Exterior Lighting Engineer

Ford • Dearborn, MI

1d • $86,600 - $166,200 • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford is hiring an experienced automotive exterior lighting Design & Release engineer to lead exterior lighting systems from early concept through production launch. The role requires working knowledge of lamp design, CAD and package development, requirements cascade, supplier execution, validation planning, tooling readiness, production release, and launch issue resolution. The engineer will lead cross-functional work with lighting suppliers, optics, studio, software, electrical, purchasing, manufacturing, supplier technical assistance, and quality teams while balancing performance, craftsmanship, cost, weight, timing, and regulatory compliance.

The role calls for a hands-on engineer who can contribute with limited ramp-up time, develop preliminary CAD concepts, assess feasibility, drive supplier design convergence, identify risks, and make engineering decisions across mechanical, optical, electrical, software, manufacturing, validation, and quality interfaces. The position is hybrid; candidates within commuting distance of a Ford hub may be required to work onsite four or more days per week. Travel, including international travel, is required as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of professional automotive exterior lighting engineering experience, including direct responsibility for production-intent lamp systems, components, or features.
• Demonstrated CAD design capability for preliminary design work, package studies, and section development.
• Experience leading exterior lighting development across key program milestones.
• Experience with DFMEA, DVP&R, design reviews, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and engineering change management.
• Ability to lead suppliers and cross-functional teams with clear communication, technical ownership, and timing discipline.
• Ability to evaluate design tradeoffs and resolve technical issues using data-driven engineering judgment.
• Ability to contribute in an experienced-hire role with limited ramp-up time.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Optical, or Software Engineering.
• Master’s degree or other advanced degree.
• Direct experience engineering the design and release of exterior lighting components such as headlamps, rear lamps, CHMSL, light bars, reflectors, bezels, lenses, housings, electronics modules, or lamp-level wire harnesses.
• Familiarity with Design For Six Sigma.
• Experience with DFMEA, GD&T, and ISO standards.
• Experience with CATIA, Teamcenter/TCE, 3DX, WERS, FEDEBOM, or similar automotive CAD, release, and BOM management systems.
• Knowledge of plastic materials, plastic injection molding, optics, basic electrical/electronic circuitry, software, lamp manufacturing processes, tooling, fixture design, and product validation.
• Knowledge of exterior lighting performance attributes, including photometry, lit appearance, condensation, thermal management, EMC, electronics/software interfaces, aiming, serviceability, craftsmanship, and perceived quality.
• Knowledge of global lighting regulations.
• Prior experience supporting prototype builds, plant launch, PPAP, safe launch, warranty/quality investigations, supplier corrective actions, or production change management.
• Experience or an industry network in automotive lighting suppliers, OEM lighting organizations, lighting-specific professional communities, or university programs that can support targeted sourcing and talent pipeline development.

Responsibilities

• Generate and execute technical solutions for exterior lighting components to support new vehicle programs.
• Perform complex engineering evaluation analysis.
• Translate vehicle, regulatory, appearance, optical, electrical, software, manufacturing, and quality requirements into robust exterior lighting component designs.
• Develop preliminary CAD design proposals, package studies, section reviews, design-in-context assessments, and conceptual CAD models.
• Work cross-functionally to implement cost savings and product improvements and support prototype and production build activities.
• Lead supplier technical execution, including design reviews, CAD and data reviews, tooling readiness, issue resolution, cost and weight tradeoffs, and launch support.
• Balance cost, weight, complexity, and timing.
• Release exterior lighting systems, subsystems, components, and features for production.
• Drive validation readiness and evidence of compliance through DFMEA, DVP&R, inspection and testing review, functional assessments, and corrective action closure.
• Develop core requirements and technologies.
• Communicate information to and from internal and external organizations.
• Lead meetings with suppliers, designers, engineers, manufacturing, supplier quality, and other stakeholders.
• Travel as required, including internationally.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, and subsidized back-up child care.
• 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.
• 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: Senior