Rear Closures Application Engineer

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Rear Closures Application Engineer works with internal and external customers to develop competitive, cost- and weight-efficient designs that meet manufacturing and functional performance requirements. The role includes working with suppliers to procure components and assemblies for verification and validation testing, executing design validation plans, and leading onsite build support and issue resolution for prototypes, production pre-builds, and production. The engineer also delivers current-model quality and cost improvements alongside future-model program work.

The Product Development Engineer manages product-release CAD and BOM structures, including assembly positioning and mass-attribute analysis. The role facilitates supplier data integration, develops CAD studies to drive design improvements, and uses Ford’s PLM processes for check-in/check-out, version control, data release, and change management. Responsibilities also include CAD-based feasibility analyses, engineering required CAD, and leading analytical and physical analyses to ensure systems meet prescribed requirements. As programs mature, the role shifts toward product testing, PSW delivery, and launch at a Ford assembly plant.

This is a hybrid position requiring onsite work four or more days per week. The position is salary grade 5–8, with a stated salary range of $99,100–$166,200. Visa sponsorship is not available; candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 8 years of professional experience in the automotive or aerospace industry.
• At least 5 years of experience on rear-closure systems for forward-model vehicles, with direct ownership of part engineering, system engineering, and part release to meet cost, weight, quality, functional performance, studio appearance, craftsmanship, test validation, manufacturing feasibility, and launch timing requirements.
• Experience with sheet-metal body structures, closures, stamping, static and/or dynamic sealing, power/gas struts, power drive units or motors, and hinges.
• Hands-on experience with in-house engineering, design, and release, as well as managing full-service supplier commodities and achieving on-time delivery at cost and quality targets.
• Experience as a Design and Release/Product Development Engineer or Closures Commodity Subject Matter Expert.
• Ability to work overtime and travel to support launches.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with hinged closures.
• Experience interfacing with a design studio to resolve design issues related to exterior rear-closure systems.
• Experience leading peers through design reviews to resolve part-to-part interface issues and deliver a successful system.
• Experience solving current-model quality issues and implementing corrective actions.
• Ability to apply system-engineering disciplines and Design for Manufacturing principles to proactively solve issues.
• Knowledge of craftsmanship expectations, benchmarking, and futuring.
• Knowledge of automotive exterior components, materials, and manufacturing technologies, including stamping, injection molding, extrusion, forging, casting, welding, and riveting.
• Experience with bolted-joint structures.
• Experience with structural mechanics.
• Experience with hinge-mechanism dynamics.
• Experience with systems engineering.
• Working knowledge of FEA, DFMEA, Control Plan development, and Dimensional Variation Analysis.
• Ability to operate within CATIA/3DX, Teamcenter Engineering, and Digital Buck environments.
• Ability to use CATIA/3DX to create simple parts, sections, and studies.
• Capability with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Develop competitive, cost- and weight-efficient designs that meet manufacturing and functional performance requirements.
• Work with internal and external suppliers to procure components and assemblies for verification and validation testing, and execute the design validation plan.
• Lead onsite build support and issue resolution for prototypes, production pre-builds, and production of assigned components and systems.
• Deliver current-model quality and cost improvements in addition to future-model program work.
• Manage product-release CAD and BOM structures, including assembly positioning and mass-attribute analysis.
• Facilitate supplier data integration and develop CAD studies to support and drive design improvements.
• Use Ford’s PLM ecosystem for product check-in/check-out, version control, data release, and change management.
• Perform CAD feasibility analyses, including draft-angle analysis, undercut detection, minimum bend-radius validation for sheet metal, and clearance checks for manufacturing and machining requirements.
• Engineer required CAD and lead analytical and physical analyses to deliver systems that meet prescribed requirements.
• As programs mature, support product testing, deliver PSW, and launch products within a Ford assembly plant.
• Work overtime and travel to support launches.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• 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.
• Vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including the period between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior