Product Development Engineer

Qualifications, You'll Have:

• BS Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering or a related field
• 3+ years of professional experience in the Automotive or Aerospace industry (experience with hinged closures is preferred)
• 3+ years of experience on front 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, craftsmanship, test validation, manufacturing feasibility, and launch timing requirements (e.g., hoods, front doors, fenders, front-end structure, latches, and hinges)
• Experience with sheet metal body structures, closures, stamping, static and/or dynamic sealing, gas struts/hood props, power drive units/motors, hinges, and latch systems
• Proficiency in 3D CAD tools (e.g., CATIA V5/3DEXPERIENCE, Siemens NX, or equivalent) for part modeling, surfacing, tolerance stack-up analysis, and design feasibility studies
• 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

Even better, you may have:

• Experience interfacing with design studio on resolution of design issues related to Exterior Front Closures systems
• 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.
• Working knowledge of CAE tools and methods (e.g., FEA, structural/durability simulation) to interpret analysis results and support design optimization decisions
• Ability to work overtime & travel to support launches

Front Closures Design & Release Engineer Responsible for new developments, resolving quality issues, and identifying cost reduction opportunities.

Hard Skills

• 3D CAD proficiency (CATIA V5/3DEXPERIENCE, Siemens NX, or equivalent)
• GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis
• Front closures systems knowledge (hoods, doors, fenders, latches, hinges, gas struts)
• Sheet metal design (draft angles, bend radius, undercuts)
• Manufacturing processes (stamping, injection molding, extrusion, forging, casting, welding, riveting)
• Design for Manufacturing (DFM) / Design for Assembly (DFA)
• Static/dynamic sealing systems
• Quality problem-solving tools (8D, FMEA, root cause analysis)
• CAE / FEA interpretation (Abaqus, Nastran, Ansys, LS-DYNA) — desirable
• PLM/Teamcenter and part release processes

• Supplier and cost/weight management

   

Soft Skills

• Effective communication across cross-functional teams
• Technical leadership / influence without authority
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving
• Negotiation
• Time management and prioritization
• Adaptability under ambiguity
• Results-driven mindset
• Global, multicultural teamwork
• Attention to detail (craftsmanship focus)

At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career and help us define tomorrow’s transportation.