Product Development Engineer – Wiper/Washer (Subject Matter Expert)

Ford • Dearborn, MI

2d • $99,100 - $166,200 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Product Development Engineer serves as the subject matter expert for global exterior wiper and washer systems within the Global Body Exterior Ornamentation team. The role is responsible for technical content, strategy, processes, and robust design and delivery of components and vehicle systems. It leads technical aspects of global product strategy, from concept development and product development through verification and validation, launch sign-off, ongoing support, and quality assurance of products in the field. The role also oversees foundation-document creation and prevent-recurrence practices and supports standardized tools, methods, and execution.

As a recognized expert, the engineer interfaces with all levels of management and external organizations on exterior ornamentation systems. The position serves as a global technical architect and specialist, advising Global Managers, Technical Leaders, and chief engineers on technical strategies, objectives, mission, and values. It supports global teams and provides technical guidance across product development, quality, manufacturing, and related functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or a related physical science field.
• At least 10 years as a Body Exterior Design and Release Engineer or in similar experience.
• At least 6 years of experience in exterior automotive engineering, focused on systems such as exterior wiper and washer systems, hoses, nozzles, motors, or related exterior automotive engineering.
• Understanding of DC motor functionality and performance.
• Expert-level knowledge of body exterior wiper and washer attributes, including material properties, durability and NVH design attributes, corrosion mitigation, control plan management, tooling, and testing methods.
• Experience across all program phases from Pre-Program through Launch, including one major program (scale 4–6).
• Working knowledge of applicable design, analysis, verification, quality, manufacturing, and assembly methods.
• Demonstrated improvements in customer satisfaction, warranty reduction, and total cost reduction.
• Working knowledge and experience with engineering tools including CAE, CATIA, and TCE.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated strong leadership behaviors.
• Excellent problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills.
• Ability to teach, coach, mentor, and document technical knowledge.
• Self-starter able to work effectively with little oversight.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering or a related physical science field.
• Patents or invention experience, defensive disclosures or trade secrets, and/or technical publications.
• Experience with advanced technology development of exterior components related to wipers and washers.
• Experience with GPDS and GTDS processes, timing, and delivery requirements.
• Experience writing DFMEAs, SCCAFs, engineering specifications, requirements, design rules, or equivalent core documents.
• Ability to build strong working relationships with stakeholders, including program teams, purchasing, manufacturing, STA, and suppliers.
• Aptitude for developing processes.
• Strong understanding of statistical analysis and dimensional variance.
• CATIA V5 capability.
• Extensive experience and strong TMM working on safety-critical systems and components.

Responsibilities

• Lead global sign-offs of exterior wiper and washer HIR requirements for application programs at key milestones.
• Serve as an internal and external technical resource for component and vehicle systems and provide support to global teams.
• Recommend, develop, and verify applications for new and advanced exterior wiper and washer system designs.
• Analyze designs during development and address potential failures and error states.
• Lead new concept design to improve system performance and support timely implementation.
• Monitor and investigate new system technologies to help maintain the company’s industry position.
• Mentor and consult with department engineers and interfacing functions.
• Support Campaign Prevent and CCRG activities for exterior wiper and washer systems and related systems.
• Provide technical advice to ASO and OGC as required.
• Guide development of module-system tools, methods, and processes.
• Lead development and ongoing maintenance of commodity-specific standards, specifications, and verification methods.
• Lead development and deployment of commodity foundation documents, including DFMEAs, SCCAFs, Boundary Diagrams, P-Diagrams, DVP&Rs, and integration manuals.
• Guide or lead root-cause analysis of warranty, plant, or supplier wiper and washer issues.
• Lead design reviews based on Failure Mode Avoidance (FMA) and drive the prevent-recurrence process.
• Share and present work to cross-functional teams and senior leadership.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, and subsidized backup childcare.
• Family-building benefits, including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement and fertility treatments.
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases.
• Tuition assistance.
• Employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• 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: Senior