Exterior Lighting Systems Engineer

Ford • Long Beach, CA

6d • $150,200 - $283,500 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Exterior Lighting Systems Engineer designs, develops, validates, and delivers exterior lighting systems for advanced electric-vehicle products. The engineer works with studio and engineering teams on concepts and feature development, integrates new technologies, and collaborates with cross-functional teams and suppliers to bring designs to production. The work spans studio design and modeling, prototyping, production, validation, and launch. The role also optimizes manufacturing processes and costs, ensures regional regulatory compliance, and owns product design throughout development for global markets.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• At least 4 years of experience in automotive lighting component and system engineering at an OEM or Tier 1 level.
• At least 4 years of collaborative CAD experience using 3DX, CATIA, NX, ICEMSURF, or Alias; 3DX and CATIA are preferred.
• At least 4 years of experience in lighting systems design, development, and release, including completion of one or more production launch cycles.
• At least 3 years of experience designing lighting systems to global regulatory requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Strong knowledge of homologation and photometric regulations related to exterior lighting, including FMVSS 108 and ECE R48.
• Strong knowledge of optical system development processes and experience with optical simulation tools such as SPEOS, Lucid Shape, or equivalents.
• Successful execution of automotive lighting production programs; experience with full LED lighting systems is preferred.
• Excellent understanding of lighting technologies, including lightguides, light blades, auto aiming, levelling, adaptive forward lighting (AFS), adaptive driving beam (ADB), laser, OLED, matrix, and DMD.
• Strong understanding of materials and manufacturing processes such as stamping, injection molding, casting, composites, etching, PVD, and other surface finishes.
• High proficiency with 3DX, CATIA, or similar tools, including drawing and modeling practices and methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Develop state-of-the-art exterior lighting systems that meet studio aesthetic intent and global market regulatory requirements.
• Engineer and execute exterior lighting from concept feasibility through production launch.
• Guide cross-functional integration with studio, vehicle engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing, and software teams to achieve technically feasible designs.
• Analyze, test, and validate prototype and production lighting designs from mechanical, electrical, and optical perspectives.
• Work with architecture, planning, supplier chain, and suppliers to optimize form, function, performance, and cost.
• Define exterior lighting system requirements and specifications to achieve vehicle attribute targets for structure, mass, and performance.
• Own product design throughout the development cycle and deliver designs for global markets.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• 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.
• Established and active employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• Generous vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.

What This Job Offers

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