STA Technical Specialist - Machining

Ford • Dearborn, MI

2d • $115,500 - $218,100 • Remote

About The Position

The Machining Technical Specialist provides technical leadership and hands-on support to help suppliers and internal teams assess, develop, and improve machining processes. The role evaluates new and changing manufacturing processes, supports investigation and resolution of current and emerging quality issues, and strengthens technical capability through training and development.

Working across the Global Supplier Technical Assistance organization with suppliers and internal stakeholders, the specialist identifies process risks, determines root causes, and drives sustainable corrective and preventive actions. The role serves as the corporate technical lead for machining, supports manufacturing-risk assessments and industrialization of new technologies, and helps develop global manufacturing standards and assessments. It also supports significant quality issues, manufacturing readiness and recovery activities, and design-for-manufacturing feasibility input. Travel to supplier and manufacturing locations is approximately 50–75% of the time, with levels varying according to business priorities.

This is a leadership level 6 position with a stated salary range of $115,500–$218,100. Final salary grade and base salary depend on the candidate’s skills and experience, job scope, responsibility, and competitive market value. Visa sponsorship is not available; candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or 10 years of experience and/or relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated experience in machining or manufacturing engineering, supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or a related technical field.
• Strong working knowledge of machining processes such as turning, milling, drilling, grinding, or other relevant operations.
• Experience assessing manufacturing processes and identifying sources of process variation or product defects.
• Ability to use structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis methods and verify corrective-action effectiveness.
• Ability to interpret engineering requirements, process documentation, inspection results, and manufacturing data.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, including the ability to explain technical issues to varied audiences.
• Ability to work effectively with suppliers and cross-functional teams in a collaborative, results-focused manner.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 50–75%, including occasional international travel as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting supplier technical assistance, supplier quality, or supplier manufacturing development.
• Experience with machining process capability, statistical methods, measurement systems, and process-control practices.
• Familiarity with CNC equipment, tooling and workholding systems, cutting-tool selection, and machining parameter development.
• Experience with product launches, process changes, manufacturing readiness reviews, or supplier recovery activities.
• Experience delivering technical training, mentoring engineers, or developing team capability.
• Relevant technical degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent practical experience.
• Technical judgment and practical problem solving.
• Process and quality risk assessment.
• Clear written and verbal communication.
• Supplier engagement and collaboration.
• Coaching, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.
• Adaptability and sound prioritization.
• Follow-through and accountability.
• Cultural awareness when working across regions and teams.

Responsibilities

• Assess new, modified, and existing machining processes for capability, process control, product quality, and risk.
• Provide on-site technical support for machining-related quality concerns, including containment, investigation, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and verification of effectiveness.
• Support resolution of issues involving machining operations, equipment, tooling, workholding, cutting tools, process parameters, inspection, and operator methods.
• Evaluate manufacturing readiness and process robustness during supplier assessments, launches, changes, and recovery activities.
• Identify process weaknesses and recommend improvements to reduce variation, defects, downtime, and recurrence of quality issues.
• Review process documentation and objective evidence, including process flows, control plans, work instructions, capability data, inspection results, and corrective-action records.
• Coach suppliers and internal teams in machining fundamentals, process assessment, structured problem solving, and corrective-action practices.
• Develop and deliver training, technical guidance, and knowledge-sharing materials to build machining capability across the STA organization.
• Communicate assessment findings, risks, and recommendations to technical and leadership audiences.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to align priorities, escalation needs, and resolution plans.
• Document assessments, findings, actions, and lessons learned in accordance with organizational processes.
• Travel to supplier and manufacturing locations approximately 50–75% of the time to conduct assessments, support issue resolution, and deliver training.
• Act as the corporate technical lead for machining.
• Lead manufacturing-risk assessments and support industrialization of new technologies through the GTDS process.
• Collaborate with industry experts to develop global manufacturing standards and assessments.
• Create and maintain Ford manufacturing-process standards that capture lessons learned, best practices, and technical innovations to prevent recurrence.
• Conduct manufacturing-process assessments based on a priority model.
• Benchmark processes, methods, and equipment to stay current with manufacturing technology developments.
• Lead technical problem-solving for significant quality issues, including Stop Ships and Field Actions, production-supply concerns, and warranty concerns under the Balanced Single Agenda for Quality.
• Provide technical training, mentoring, and consulting.
• Develop training materials for special manufacturing processes and advanced new technologies.
• Work with Product Development to provide design-for-manufacturing feasibility input.

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 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.
• 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