Principal Design Quality Engineer - Vehicle Appearance & Harmony

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?

In this position...

At Ford, we believe that exceptional design extends beyond aesthetics – it's about the flawless execution and perception of every surface, color, and finish. We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Design Quality Engineer to champion the visual integrity and appearance harmony of our next-generation vehicles. This pivotal role ensures that every interior and exterior component not only meets stringent design intent but also upholds Ford's premium brand image through meticulous evaluation of color, grain, gloss, and overall aesthetic quality.

You will be the critical link between design vision, engineering reality, and manufacturing execution, driving a culture of appearance excellence across our product development lifecycle. If you possess an unparalleled eye for detail, deep knowledge of materials and processes, and a passion for delivering world-class automotive quality, we invite you to make a significant impact at Ford.

What you'll do...

Appearance Excellence & Assurance:

• Lead comprehensive visual assessments of interior and exterior components, spanning various materials and processes, to rigorously certify compliance with Ford's design intent and appearance standards.

• Orchestrate and lead Interior and Exterior Harmony Reviews (focusing on color, grain, and gloss) at production facilities, ensuring a cohesive and premium aesthetic across all vehicle lines.

• Drive the evaluation of production parts to Ford Standards for Color, Grain, Gloss, and overall quality appearance, identifying and resolving deviations proactively.

Strategic Influence & Process Leadership:

• Serve as a primary expert in manufacturing and tooling processes, leveraging this knowledge to proactively influence product and process changes that ensure adherence to Ford's demanding appearance standards.

• Champion the continuous improvement of appearance quality processes, identifying inefficiencies and driving transformative changes to enhance our methodologies and outcomes.

• Document and manage the program status of Appearance Approval Reports (AARs) and Vehicle Harmony, providing clear, concise, and actionable insights to program and supplier teams.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Problem Solving:

• Act as a central coordinator and consultant, collaborating extensively with cross-functional teams including Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality departments to resolve complex appearance-related challenges.

• Lead root cause analysis for appearance issues, implementing robust corrective actions and preventative measures throughout the product lifecycle.

Technical Expertise & Digital Integration:

• Utilize advanced CAD software (e.g., 3Dx, CATIA) to perform digital assessments and simulations of appearance quality, enabling proactive identification and resolution of potential issues ahead of physical production.

• Maintain a deep understanding of materials science, paint, and manufacturing processes, and their impact on aesthetic attributes.

Travel:

• Travel as required (up to 10% domestically and internationally within North America), with increased travel during critical program launch phases, to support evaluations and problem resolution at manufacturing sites.

You'll have...

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field such as Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Design, or a closely related discipline. Equivalent demonstrated experience in the areas of automotive appearance quality will also be considered.

• A minimum of 5+ years of experience in appearance quality, with a strong focus on color, grain, gloss, and overall vehicle harmony conformance.

• Demonstrated ability to consistently pass a color vision test, indicating superior visual acuity for discerning subtle differences in color and finish.

• In-depth knowledge of automotive materials, paints, and manufacturing processes, and their direct influence on aesthetic attributes.

• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., 3Dx, CATIA) for digital appearance assessments and analysis.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a track record of identifying and resolving complex appearance quality issues.

• Exc