Senior Closures Systems Sealing Engineer

Ford Motor • Allen Park, MI

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Closures Systems Sealing Engineer is a senior individual contributor responsible for designing, developing, and integrating closure mechanisms and sealing systems for Advanced EV development programs. The role spans the full product lifecycle, from early concept development and studio feasibility through production-level engineering and vehicle launch. It focuses on moving vehicle parts and their interfaces with sheet metal structures, ensuring functional, safety, and aesthetic requirements are met.

The engineer leads development of dynamic and static closure seals, integrating them into closure and sheet-metal environments and supporting seal packaging, materials, attachments, CAD, BOM, GD&T, and tolerance strategies. The role uses CAE results and physical validation to optimize sealing performance and resolve issues related to water leaks, wind noise, dust, closing effort, and durability. It also involves cross-functional and supplier collaboration, prototype and production build support, and troubleshooting sealing issues through launch.

This is a hybrid position requiring onsite work four or more days per week. The salary range is $115,000–$250,800, with the final salary grade and base salary determined by 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 of Science in Mechanical, Materials, or Polymer Engineering, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• At least 3 years of experience owning components through a full vehicle development cycle and launch.
• At least 4 years of experience in automotive closures or body sealing, including dynamic and static seals.
• At least 4 years of collaborative CAD experience; 3DX or CATIA preferred.
• Demonstrated experience designing, validating, and releasing seals for water leak, wind noise, and closing effort.
• Hands-on experience with sealing validation methods.

Nice To Haves

• Strong understanding of seal compression, compression load deflection (CLD), gap management, closing-effort trade-offs, and sealing fundamentals.
• Knowledge of EPDM, TPV/TPE, extrusion, molded corners, attachment methods, and related materials and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to use nonlinear seal simulation and correlate it with physical tests through CAE.
• In-depth knowledge and experience with water leak, wind noise, closing effort, and durability testing.
• Strong understanding of GD&T and how tolerances affect seal performance and perceived quality.
• Working knowledge of DFMEA, DVP&R, and PPAP, and experience leading suppliers in quality efforts.
• Experience in physical prototyping and a hands-on approach during production build events.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and integration of closure sealing systems, including dynamic and static seals.
• Provide production-level engineering for sealing components to meet water leak, wind noise, dust, closing effort, and durability targets for vehicle launch.
• Support early-stage concept development with Studio Design, ensuring surfaces, cut lines, and glass layouts accommodate seal packaging, paths, and appearance requirements.
• Integrate seals into sheet-metal and closure environments, advising on interfaces, body and closure shaping, attachment strategies, and material selection.
• Interpret CAE simulation results, including nonlinear seal deflection, compression load deflection, closing effort, contact pressure, and aeroacoustics, to optimize seal sections and resolve integration issues.
• Own CAD and BOM for closure sealing systems, including seal sections and paths, molded corners, datum strategies, GD&T, and tolerance stack-ups for seal gap and compression margin.
• Plan and conduct sealing validation, including water leak and shower testing, wind noise evaluation, door closing effort and velocity measurement, and environmental durability testing.
• Correlate physical test results with CAE and design intent.
• Collaborate with engineering, NVH, manufacturing, and purchasing teams to ensure seals can be manufactured, assembled, and serviced.
• Support vehicle development milestones and prototype and production build events; diagnose and resolve vehicle water leaks, wind noise, and closing effort issues.
• Manage supplier technical execution from tool kickoff through extrusion and molding trials to PPAP.
• Troubleshoot sealing-interface launch issues using methods such as measuring seal gaps, performing chalk traces, and trialing different part iterations.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Paid parental leave and new parent ramp-up programs.
• Subsidized backup child care.
• 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 between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.

What This Job Offers

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