Product Development Engineer

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Product Development Engineer defines, owns, and enforces electronic hardware and interface requirements for critical closure subsystems within Ford’s electrical architectures. These include Door Control Units, Frunk Control Units, and Rear Gate Control Units, which integrate body-module functions such as load-profile management, power-bus control, key-off-load management, and window control. The role ensures robust hardware design, suitable integrated-circuit selection, and adherence to component capabilities across functional electrical and ambient ranges. It maintains requirements across body-module interfaces for vehicle programs from concept through production.

The engineer leads closure-subsystem hardware development and works with suppliers, system design and architecture teams, and internal stakeholders. The role includes requirements and specification ownership, load and circuit analysis, safety and compatibility reviews, supplier technical leadership, issue resolution, design verification oversight, and technical representation at program and management reviews. It also provides technical guidance to global application engineers and supports the development and release of closure-module hardware specifications and component documentation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
• At least 5 years of experience in electronic circuit design, specifically in automotive control systems or similar complex embedded hardware.
• Thorough understanding of analog and digital hardware systems, particularly in automotive control systems.
• In-depth knowledge of the automotive product development lifecycle from concept to mass production.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting automotive electrical distribution schematics.
• Solid understanding of EMC specifications and mitigation techniques.
• Proficiency with engineering analysis methods, including WCCA using MathCAD or similar simulation software.
• Proficiency with laboratory test equipment such as multi-meters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and power analyzers.
• Experience with PCB design and manufacturing processes.
• Strong critical-thinking and complex problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for conveying complex technical information effectively.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering.
• At least 10 years of experience in electronic circuit design or similar experience within the automotive industry.
• Familiarity with the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).
• Experience with Vector tools such as CANalyzer or CANoe.
• Proficiency with Ford product development system applications such as WERS, FEDEBOM, Team Center, Integrator, and 3DX.

Responsibilities

• Lead electronic hardware design development for closure subsystems in collaboration with suppliers and system design and architecture teams.
• Define, author, and enforce technical specifications, industry standards, and Ford-specific requirements for closure-subsystem electronics.
• Perform load analysis and management to optimize power distribution, prevent overloads, and ensure functionality across integrated features.
• Collaborate with Functional Safety teams to ensure electronic designs comply with relevant safety standards, including ISO 26262 principles.
• Ensure closure electronics integrate and remain compatible with interfacing vehicle subsystems and components.
• Serve as the primary technical interface with suppliers, clarify Ford requirements, drive component development, and manage design deviations.
• Act as a technical liaison with internal stakeholders, including Purchasing, Quality, and Vehicle Platforms.
• Lead vehicle-system compatibility reviews for closure subsystems at key GPDS milestones.
• Lead and support root-cause analysis and resolution of product issues arising during builds, at plants, or in the field.
• Author and release Closure subsystem Requirements (RQTs) in Ford engineering documentation systems such as FEDE.
• Review and approve Closure subsystem Module Component Design Specifications (CDS).
• Provide technical support and guidance to global Body Module and Zonal Module application engineers.
• Assess the technical feasibility of new closure-subsystem features and requirements, including trade-off analyses for cost, quality, and reliability.
• Lead Worst Case Circuit Analysis (WCCA) for closure-module hardware and drive resolution of identified issues.
• Support development and release of component-level Hardware Specifications and Device Transmittals for closure modules.
• Review and provide sign-off for Design Verification (DV) and Process Validation (PV) plans and reports (DVP&R).
• Lead reviews and resolution of test failures, developing and implementing plans with suppliers.
• Develop and maintain Failure Mode Analysis documentation for closure components.
• Prepare for and lead technical design review meetings, representing Closure Module teams in management and vehicle-program reviews and explaining technical findings and recommendations.
• Review and analyze supplier simulation and verification results for analog and digital hardware and firmware.
• Participate in the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) for Global Closure Modules.

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: Mid Level