Mechanical / Hardware Engineer - Early Career Program, Advanced EV

Ford Motor • Long Beach, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford Motor Company is recruiting for a six-month Early Career Program within its Advanced EV Development organization. Participants will work with engineering, design, and software teams on electric-vehicle technologies such as advanced structures, thermal management, hardware/software integration, and vehicle architectures. The requisition covers multiple potential openings across Hardware, Mechanical, and Thermal Engineering teams; team and project assignments are confirmed during selection. The program may be shorter in some cases and may start as early as spring 2027. Roles are associated with Long Beach, California; Palo Alto, California; or Dearborn, Michigan. Candidates may be required to work onsite four or more days per week, and this particular posting states candidates must be able to work from the Long Beach campus.

Depending on team assignment, participants may design, analyze, build, and test components, subsystems, and full vehicles; develop 3D geometry and packaging concepts; conduct engineering analysis and modeling; build prototypes and instrument test setups; support mechanical, electrical, software, and thermal integration; collaborate across design, manufacturing, quality, and purchasing; and analyze and present testing, dimensional, or simulation results. Eligible candidates living more than 50 miles from a local office and assigned to an eligible team may receive a $5,000 pre-tax relocation and commuter stipend. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent.
• Foundational understanding of engineering concepts in mechanical, electrical, fluids, or thermal disciplines, and willingness to apply them to practical problems.
• Analytical and creative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment.
• Availability to dedicate full-time hours for the full six-month program.
• Must be able to work from the Long Beach, California campus.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with 3D CAD such as CATIA, 3DX, NX, or SolidWorks; CAE software; FEA; or GT-SUITE.
• Understanding of GD&T (ASME Y14.5), tolerance stack-up analysis, statistical methods, or measurement data analysis.
• Knowledge of polymers, metals, composites, injection molding, stamping, casting, or surface finishes.
• Hands-on experience building test fixtures, rapid prototyping, electronics bench instrumentation, or environmental testing.
• Knowledge of HVAC, psychrometrics, heat exchangers, two-phase flow, or liquid-cooling fundamentals.
• Experience with mechanism kinematics such as four-bar linkages, electromechanical integration, or wiring harness architecture.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, VBA, or data visualization, or experience reading or debugging embedded C/C++.
• Familiarity with CAN/LIN protocols, Vector tools, or EV architectures.
• Student-team or project experience, such as Formula SAE, Baja, robotics, or design-build project teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, build, and test parts at component, subsystem, and full-vehicle levels, depending on team assignment.
• Develop 3D geometry and packaging concepts using CAD software.
• Perform tolerance analysis, FEA, CFD, or one-dimensional physical system modeling, as applicable.
• Build rapid prototypes, instrument test setups such as DAQ and thermocouples, and conduct laboratory or bench testing.
• Support integration of mechanical hardware with embedded software, electrical distribution, and thermal physics.
• Collaborate with design studio, manufacturing, quality, and purchasing teams to ensure assembly feasibility and serviceability.
• Analyze test, dimensional, or simulation data and present findings to inform engineering decisions.

Benefits

• A $5,000 pre-tax relocation and commuter stipend may be available to eligible candidates living more than 50 miles from a local office and assigned to an eligible team.
• Participants gain hands-on experience, meaningful involvement in breakthrough work, and skills intended to support future career development.

What This Job Offers

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