Axle & Driveline Systems Manager

Ford • Livonia, MI

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.
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...
Driveline Systems Engineering Manager that will have global responsibilities leading corporate design and verification strategy for in-house axle designs, manufacturing best practices, up-front architecture development, and leading the quality improvement efforts within Driveline Systems.
This Manager leads a large group of engineering sections to define, design, and integrate vehicle torque transfer systems (ICE Axles, Transfer cases, Driveshafts, and Halfshafts), translating performance goals into component requirements, leading trade-off studies, collaborating cross-functionally (suppliers, vehicle teams), managing the system architecture, and driving improvements for efficiency, performance, quality, and cost.

Requirements

• Bachelor's of Science in Engineering.
• 10+ Years of automotive experience.
• 5+ years of experience with Design and Release processes of Driveline components.

Nice To Haves

• Masters of Science in Engineering.
• 10+ years of axle and driveline system design.
• Effective knowledge of axle/driveline manufacturing process, metallurgy and heat treatment.
• Self-directed, excellent people and communications skills.
• Be able to lead a diverse team from many organizations to resolve issues.
• Travel to supplier or Ford assembly plants, and critical customers may be required.
• Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics and vehicle NVH.
• Advanced problem-solving skill (Black Belt Certified preferred).
• Systems Engineering: Deep expertise in systems engineering principles, including P-diagrams, DFMEA, and functional safety.
• Tools: Proficiency in MBSE tools, CAD/CAE simulation environments, and data analysis platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead the axle and driveline system Architecture, which includes: Hardware definition at upfront program milestones and finalizing systems selections.
• Clean hand-off of program-driven content to the application engineering teams, including vendor sourcing timelines.
• Establishment of cost targets that align with program EBIT margin targets, and content that aligns with those targets
• Technology migration into programs that support continual quality reduction, reliability improvements, and attribute enhancements.
• Lead in-house axle design and strategy, which includes: Upfront manufacturing studies of make/buy business cases
• Direct design and integration on in-house designed components to meet full system targets.
• Launch of new axle architectures through the Unit approval process, garnering investment approvals to lead new generation axles into our vehicles
• Direct involvement with our Manufacturing plants to deliver content that matches manufacturing footprint allocations.
• Lead The Core engineering wing of Driveline Systems, which includes: Adoption and revision of internal design rules and requirements.
• FMA documentation (DVP, Boundary Diagrams, DFMEA, etc.)
• Peer reviews at major vehicle milestones for clean and detailed engineering evidence.
• Creation, with our Supply Chain counterparts, of Category Business plans, which spell out the short and longer-term strategy of major Driveline commodities.
• Lead the quality improvement initiatives with Driveline, which includes: Year-over-year reduction in Long-time-in-service warranty (>36 Months in service)
• Efficient Cost-per-repair strategy, reducing our overall impact to warranty spend
• Problem solving support for the toughest of challenges in the field.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees