Accessory Development Engineer

Ford Motor • Long Beach, CA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford Motor Company’s Product Creation and Industrialization organization brings together vehicle, electric, digital, and design teams with its global manufacturing system to develop vehicles, software, and customer experiences. The Vehicle Accessory Product Development Engineer works with studio designers to develop new design concepts and partners with vehicle engineering and cross-functional teams on technical feasibility and cost trade-off studies.

The engineer designs and develops vehicle accessories that enhance vehicle functionality and aesthetics, including roof and bed solutions and other innovative accessories. The role spans concept development through manufacturing, quality, launch, and service, with an emphasis on delivering products that meet performance, durability, quality, and production requirements. This hybrid position requires onsite work four or more days per week.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• At least 2 years of experience working on production vehicle development and launch.
• At least 4 years of experience using CAD collaboratively; listed tools include 3DX, CATIA, NX, ICEMSURF, and Alias, with 3DX and CATIA preferred.
• At least 4 years of experience in exterior, interior, or accessory design, development, release, and supplier management.
• Record of development and launch experience for vehicle systems and accessories, such as roof applications, bed applications, or trailer hitch applications.

Nice To Haves

• Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, preferably including experience designing mechanisms and electromechanical components.
• Strong understanding of materials and manufacturing processes such as stamping, injection molding, casting, composites, paint, and other surface finishes.
• Understanding of how production volume and functional or cosmetic features affect design and engineering.
• Familiarity with legislative requirements affecting design feasibility.
• Strong understanding of GD&T, craftsmanship, and CMF, and how they affect design execution.
• Experience with automotive Class A surface feasibility assessment and development, vehicle layout and packaging, including body structures, exteriors, closures, and glazing.
• Hands-on experience building and launching automotive products.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop vehicle accessories using CAD and other engineering tools.
• Conduct feasibility studies, prototyping, and testing to confirm product performance and durability.
• Define accessory roadmaps using build-to-print and supplier co-development approaches.
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturers to select materials and optimize production processes.
• Support the product development lifecycle from concept through production, meeting timelines and quality standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues during development, manufacturing, launch, and service.
• Stay informed about industry trends, technologies, and materials to drive innovation.
• Work with engineering, manufacturing, and purchasing teams to ensure manufacturing and assembly feasibility and serviceability.
• Support vehicle development milestones and prototype and production build events.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Paid parental leave, new-parent ramp-up programs, and subsidized backup childcare.
• Family-building benefits, including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement and fertility treatments.
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases.
• Tuition assistance.
• Employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• Vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including time between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level