Reliability and Robustness Technical Specialist Steering and Suspension

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

This Technical Expert position focuses on delivering best-in-world reliability for steering and suspension systems, with particular emphasis on high time in service (HTIS) performance. The role identifies the stress factors driving HTIS failures and incorporates them into component and system specifications and test methods. It leads reliability growth efforts, improves methods for gathering post-warranty failure information, and supports system, subsystem, and component signoff before Chief Signoff. The position is hybrid and requires onsite work four or more days per week, with occasional travel to assembly plants and global chassis engineering centers.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in an automotive steering and suspension environment.
• Extensive component engineering design and release experience.
• Thorough understanding of reliability science and test methods.
• Extensive experience creating and managing DFMEA, PFMEA, SCCAF, control plans, and drawings.
• Required leadership skills include prioritizing quality, innovation, excellent communication, strong organization, and self-motivation.
• Ability to build productive relationships, achieve cooperation, and influence the priorities of technical experts and other key partners.
• Technical depth in systems, system architecture, and mechanical design.
• Advanced problem-solving skills.
• Strong leadership skills, passion for quality and customers, and drive for results.
• Position requires occasional travel to assembly plants and other global chassis engineering centers.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Science in Engineering.
• Experience with CAE tools and methods.
• Familiarity with Six Sigma tools.

Responsibilities

• Drive steering and suspension systems toward best-in-world quality, with a focus on high time in service reliability.
• Serve as the expert on how steering and suspension systems and components fail at high time in service.
• Drive implementation of reliability growth methodology for steering and suspension teams.
• Determine key stress factors governing high time in service failures.
• Develop methods to gather information on post-warranty failures, including through dealer and fleet relationships, supplier part sales, and social media.
• Work with specification owners to incorporate key stress factors into specifications and test methods to eliminate high time in service failures.
• Champion change-point analysis for reused or modified end items and ensure appropriate requirements and checks are planned for programs.
• Work with customer correlation and system technical specialists to align system durability verification methods for each application, including formal engagement of connected vehicle data, vehicle platform engineering, and Ford business divisions such as Ford Pro.
• Participate in system, subsystem, and component signoff, with specific signoff responsibility before Chief Signoff.
• Lead technical design reviews with the application supervisor for systems, subsystems, and components.
• Provide problem-solving support for launches, recalls, quality concerns, and field issues.
• Coach, mentor, and train Suspension D&R engineers across global regions.
• Use CAE modeling capability to optimize quality, maximize efficiency, and minimize cost.
• Travel occasionally to assembly plants and global chassis engineering centers to support new process development, issue resolution, and Design and Release engineer training.

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: Senior