Motorsports Program Engineer

Ford Motor • Allen Park, MI

22h • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford Racing Off-Road Motorsports pushes Ford vehicles and powertrains through the most challenging off-road conditions possible - not just to win, but to continue to refine technology for future Raptor vehicles we sell to customers. We are looking for an experienced, talented, and highly motivated Off-Road Motorsports Program Management Engineer to join our North American Off-road Motorsports team, based in Allen Park, Michigan. This is a hybrid role requiring at least 4 days per week in the Allen Park, MI office.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering field.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate across many functional disciplines (e.g., powertrain, chassis, electrical, manufacturing, quality) on a single program, driving alignment among groups with competing priorities.
• Working knowledge of how a vehicle is built end-to-end — understanding how systems interact and how decisions in one area (e.g., suspension) affect performance and integration in others (e.g., chassis, powertrain).
• Experience in data acquisition and interpretation (e.g., vehicle telemetry, test logs, simulation results, or trackside data) to diagnose issues and make engineering decisions.
• Proven passion to win and an enthusiasm for off-road racing, vehicle dynamics, and performance engineering.
• 3+ years of automotive industry experience
• Ability to support trackside operations under demanding schedules, including evenings, weekends, and extensive travel to remote test and race locations.
• Personal drive to tackle issues with a hands-on approach, paired with the professional business presence needed to interface directly with suppliers.

Nice To Haves

• Professional or personal experience in a motorsports environment, through supporting skills such as data analysis, performance improvements, and team management including budget, schedules, and logistics
• Demonstrated program management capability, including planning, structuring deliverables, and driving programs to completion on time and on budget.
• Experience managing external suppliers, resolving technical conflicts, and aligning cross-functional teams toward a common goal.
• Leadership roles in a Formula/Baja SAE or equivalent student competition programs
• Proven experience leading projects with direct responsibility for scope, schedule, and deliverables — from early planning through execution and launch.
• Knowledge of Ford systems and tools related to production vehicle engineering and release.
• Experience with CAD, Matlab, Minitab.

Responsibilities

• Lead Ford Racing Off-Road Motorsports programs for Ultra 4 (4400, Bronco 4600) and Rebelle Rally - taking the cycle plan from the conference room to the dirt.
• Develop program structure, timelines, and deliverables (milestones, gate reviews, build plans) as needed to ensure vehicles with class-winning content are race-ready on schedule.
• Oversee the build of off-road vehicles by external vendors, engaging internal Ford Racing skills teams where necessary — powertrain, chassis, thermal, electrical, and body — to develop a race-ready vehicle.
• Support engineering assessments of design features and hardware for factory partner teams.
• Manage race team and supplier relationships, negotiate timing, create BOMs, provide CAD support, and procure genuine Ford components for builds.
• Execute vehicle-level testing that evaluates race robustness. Define the test plans, locations, and success criteria.
• Ensure vehicles are test-ready, supporting race teams with data collection, calibration updates, and issue resolution through remote and in-person interactions as needed.
• Lead root cause resolution for all test issues, leveraging internal resources and partner expertise to assess and prevent failure modes.
• Coordinate test operations, including spare parts availability, personnel schedules for drivers and crews, test location permits, and safety plans.
• Support race events through pre-event troubleshooting, live telemetry analysis, and other "trackside" operations responsibilities, maintaining focus on quality, safety, and competitive performance.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives through post-race analysis, collaborating with factory partners and Ford Racing performance engineering teams to elevate vehicle speed, durability, and competitive advantage based on trackside data and post-race teardowns.
• Work with the Ford Racing production engineering team to share learnings and drive the transfer of off-road racing technology and methodologies into future production vehicles.
• Lead race vehicle feasibility studies, defining the technology development plans that will support Ford Racing's next-generation off-road motorsport endeavors.

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: Mid Level