Product Development Engineer-Studio Liaison, Interior Cockpit & Trim

Ford • Dearborn, MI

7d • 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!
As a Studio Liaison Engineer, you will serve as the primary technical interface between the Design Studio and Functional Engineering teams. You are a creative problem-solver who can advocate for the studio’s aesthetic intent within the engineering community and, conversely, translate complex engineering criteria into actionable feedback for designers. Your mission is to protect the integrity of the design theme while ensuring every component meets rigorous engineering requirements, safety standards, and manufacturing feasibility. The ideal candidate brings an engineering design background with experience delivering studio themes within financial targets.
The PD Engineer may be 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 may perform feasibility analyses using CAD tools and clearance checks to support manufacturing and machining requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar degree.
• 3+ years of experience in automotive cockpit and trim and/or related Interior Systems.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar degree.
• Root cause analysis for design/manufacturing issues, and quick implementation of corrective actions.
• Experience with Complex Systems, real materials, wrapping process, IMG/IMGL, FIP, Injection Molding, lamination technology.
• Experience in Human Center Design / Design Thinking.
• Experience in the use of Design Tools (CATIA/Teamcenter/Digital Buck/GD&T/RSS Studies/DFMEA).
• Proficient in the use of Analytical Tools (CAE/Moldflow).
• Ability to compile data in the form of a decision matrix, report summary, etc. to be presented to Program and Interior Management Team and Studio.
• Experience in vehicle regulations.
• Strong oral and written communication skills Team oriented.
• Self-driven, highly motivated, and accepting new challenges.
• Demonstrated delivery of results.
• Experience designing and developing Interior Instrument Panel Systems, Consoles Systems, or related components desired.

Responsibilities

• Proactively participate in studio brainstorming sessions. Rather than simply identifying constraints, you will develop innovative concepts and alternative solutions to enable ambitious design themes.
• Communicate the "Studio Intent" to core engineering teams, ensuring that the technical development of the vehicle respects the original design vision.
• Work side by side with Studio, Design to Cost group and System Architecture Engineers to define an optimal theme convergence and affordability targets guaranteeing a profitable vehicle.
• Serve as the single point of contact for all feasibility assessments within the Studio. Evaluate design themes early in the process to identify potential engineering enablers.
• Define and document concise engineering criteria and technical requirements for specific vehicle systems and components.
• Act as a "translator" by communicating highly technical engineering constraints to a non-engineering audience (Designers, Sculptors, and Studio Leads) in a clear and collaborative manner.
• Review and sign off on surface data (A-Class surfaces) to ensure compliance with hard points, legal requirements, and engineering packaging constraints, in conjunction with functional engineering teams.
• Maintain a deep, "subject matter expert" level of knowledge regarding the specific systems you manage.
• Monitor the early phase of the development of Interior Systems for Ford vehicles according to company-specific benchmarks.
• Design parts in order to comply with Corporate and Local requirements for parts validation, considering the WCR (Worldwide Customers Requirements), ES (Engineering Specifications) and SDS (Systems Design specifications) as well as the Manufacturing and Assembly requirements.
• Translate customer, regulatory, and product requirements into engineering targets.
• Compile and consolidate cost and complexity data for cross functional presentations.

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