Mechatronics Systems Engineer

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a highly capable and rigorous Core Architect to serve as the senior technical lead and primary authority for mechatronic feature definition, from initial concept definition through logical requirements handoff, and as the accountable Core SE representative through cross-validation, system/subsystem sign-off, and physical prototype direction. In this role, you will own the front end of the feature lifecycle — driving stakeholder and use-case elicitation, system architecture and behavior definition, functional safety/DFMEA analysis, and formal requirements development — while engaging with a Modeling Engineer and Testing Engineer to execute the modeling, simulation, and verification/validation work needed to bring the feature to a fully signed-off, physically realized system.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of proven experience in systems engineering, systems architecture, or mechatronic systems engineering within automotive or a related industry, including ownership of requirements definition and sign-off decisions.
• Demonstrated expertise in the systems engineering lifecycle: stakeholder/use-case elicitation (INCOSE/EARS), Concept of Operations, system architecture/structure-behavior-interface definition, and requirements traceability.
• Strong experience with functional safety analysis and DFMEA, including cross-validation of safety hazards against design failure modes.
• Hands-on proficiency with SysML and CATIA V6 for system/architecture modeling.
• Working familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink modeling concepts sufficient to direct and review modeling work performed by supporting engineers.
• Exceptional analytical thinking and the ability to effectively negotiate and drive cross-functional trade-offs and sign-off decisions.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Systems Engineering or a related field.
• INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional Certification (ASEP/CSEP) or OMG SysML Certification.
• Experience with functional safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262) and ASPICE processes.
• Experience directing physical prototype strategy (mockups, fixtures, rapid prototyping) and DVP&R-style test planning.
• Prior experience as a technical lead, chief/core architect, or systems engineering lead on electromechanical or mechatronic vehicle systems.
• Familiarity with HIL/SIL environments (dSPACE, CANoe/CANalyzer) and requirements management tools (e.g., Jama, JIRA).

Responsibilities

• Lead completion and submission of the conceptual intake form (Impacted Teams, Business Case, Scoping) on behalf of the requesting program, and drive the feature through the applicable gate reviews to secure formal Feature Owner assignment.
• Engage program, customer experience, and vehicle architecture stakeholders to define problem statements, identify and map stakeholders, define lifecycle contexts, elicit INCOSE/EARS-compliant needs, collect use cases, and establish measurable success criteria (MoE/MoP), driving stakeholder validation and sign-off.
• Define system boundary, external interfaces, internal architecture (plant vs. controller partitioning), behavioral models (e.g., state machines), and interface specifications, establishing full structure-behavior-interface-use case traceability.
• Lead system-level analyses (functional safety, DFMEA prioritized by severity, cybersecurity/physical safety as applicable), define prevention controls for critical failure modes, and formalize INCOSE/EARS-compliant system requirements with full traceability and defined verification methods.
• Validate that requirements satisfy stakeholder needs and MoE/MoP thresholds, resolve gaps via iteration, and finalize and formally transmit the logical requirements package to the Mechatronics application team, establishing the ongoing support channel for cascade-phase clarifications.
• Lead the functional safety-to-DFMEA cross-validation checkpoint, ensuring every hazard and high-severity failure mode is reconciled with a control or documented rationale, and serve as the primary Core SE stakeholder in joint system/subsystem sign-off with the Mechatronics team.
• Engage in the proposition of the physical prototype strategy (mockup, fixture, 3D print, or hybrid) and approve builds against signed-off design intent, and provide technical guidance during test plan development and execution, reviewing failed/at-risk requirement dispositions that affect sign-off validity.
• Act as the technical authority and escalation point for architecture, requirements, and DFMEA decisions; direct and prioritize modeling and testing support requests to the Modeling Engineer and Testing Engineer; and represent Core SE at design reviews, program gateways, sign-off boards, and DFMEA workshops.

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