Product Development Engineer: Interior Craftsmanship

Ford • Dearborn, MI

3d • $65,100 - $166,200 • Hybrid

About The Position

Product Development uses design thinking & user experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that delight our customers. We bring innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. We have opportunities around the world for you to contribute to advancements in autonomy, electrification, smart mobility technologies, and more!
In this position, the Interior Craftsmanship Engineer will be responsible for ensuring every Ford vehicle delivers an exceptional customer experience. You will play a critical role in driving design and process excellence, and ensuring our vehicles meet and exceed perceived quality expectation from concept to launch. The PD Engineer is responsible for managing product release CAD and BOM structures, including assembly positioning and mass attribute analysis. This role also includes facilitating supplier data integration and developing CAD studies to support and drive design improvements. The PD Engineer is expected to understand and effectively utilize product check-in/check-out processes, version control, data release, and change management within Ford’s PLM ecosystem. The PD Engineer will perform feasibility analyses using CAD tools, including draft angle analysis, undercut detection, minimum bend radius validation for sheet metal, and clearance checks to support manufacturing and machining requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field) or equivalent education and experience.
• 3 years of experience in automotive quality, design, or manufacturing, with a focus on craftsmanship, fit and finish, or perceived quality.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field) or an equivalent technical discipline.
• Ability to develop action plans and lead implementation in cross-functional teams.
• Highly-motivated, self-starting individual.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong PC skills with experience in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Drive vehicle design to world class Interior Craftsmanship.
• Establish gap and flush targets for new vehicle programs.
• Communicate cutline and interface intent to studio through 2D sections and related design views.
• Apply design and process standards, lessons learned, and best practices for fit and finish excellence.
• Drive required ingredients and crafted quality enablers at program start to meet vehicle craftsmanship targets.
• Coordinate benchmarking and analyzed data to drive decision making on appearance related issues.
• Conduct perceived quality reviews in the immersion lab & present findings/recommendations.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Design & Release, Integration, Program Management and Studio Engineering to drive recommended surface and cutline changes that meet fit-and-finish standards.
• Lead issue escalation, containment and corrective action tracking for craftsmanship concerns.
• Identify issues and opportunities for improvement based on dimensional analyses, virtual and physical evaluations.
• Develop workplans and lead cross-functional teams to resolve system issues and ensure targets are met.
• Track perceived quality status to program deliverables.

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