Rear Closures Application Engineer

Ford • Dearborn, MI

2d • $99,100 - $166,200 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Rear Closures Application Engineer works with internal and external customers to develop cost- and weight-efficient designs that meet manufacturing and functional performance requirements. The role supports future model programs as well as current-model quality and cost improvements.

The engineer manages product-release CAD and bill of materials structures, including assembly positioning and mass-attribute analysis; facilitates supplier data integration; and develops CAD studies to drive design improvements. The role uses Ford's product lifecycle management processes for check-in/check-out, version control, data release, and change management. It also involves CAD-based feasibility analysis and engineering required CAD, supported by analytical and physical analysis to meet prescribed requirements.

Responsibilities progress to product testing, PSW delivery, and launch at a Ford assembly plant. The engineer also supports supplier procurement and validation testing, and provides on-site build support and issue resolution for prototypes, production pre-builds, and production.

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 with rear-closure systems for forward-model vehicles, with direct ownership of part engineering, system engineering, and part release against 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/motors, and hinges.
• Hands-on experience with in-house engineering, design, and release, and managing full-service supplier commodities to on-time delivery, cost, and quality targets.
• Design and Release/Product Development Engineer or Closures Commodity Subject Matter Expert experience.
• Ability to work overtime and travel to support launches.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with hinged closures.
• Experience interfacing with a design studio to resolve design issues related to Exterior Rear Closures 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 use and demonstrate systems-engineering disciplines and Design for Manufacturing principles to proactively solve issues.
• Knowledge of craftsmanship expectations, benchmarking, and futuring.
• Knowledge of automotive exterior components and 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 work in CATIA/3DX, Teamcenter Engineering, and Digital Buck.
• Ability to create simple parts, sections, and studies in CATIA/3DX.
• Capability with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Work with internal and external customers to 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 on-site 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 supporting future-model programs.
• Manage product-release CAD and bill of materials structures, including assembly positioning and mass-attribute analysis.
• Facilitate supplier data integration and develop CAD studies to support and drive design improvements.
• Use product check-in/check-out, version control, data release, and change management processes within Ford's PLM ecosystem.
• Perform CAD-based 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 analysis to deliver systems that meet prescribed requirements.
• Support product testing, deliver PSW, and launch products within a Ford assembly plant.

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 time between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.

What This Job Offers

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