Product Development Engineer- Design & Release

Ford Motor • Allen Park, MI

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford Customization (FC) develops, engineers, releases, validates, and launches a broad portfolio of accessories that complement Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Ford Licensed Accessories (FLA), part of the accessory group, develops products in partnership with suppliers and cross-functional Ford teams. The Product Development Engineer (PDE) leads assigned programs from initial concept through production launch and serves as the primary engineering technical lead. The PDE works closely with suppliers, Program Managers, Product Planners, Manufacturing, Design, Base Vehicle Engineering, Quality, and Purchasing to ensure products meet applicable safety, regulatory, quality, functional, timing, and customer expectations. The position requires strong engineering judgment and the ability to evaluate requirements against applicable Ford vehicle requirements to establish realistic product acceptance criteria, build strong supplier relationships, provide technical direction, and resolve engineering issues to ensure successful launches.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Demonstrated experience in product development, engineering, design and release.
• Strong understanding of product development processes, engineering principles, vehicle systems, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to lead engineering projects and coordinate multiple programs, suppliers, and deliverables simultaneously.
• Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills with sound engineering judgment.
• Ability to interpret engineering requirements, CAD data, technical documentation, test results, and vehicle-level information.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in a cross-functional team environment.

Nice To Haves

• experience with WERS, CAD systems, vehicle modification centers, supplier development, or automotive accessory development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and prioritize engineering activities for assigned programs from concept through production launch, including accessories installed at vehicle plants, modification centers, and dealer facilities.
• Lead new-product discussions, design and technical reviews, issue-resolution activities, and weekly engineering project/status meetings; communicate status, risks, actions, and timing to leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Establish engineering priorities, monitor milestones, and ensure deliverables—including WERS releases—are completed on schedule to support on-time launches at designated facilities.
• Provide technical guidance to new engineers and demonstrate the full range of PDE responsibilities.
• Follow engineering department processes for efficiency, quality, and consistency, and support continuous improvement through AI and new technologies.
• Partner with Program Managers and Product Planners to assess new product opportunities, engineering assumptions, and feasibility, and to support product-line planning.
• Support business case development and the CFT process with engineering assessments, technical data, cost considerations, timing, and feasibility input.
• Review supplier CAD data, designs, engineering assumptions, packaging studies, environmental considerations, and validation plans.
• Provide CAD and Technical information needed to suppliers to support accessory development.
• Review Product Development Letters (PDLs) and base vehicle changes to identify model-year impacts on existing or future accessories.
• Work with Base Vehicle Design and Release Engineers to understand vehicle changes and ensure accessory compatibility.
• Develop accessory designs directly with suppliers; validate engineering data, resolve technical issues, and confirm products meet established requirements.
• Ensure designs address applicable safety, regulatory, functional, quality, durability, EMC, and vehicle integration requirements.
• Establish and maintain effective supplier relationships, provide clear engineering direction and expectations, and ensure alignment with ESOW requirements.
• Monitor supplier engineering performance and ensure required deliverables are completed according to program timing and quality expectations.
• Evaluate accessory fit, function, appearance, installation, and overall performance; provide analytical feedback from vehicle fit-ups, plant and modification-center evaluations, and field/dealer activities and issue product evaluation and installation reports.
• Support prototype and production fit-ups by coordinating vehicles, parts, work orders, and required engineering activities.
• Coordinate vehicle-level testing and validation with suppliers and appropriate Ford organizations; review and approve engineering documentation and validation evidence supporting product release, including required approvals and engineering sign-offs.
• Review, validate and approve accessory installation instructions and related customer/service documentation.
• Ensure accessories are properly validated for each applicable model year, incorporating any vehicle changes into development and release activities.
• Review warranty data and field information to identify trends, recurring issues, and improvement opportunities; lead technical investigations and corrective actions for engineering, quality, fit, function, and launch issues.
• Maintain engineering records and documentation throughout the product development cycle.
• Coordinate modification-center trials and evaluate installation processes to identify and resolve potential launch concerns.
• Support launch events and provide timely engineering direction for issues arising at plants, modification centers, dealers, or in the field.
• Represent Engineering in cross-functional and supplier meetings with clear technical recommendations and decisions.
• Participate in program and engineering forums, including Program assumption, Program weekly PAT, CFT, change-control, program and plant launch meetings, AIMS, and weekly Engineering staff and design review meetings.
• Engage program leadership—including Directors, Chief Engineers, and Program Managers—on current and future products and technical concerns.
• Meet with customers, dealers, and suppliers to provide technical support on accessory use, operation, installation, and maintenance.

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