Rear Closures Design & Release Engineer

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?

Product Development uses design thinking & user experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that delight our customers. We bring innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. We have opportunities around the world for you to contribute to advancements in autonomy, electrification, smart mobility technologies, and more!

In this position...

The candidate will work with internal and external customers to develop competitive cost & weight efficient designs. Additionally, the candidate will be responsible to engineer the required CAD and lead analytical and physical analysis to deliver a system that will meet all prescribed requirements. As the program matures, responsibilities will shift to product testing, delivering PSW, and launching within one of Ford’s many assembly plants.

What you’ll do…

The candidate will work with internal and external customers to develop competitive cost & weight efficient designs. Additionally, the candidate will be responsible to engineer the required CAD and lead analytical and physical analysis to deliver a system that will meet all prescribed requirements. As the program matures, responsibilities will shift to product testing, delivering PSW, and launching within one of Ford’s many assembly plants.

You'll have...

Minimum

• BS Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering or a related field
• 8+ years of professional experience in the Automotive or Aerospace industry (experience with hinged closures is preferred)
• 5+ years of experience on rear closures systems for forward model vehicles with direct ownership of part engineering, system engineering, and part release to meet cost, weight, quality, functional performance, studio appearance, craftmanship, test validation, manufacturing feasibility, and launch timing requirements(e.g. tailgates, liftgates, swing gates, side doors, cargo doors, moveable roof systems)
• Experience with sheet metal body structures, closures, stamping, static and/or dynamic sealing, power/gas struts, power drive units/motors, and hinges
• Hands-on experience with “in-house” engineering, design, and release, as well as managing full-service supplier commodities, with on-time delivery at cost & quality targets.
• Design and Release/Product Development Engineer/ Closures Commodity Subject Matter Expert experience
• Ability to work overtime & travel to support launches
• The Product Development Engineer is responsible for managing product release CAD and BOM structures, including assembly positioning and mass attribute analysis. This role also includes facilitating supplier data integration and developing CAD studies to support and drive design improvements.
• The Product Development Engineer is expected to understand and effectively utilize product check-in/check-out processes, version control, data release, and change management within Ford’s PLM ecosystem.

• The Product Development Engineer will perform feasibility analyses using CAD tools, including draft angle analysis, undercut detection, minimum bend radius validation for sheet metal, and clearance checks to support manufacturing and machining requirements.

Even better, if you have …

Preferred

• 2 years of professional experience in the Automotive or Aerospace industry.
• Experience interfacing with design studio on resolution of design issues related to Exterior Rear Closures system.
• Experience leading peers via Design reviews to resolve part to part interface issues and deliver a successful system.
• Experience solving current model quality issues and implementing corrective actions.
• Ability to utilize and demonstrate System engineering disciplines and Design for Manufacturing principles to proactively solve issues.
• Knowledge of craftsmanship expectations, benchmarking, and futuring.
• Knowledge of automotive exterior components, including materials and manufacturing technologies, such as stamping, injection molding, extrusion, forging, casting, welding, riveting, etc.

• Experience with bolted joint structures

  Experience with Structural mechanics

• Experience with hinge mechanism dynamics
• Experience with Systems engineering
• Working knowledge of FEA, DFMEA, Control Plan development, & Dimensional Variation Analysis
• Ability to operate within CATIA/3DX environment, Teamcenter Engineering, and Digital Buck
• CATIA/3DX ability to create simple parts, sections, and studies a plus

• Capability with Microsoft Suite of products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $99,100-$166,200., 0.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are 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. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.

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