MBSE & Strategy Engineer

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters. At Ford, the Vehicle Hardware Engineering teams are using Design Thinking & User Experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that will delight our customers. Our employees are laser-focused on bringing innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. From autonomy and electrification to smart mobility technologies, our teams around the world are working together with excitement to make smart vehicles for a smart world. The Systems Engineering team provides end-to-end, industrialized solutions encompassing the entire lifecycle of complex vehicle systems. From initial concept and requirements derivation through architecture design, integration, testing, and deployment, we ensure seamless coordination across multidisciplinary teams to deliver highly optimized, innovative, and safe vehicles. We are seeking a highly capable and rigorous Systems Engineer to drive product excellence and system integration. In this role, you will apply aerospace-caliber systems engineering principles to automotive development, leveraging advanced Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) technologies to improve quality, reliability, and efficiency. You will manage the complete system lifecycle—acting as the central technical authority for system-level architecture, trade studies, optimization, and Model-Based Failure Mode Analysis (MBFMA). By combining deep technical expertise with a holistic, highly structured approach to system design, you will ensure that all functional, safety, and operational requirements are strictly met and validated.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of proven experience in systems engineering, architecture development, or complex systems integration (automotive, aerospace, or defense industries preferred).
• Demonstrated expertise in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and hands-on experience with SysML and modeling tools (e.g., MagicDraw, Dassault 3DX, Catia V6).
• Strong proficiency in analytical modeling and simulation tools (MATLAB, Simulink, LABVIEW, SIMSOLID).
• Deep understanding of the Systems Engineering V-model, requirements derivation, and structured engineering processes.
• Expertise in formal problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D, Six Sigma, 3L5Y) and statistical analysis.
• Exceptional analytical thinking, emotional resilience, and the ability to effectively negotiate and drive cross-functional trade-offs.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Systems Engineering or related field.
• INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional Certification (ASEP/CSEP) or OMG SysML Certification.
• Experience with functional safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262, ARP4754, or DO-178C).
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt Certification.
• Proven experience transitioning traditional document-based engineering processes into an industrialized, model-based environment.
• Familiarity with Ford-specific engineering tools and processes (TCe/FEDE, CAE/IPS, JIRA).

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and maintenance of comprehensive system models using SysML (MagicDraw/3DX), including boundary diagrams, context diagrams, and detailed component interactions.
• Define, decompose, and cascade realistic, balanced targets and functional requirements from the vehicle level down to hardware/software subsystem stakeholders, ensuring strict traceability and compliance with regulatory and safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262).
• Lead formal technical trade-off discussions and decision matrices within Systems Engineering Reviews to optimize solutions across cost, weight, performance, and manufacturability objectives.
• Develop mathematical and analytical models for electromechanical systems (using free body diagrams, MATLAB, and Simulink) to conduct Model-in-the-Loop (MiL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL), and Requirements-in-the-Loop (RiL) analyses.
• Drive the development of robust MBFMAs, P-diagrams, DFMEAs, and Fault Tree Analyses. Utilize Large Language Models (LLMs) and Smart FMA AI to enhance the speed, accuracy, and depth of failure mode identification.
• Ensure the rigorous execution of the Robustness Checklist process and secure necessary signoffs to minimize failure risks and guarantee part reliability under all operational conditions.
• Act as the primary engineering authority for cross-functional integration issues, applying advanced statistical methods and formal root-cause analysis frameworks (e.g., 8D, Six Sigma, 3L5Y) to identify and permanently resolve systemic issues.
• Drive alignment across design, manufacturing, electrical, and purchasing teams, translating complex stakeholder constraints into clear, measurable system 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.

What This Job Offers

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