Product Development Engineer-Core Seatbelt Subject Matter Expert

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford is seeking a Product Development Engineer serving as the Core Seatbelt Subject Matter Expert (SME). The role provides technical guidance to engineering and program teams on seatbelt innovation, cost, quality, and efficient, robust execution. It also provides seatbelt training, coaching, and mentoring to product development engineering teams and other skill teams. The position reports to the Core Seatbelt Technical Specialist.

The SME supports seatbelt engineering across global vehicle programs, including technology planning, specifications, design rules, testing, quality and field issue resolution, launches, benchmarking, cost reduction, and engineering excellence. The role works closely with global seatbelt teams, suppliers, Seats and CAE peers, and other Ford organizations. The position is hybrid and requires onsite work four or more days per week.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a similar degree.
• At least 5 years of experience in seatbelt engineering.
• At least 1 year of CAD experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to understand complex technical issues and drive results.
• Understanding of restraints business and customer needs, including Body Interior safety.
• Quality and safety mindset, and the ability to work with the highest degree of integrity.
• Open-minded, listen-first attitude; high energy and respectful attitude.
• Must consistently demonstrate Ford OS behaviors.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in mechanical engineering or a similar degree.
• Strong technical background in seatbelts, airbags, gas generators, interfacing systems, and attributes.
• DFSS Green Belt preferred; if not already held, it must be completed within two years of hire.
• Strong SPC, DFMEA, DRBFM, and statistical skills.
• Experience with global Tier 1 supplier-sourced commodities and successful supplier management, particularly regarding quality issues.
• Experience with safety-critical systems and the Critical Concerns Process.
• Knowledge or experience with Ford, Product Development, and Restraints principles, such as GPDS, FEDE, and DPA.
• Desired experience developing a vehicle program from cradle to grave.
• Ability to lead effectively in a global, multicultural, and multisupplier environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Core Subject Matter Expert for seatbelts.
• Guide and mentor Seatbelt Applications D&Rs.
• Lead or support weekly Seatbelt TDRM and support or guide other weekly TDRMs.
• Write specifications, design rules, and test methods as required.
• Provide technical guidance on seatbelt cost, quality, innovation, and efficient, robust execution; train, coach, and mentor engineering and other skill teams.
• Maintain a seatbelt technology database and roadmap, including benchmarking, and keep current with seatbelt and pyrotechnic technologies.
• Build understanding of technology development and maintain a perspective on its implications for Ford globally.
• Support the global Seatbelts Modularity and Business Plan process by defining current and future global vehicle needs and commodity attributes, and enforcing implementation.
• Support seatbelt critical concerns and field service engineering activities and workstreams.
• Support problem solving for launch, recall, quality, and field issues related to seatbelts.
• Build and maintain a lessons-learned database of seatbelt issue-resolution best practices.
• Support global seatbelt launches by leveraging local Ford engineering teams and suppliers.
• Support Engineering Excellence workstreams, including sign-off at major program milestones and CDP&R for seatbelts.
• Champion benchmarking of key competitors.
• Support design cost-reduction idea generation and implementation of cost reductions into production.
• Support delivery of seatbelt warranty-reduction and quality-improvement targets, including prevention of recurrence.
• Coordinate with global seatbelt teams to enable technology exchange and aligned work, collaborating closely with Seats and CAE peers.
• Drive maximum seatbelt commonality across global commercial vehicle and passenger vehicle programs and regions.
• Maintain a productive work environment with global Seats and Restraints Technology and Program teams, other Product Development areas, Purchasing, FCSD, Manufacturing, and other stakeholders.

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.
• Established and active 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