Product Development Engineer - Seat Complete

Ford • Dearborn, MI

3d • $65,100 - $144,900 • 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, we are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Design Engineer to lead the design and development of the 2nd row seat for an upcoming forward model program. You will own the integration of the different seat commodities such as seat structure, foam, trim plastics from concept through production release, ensuring the seat meets all safety, durability, comfort, and cost targets while integrating seamlessly with vehicle packaging and manufacturing requirements.
This is a high-visibility opportunity to shape the design of a customer-facing component from early concept through Job 1, working closely with cross-functional teams including Body Structures, Interior Trim, Manufacturing, Safety/Restraints, and Supplier Quality. You'll demonstrate leadership skills, ability to work autonomously, excellent communication skills, positive attitude, willingness to learn, flexibility, team-player, and attention to detail.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 2 years of engineering experience in the automotive industry.
• Familiarity with seat complete integration and components.
• Understanding of components and physical integration in vehicle.
• Familiarity with FMVSS and ECE requirements.
• CAD Skills: Skilled in 3D modeling software (e.g., Teamcenter/NX).
• Design quality methods such as DFMEA to identify and prevent potential issues early.
• Experience with global project management and leading cross-functional teams.
• MS Office expertise (including Project).
• Proficient English (Reading, listening and writing).

Responsibilities

• Develop seat designs that satisfy FMVSS/regulatory requirements, occupant safety targets (crash performance, whiplash, child seat anchorage/LATCH), and internal corporate standards
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure designs are optimized for assembly and plant installation
• Participate in tolerance stack-up analysis, GD&T application, and CAD/CAE collaboration
• Manage timing, budget, and mass targets for the 2nd row seat commodity throughout the program timeline
• Support prototype builds, seat fit/finish evaluations, and vehicle-level integration events
• Present design status, risks, and recommendations to program leadership and cross-functional teams at technical reviews
• Complete engineering deliverables throughout the complete program life on time with high quality for all milestones
• Balance competing design constraints: comfort, weight, cost, manufacturability, and packaging within tight vehicle architecture space claims.
• Lead issue resolution to ensure deliverables are met throughout the various milestones​
• Collaborate with suppliers to develop, validate, and release seat components; manage supplier design reviews and DFMEA/PFMEA activities
• Conduct and support Design Verification Plan and Report (DVP&R) testing; troubleshoot and resolve test failures through root-cause analysis and design iteration

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