CAE Engineer - Early Career Program, Advanced EV

Ford Motor Company • Long Beach, CA

2d

About The Position

Ford Motor Company is hiring a CAE Engineer for its six-month Early Career Program in Advanced EV (shorter durations may be possible). The program is expected to start as early as spring 2027. The ADVEV Structures and CAE team owns the body-in-white architecture for new EV platforms, from early-program studies through production-intent design, analysis, and physical validation.

As an intern on the NVH and Durability team, you will work on current and future body-in-white structures design loops, including concept generation, detailed analysis, design for manufacture, and CAD. You will support CAE development of cost and mass-reduction opportunities for structural parts and assemblies, addressing stiffness, strength, and durability requirements. The role also involves exploring optimization workflows, applying AI methods, developing custom tools, and automating analysis to explore design domains and accelerate decision-making. Candidates may be required to work onsite four or more days per week.

The position is salary grade 4. Eligible candidates who live more than 50 miles from a local office and are assigned to an eligible team may receive a $5,000 pre-tax relocation and commuter stipend. Visa sponsorship is not available; candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability in structures design and optimization, from hand calculations through detailed analysis and execution.
• Strong first-principles understanding of solid mechanics and mechanics of materials.
• Proficiency in finite element methods, including linear and non-linear static analysis.
• Experience with one or more FEA solvers: Abaqus, OptiStruct, nCode, or ANSYS.
• Experience with one or more FEA pre/post processors: HyperMesh, SimLab, ANSA, or ANSYS.
• Scripting or programming experience in Python, including tools such as numpy, pandas, scipy, pytorch, or keras.
• Strong problem-solving skills and eagerness to learn in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Ability to communicate technical ideas clearly across cross-functional teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with CAD tools such as CATIA V6 / 3DEXPERIENCE.
• Experience with modeFrontier or similar DoE/optimization frameworks.
• Finite element methods proficiency extending to linear and non-linear dynamic and modal analysis.
• Proficiency in numerical methods, including gradient and non-gradient-based optimization and sensitivity analysis.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted coding tools such as Copilot to accelerate engineering workflows.
• Familiarity with automotive manufacturing methods such as stampings, roll forming, extrusions, and casting, and joining technologies such as GMAW, SPR, RSW, and adhesives.

Responsibilities

• Drive CAE and optimization of next-generation ADVEV products in one or more areas: Body, Exteriors, Closures, or Seats.
• Develop finite element models at component and subsystem levels to evaluate designs against stiffness, strength, and durability metrics using linear and non-linear analysis techniques.
• Work with D&R engineers to execute cost and mass-reduction opportunities using topology, topography, gauge, and shape optimization.
• Identify, develop, and implement CAE techniques, analysis procedures, and tools to improve model robustness, fidelity, and simulation execution speed.
• Automate analysis methods for large-scale DoEs, create surrogate models using deep learning techniques, and explore design domains using response surface methods.
• Participate in CAE/design reviews, present findings, and influence design decisions.

Benefits

• $5,000 pre-tax relocation and commuter stipend for eligible candidates living more than 50 miles from a local office and assigned to an eligible team.
• Opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop skills for future career pursuits.

What This Job Offers

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