automotive industry.
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Jeff's Coaching Offerings
Custom hourly · $89/hr
Get help with Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution, and .
Jeff’s Leadership Coaching Qualifications
Coaches professionally
Experience level: Manager
10+ people coached for Leadership Coaching
Jeff has helped clients get into these companies:
I work with new managers and engineers looking to grow in influencing without authority and leading peers. I help engineering leaders lead effective discussions—small and large—where team strengths shine, constructive conflict is welcomed, and difficult conversations move innovation forward. With over three decades of corporate engineering leadership, I have honed my leadership of people, teams and projects. My background (Ph.D. in engineering, over 300 U.S. Patents, a career growing others and delivering projects, and experience with Functional Safety and Robustness) gives me a solid foundation to guide others. Let's discuss your current leadership challenges and whether my approach fits your goals.
Jeff can help with:
Problem Solving
Conflict Resolution
Innovation and Creativity
Coaching and Mentoring
About Jeff
In my 30+ year corporate career, I have been a successful innovator, solving significant technical challenges and helping develop important technological advances. There was a time when the number of patents in production was a key metric for me. As I led larger teams and projects, I realized the team needed more than my skill as an individual contributor. I learned how to prompt difficult conversations that led to constructive outcomes. The team needed a purposeful vision, supported by a clear, flexible and robust plan. I am passionate about unlocking the abilities and contributions of the people around me. My mission is to develop systems, ask powerful questions and create aligned vision that improves things that matter. I am excited to write the next chapters on my journey from answer guy to wise advisor. I can help you improve your leadership, team alignment and decision quality.
Why do I coach?
From reading, training and personal experience, my calling is to unlock the potential in others and help them have more 'aha' moments. I have spent years studying and practicing engineering leadership, requiring significant changes in how I see myself and the people around me. I want to help you have success in difficult conversations, increase alignment and grow in influence without authority. Being deeply heard is becoming rarer in the world, yet no less powerful. I believe that you deserve the space, safety and structure to move toward your best self, one conversation at a time.
Work Experience

Technical Architect
Ford Motor Company
June 2023 - Present
• Leading Model-based Functional Safety and Failure Mode Avoidance for Vehicle Controls related to Propulsion, Braking, and Steering at Ford Motor Company. • Coordinating multiple cross-functional teams to analyze and design the system through the lenses of Functional Safety and Failure Mode Avoidance with effective integration of safety measures into vehicle control systems. • Collaborated with ADAS and Vehicle Controls teams to develop our next generation architecture • Developed and implemented innovative strategies to ensure vehicle controls met safety standards and avoided failure modes. Leadership Development Coaching, Cross-functional Team Leadership and +4 skills

Technical Leader
Ford Motor Company
October 2009 - Present
Leading research and development of engine, powertrain and vehicle control systems for hybrid and conventional vehicles for fuel economy and drivability. Areas of focus: parallel hybrid systems, engine start-stop controls, systems engineering and robustness. Presentation Skills

Controls Engineer
Ford Motor Company
July 1992 - Present
Presentation Skills
Education
Brain Academy
Certified Brain Coach
2025 - 2025
Michigan Technological University
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Mechanical Engineering
1995 - 2000
Stanford Center for Professional Development
Master of Science - MS, Mechanical Engineering
1991 - 1992
4 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Jeff has helped clients get into these companies: