Principal Design Quality Engineer - Vehicle Appearance & Harmony

Ford • Dearborn, MI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

At Ford, we believe that exceptional design extends beyond aesthetics – it's about the flawless execution and perception of every surface, color, and finish. We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Design Quality Engineer to champion the visual integrity and appearance harmony of our next-generation vehicles. This pivotal role ensures that every interior and exterior component not only meets stringent design intent but also upholds Ford's premium brand image through meticulous evaluation of color, grain, gloss, and overall aesthetic quality. You will be the critical link between design vision, engineering reality, and manufacturing execution, driving a culture of appearance excellence across our product development lifecycle. If you possess an unparalleled eye for detail, deep knowledge of materials and processes, and a passion for delivering world-class automotive quality, we invite you to make a significant impact at Ford.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field such as Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Design, or a closely related discipline. Equivalent demonstrated experience in the areas of automotive appearance quality will also be considered.
• A minimum of 5+ years of experience in appearance quality, with a strong focus on color, grain, gloss, and overall vehicle harmony conformance.
• Demonstrated ability to consistently pass a color vision test, indicating superior visual acuity for discerning subtle differences in color and finish.
• In-depth knowledge of automotive materials, paints, and manufacturing processes, and their direct influence on aesthetic attributes.
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., 3Dx, CATIA) for digital appearance assessments and analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a track record of identifying and resolving complex appearance quality issues.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex appearance quality concepts and findings effectively to diverse audiences, including senior leadership and technical teams.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, influence stakeholders, and drive consensus towards optimal appearance quality solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive visual assessments of interior and exterior components, spanning various materials and processes, to rigorously certify compliance with Ford's design intent and appearance standards.
• Orchestrate and lead Interior and Exterior Harmony Reviews (focusing on color, grain, and gloss) at production facilities, ensuring a cohesive and premium aesthetic across all vehicle lines.
• Drive the evaluation of production parts to Ford Standards for Color, Grain, Gloss, and overall quality appearance, identifying and resolving deviations proactively.
• Serve as a primary expert in manufacturing and tooling processes, leveraging this knowledge to proactively influence product and process changes that ensure adherence to Ford's demanding appearance standards.
• Champion the continuous improvement of appearance quality processes, identifying inefficiencies and driving transformative changes to enhance our methodologies and outcomes.
• Document and manage the program status of Appearance Approval Reports (AARs) and Vehicle Harmony, providing clear, concise, and actionable insights to program and supplier teams.
• Act as a central coordinator and consultant, collaborating extensively with cross-functional teams including Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality departments to resolve complex appearance-related challenges.
• Lead root cause analysis for appearance issues, implementing robust corrective actions and preventative measures throughout the product lifecycle.
• Utilize advanced CAD software (e.g., 3Dx, CATIA) to perform digital assessments and simulations of appearance quality, enabling proactive identification and resolution of potential issues ahead of physical production.
• Maintain a deep understanding of materials science, paint, and manufacturing processes, and their impact on aesthetic attributes.
• Travel as required (up to 10% domestically and internationally within North America), with increased travel during critical program launch phases, to support evaluations and problem resolution at manufacturing sites.

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
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees