Product Development Engineer

Ford • Dearborn, MI

22h • Onsite

About The Position

Ford's Vehicle Hardware Engineering teams are utilizing Design Thinking & User Experience methods to deliver innovative products and services. The Product Development Engineer will support physical testing, data collection, and facility operations within Ford's test laboratories. This role involves executing daily test operations, collecting and processing test data, maintaining lab equipment, and ensuring testing is conducted safely, accurately, and on schedule. This is a hands-on engineering role requiring a formal engineering degree, with positions ranging from Ford Salary Grade 6 - 8.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or related Engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of relevant technical/lab experience (e.g., testing, instrumentation, purchasing/procurement support, or related hands-on technical work).
• Working knowledge of data acquisition systems and statistical/quality tools (e.g., SPC).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across multiple stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree, or actively pursuing.
• Automotive or lab-specific experience (e.g., vibration, powertrain/dynamometer, emissions, wind tunnel, or battery/high-voltage testing).
• Familiarity with test automation, CAD, or analysis software (e.g., LabVIEW, MATLAB, AutoCAD, Minitab).
• Experience with root-cause analysis (5-Why, Fishbone, 8D), calibration, or project management.
• Basic electronics/mechanical troubleshooting skills.
• Willingness to support off-shift or weekend work; ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and work around test setups.

Responsibilities

• Set up, operate, and troubleshoot lab/test equipment and instrumentation (e.g., sensors, dynamometers, wind tunnels, cameras, and data acquisition systems) to execute daily test schedules safely and accurately.
• Collect, process, and analyze test data, transferring results into corporate databases and reporting anomalies, failures, or facility issues to engineers and lab leadership.
• Support test setup and equipment/fixture modifications in coordination with engineers and technical staff.
• Partner with requesting engineers, customers, and technicians to define test objectives, deliver accurate results/reports, and maintain documentation, procedures, and calibration records.
• Interface with internal and external customers to understand test objectives and communicate results and technical data clearly.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment in compliance with Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) and quality standards.

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: Entry Level