Product Development Engineer

Ford • Dearborn, MI

12d • $65,100 - $166,200 • 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 engineer maintains requirements for body-module interfaces across applicable vehicle programs from concept through production, ensuring robust hardware design, suitable IC selection, and compliance with component capabilities across functional and ambient ranges.

The role leads electronic hardware development for closure subsystems in collaboration with suppliers and internal teams. It covers requirements and specification development, load and circuit analysis, safety and compatibility reviews, supplier technical leadership, design verification and validation, issue resolution, and support for production approval. The engineer also represents closure-module teams in technical design and vehicle-program reviews and provides guidance to global application engineers.

This is a hybrid position requiring onsite work four or more days per week. Ford lists the position at salary grade 5–8, with a salary range of $65,100–$166,200; the final grade and salary depend on candidate skills and experience, job scope, responsibility, and market value. Visa sponsorship is not available. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

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 through mass production.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting automotive electrical distribution schematics.
• Solid understanding of EMC specifications and mitigation techniques.
• Proficiency in engineering analysis methods, including WCCA using MathCAD or similar simulation software.
• Proficiency with laboratory test equipment such as multimeters, 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.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering.
• 10 or more 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, working with suppliers, system design teams, and architecture teams.
• Define and author technical specifications, and ensure adherence to industry standards and Ford-specific requirements for closure subsystem electronics.
• Perform load analysis and management to optimize power distribution, prevent overloads, and support robust functionality across integrated features.
• Collaborate with Functional Safety teams to ensure 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 to clarify 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 designs and drive resolution of identified issues.
• Support development and release of component-level Hardware Specifications and Device Transmittals for closure modules.
• Provide ultimate sign-off for Design Verification (DV) and Process Validation (PV) plans and reports (DVP&R), ensuring compliance with specifications.
• Lead reviews and resolution of test failures, developing and implementing resolution plans with suppliers.
• Develop and maintain Failure Mode Analysis documentation for closure components.
• Prepare for and lead technical design reviews, 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 hardware, 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 back-up 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