Functional Safety Engineer

Ford • Dearborn, MI

16h • $68,300 - $192,900 • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford is strengthening its core Functional Safety capability to support base steering and broader vehicle motion systems across vehicle programs. The role covers steering foundation functions, electric power-assisted steering, steer-by-wire interfaces where applicable, steering control functions, braking, propulsion and driveline interactions, vehicle dynamics, motion coordination, electrical/electronic elements, mechanical interfaces, and interactions with driver-assistance features.

As part of a Product Development team, the Functional Safety Engineer applies ISO 26262 principles, methods, and tools to base steering and assigned vehicle motion activities from concept through production. The engineer partners with cross-functional teams to develop complete, traceable Functional Safety work products supporting safe and robust system design. The position also offers the opportunity to build technical depth in steering and vehicle motion systems and to improve Ford Functional Safety methods, templates, training, and model-based engineering practices for reuse across vehicle programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Two or more years of experience engineering software-enabled, electrical/electronic, mechanical, systems, controls, or embedded vehicle systems.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams in a dynamic product development environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document technical analysis clearly and concisely.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with ISO 26262 and Functional Safety work products for steering, chassis, brakes, powertrain, vehicle motion, controls, or other safety-related automotive systems.
• Working knowledge of steering system architecture, electric power-assisted steering, steering controls, braking, propulsion or driveline systems, vehicle motion controls, sensors, actuators, electrical/electronic hardware, embedded software, mechanical interfaces, or vehicle dynamics.
• Experience using requirements management, traceability, FMEA/FTA, MBSE, SysML, calibration, test, or engineering analysis tools.
• Demonstrated leadership through technical projects, professional experience, internships, research, student organizations, or cross-functional team activities.
• Ability to simplify complex technical topics, drive alignment, and influence decisions through data, structured analysis, and clear communication.
• Interest in the automotive industry and in developing safe, innovative, and customer-focused vehicle technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support ISO 26262 Functional Safety activities for new and carry-over base steering and assigned vehicle motion systems across applicable vehicle programs.
• Develop, maintain, and deliver Functional Safety work products, including item definitions, hazard analysis and risk assessments, safety goals, functional and technical safety concepts, safety requirements, verification evidence, and safety case inputs, as applicable.
• Analyze steering and vehicle motion functions for loss, unintended, degraded, delayed, or incorrect assist, actuation, coordination, and control behavior, including vehicle-level effects, dependencies, and interactions across steering, braking, propulsion, driveline, and vehicle dynamics systems.
• Partner with steering foundation, vehicle motion controls, brakes, powertrain, software, hardware, electrical/electronic architecture, mechanical, vehicle integration, test, feature, program, and supplier teams to define safety mechanisms and support safe design decisions.
• Allocate and trace Functional Safety requirements across vehicle motion features, vehicle, system, subsystem, hardware, software, and supplier interfaces; maintain alignment as architectures, designs, dependencies, or program assumptions change.
• Perform or support safety analyses such as FMEA, FTA, dependent failure analysis, interface analysis, and freedom-from-interference assessment, as applicable to steering and distributed vehicle motion architectures.
• Support confirmation and technical reviews, verification planning, test evidence assessment, anomaly resolution, change impact analysis, and closure of Functional Safety actions for steering and vehicle motion deliverables.
• Apply Ford Functional Safety processes, methods, tools, and training to ensure consistent execution, milestone-based delivery, and end-to-end traceability.
• Use MBSE, SysML, requirements management, and model-based analysis practices where appropriate to improve clarity, reuse, integration, and efficiency of steering Functional Safety work.
• Communicate safety assumptions, technical conclusions, risks, dependencies, and decisions clearly to relevant stakeholders.
• Own steering and vehicle motion safety deliverables with attention to technical quality, timing, assumptions, interfaces, dependencies, and traceability.
• Collaborate to resolve unclear ownership, interfaces, assumptions, and requirements; engage relevant teams early to align decisions and close safety gaps.
• Continuously improve tools, templates, lessons learned, and methods to make Functional Safety execution more efficient, reusable, and scalable.

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 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.
• 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: Entry Level