Ford Racing Product Development Engineer
About The Position
The Ford Racing Chassis Team is looking for an independent, empowered, and passionate Engineer to drive the development of the next generation of wheels and tires for an upcoming, high-profile off-road vehicle program. This is not a standard component release role. You will be part of the elite Ford Performance division, tasked with delivering "Race Ready" durability and dynamics. We need a self-starter who can bridge the gap between analytical design tools, physical hardware fabrication, and extreme vehicle performance. What You'll Do... Design & Engineering Leadership: Lead the cradle-to-grave design, release, and delivery of Wheel and Tire systems for Ford Performance vehicles. You will develop innovative solutions that balance extreme off-road capability with production feasibility. Program Management: Manage the Quality, Cost, Weight, Function, and Timing (QCWFT) for your commodities to support engineering and program GPDS milestones. Cross-Functional Integration: Act as the central hub between the Design Studio, Vehicle Dynamics, and the Core Brake Organization to ensure packaging and performance requirements are met. Supplier & Sourcing Management: Partner with Purchasing to source commodities; manage Tier 1 suppliers to ensure timely delivery of parts for prototype and production builds. Validation & Launch: Support the vehicle lifecycle through prototype builds, physical testing, and final launch. You will lead issue resolution, design change management, and root cause analysis. Performance DNA: Ensure all components conform to the strict "Ford Performance DNA" as well as all applicable regulatory and safety requirements. As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Mechanical, Automotive, or Aerospace preferred).
- 1 completed program cycle in Chassis engineering (concept to launch).
- 2+ years of experience using CAD (CATIA V5/V6) and/or visualization tools (Vis Mockup, Teamcenter).
- Deep understanding of program delivery processes (GPDS or equivalent OEM milestone process).
- Familiarity with Ford proprietary systems (or equivalent OEM systems), including: Teamcenter, WERS, FEDE, FEDEBOM, and DFMEA methodologies.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills; ability to lead design teams and external resources without direct supervision.
- An independent self-starter with a passion for performance vehicles who can connect analytical data with physical vehicle feedback.
Nice To Haves
- Specific experience with bead-lock wheels, high-compliance off-road tires, or central tire inflation systems (CTIS).
- Experience with fabrication, machining, or physical mockups (e.g., Formula SAE, Baja SAE, or personal project car builds) to demonstrate proof of concept.
- Experience with CAE analysis tools for structural durability or wheel modal analysis.
- PMP certification or Six Sigma Green Belt.
- Previous experience working directly with major wheel manufacturers (casting/forging) or tire compounds.
Responsibilities
- Lead the cradle-to-grave design, release, and delivery of Wheel and Tire systems for Ford Performance vehicles.
- Develop innovative solutions that balance extreme off-road capability with production feasibility.
- Manage the Quality, Cost, Weight, Function, and Timing (QCWFT) for your commodities to support engineering and program GPDS milestones.
- Act as the central hub between the Design Studio, Vehicle Dynamics, and the Core Brake Organization to ensure packaging and performance requirements are met.
- Partner with Purchasing to source commodities; manage Tier 1 suppliers to ensure timely delivery of parts for prototype and production builds.
- Support the vehicle lifecycle through prototype builds, physical testing, and final launch.
- Lead issue resolution, design change management, and root cause analysis.
- Ensure all components conform to the strict "Ford Performance DNA" as well as all applicable regulatory and safety requirements.
Benefits
- Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage
- Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care, 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
