Suspension and Chassis Controls Engineer

Ford Motor Company • Allen Park, MI

2d • $65,100 - $166,200 • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford Racing is seeking an experienced controls engineer to deliver semi-active suspension and chassis controls across multiple programs. The role manages embedded controls work from Pre-PS through OPD for Ford Racing applications and involves collaboration with powertrain, chassis, architecture, and digital performance feature teams. The engineer will develop and integrate controls for off-road semi-active suspensions and related chassis hardware, including work spanning embedded software, modeling, testing, and hardware bring-up.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering; equivalent experience demonstrating exceptional ability may also qualify.
• At least 1 year of relevant experience in embedded design and/or controls.
• High proficiency in Embedded C/C++ programming.
• High proficiency with MATLAB and Simulink modeling.
• Proficiency in embedded systems and microcontrollers.
• Knowledge of electrical engineering fundamentals, including circuit analysis and design.
• Collaborative mindset and strong communication skills.
• Experience with JIRA/Confluence or a similar system for tracking inputs and results.

Nice To Haves

• Working knowledge of semi-active damper technology, including solenoid controls, internal bypass dampers, and CCD dampers.
• Working knowledge of mechatronic chassis devices, such as steering and brake controls.
• Experience in early prototype development.
• Experience with in-vehicle software integration and testing.
• Experience with Embedded Coder code generation.
• Experience with Vector AUTOSAR integration.
• Experience in powertrain controls or chassis controls.
• Experience with Ford Networked Vehicle (FNV) architecture.
• Experience with Ford and Vector diagnostic software, including DET, CANalyzer, and CANape.
• Experience with fundamental PCB hardware components and their analysis tools.
• Fluency in software fundamentals, including software design and maintainability.
• Hands-on experience in hardware bring-up, system debugging, and code optimization.
• Working knowledge of the Ford Platform Software Release process.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement chassis controls on the vehicle dynamics module (VDM) for Ford Racing off-road semi-active suspensions.
• Specify, design, implement, and test low-level and high-level software for semi-active suspension controls.
• Identify reusable strategies from existing Ford in-house controls to accelerate Ford Racing algorithm development.
• Develop software strategies using Ford and Ford Racing in-house resources and outside resources.
• Develop embedded software from low-level hardware drivers through application-layer components.
• Design and specify interfaces between application software and firmware.
• Expand Ford Racing Simulink models to control new semi-active suspension hardware, including stabilizer bars and new damper technology.
• Work through ambiguity in requirements, specifications, and designs.
• Create efficient real-time software components and interfaces.
• Develop software component testing methodologies and implementations to ensure maturity, stability, and release readiness.
• Develop SIL/HIL testing methods for Ford Racing modules, including use of hardware debuggers.
• Instrument and profile software to identify optimization opportunities at the submodule and system levels.
• Develop test plans and test firmware functionality, stability, and performance under normal, extreme, and faulted conditions.
• Perform hands-on hardware bring-up, system debugging, and code optimization.
• Collaborate with powertrain, chassis, and architecture engineers, and digital performance feature owners.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• 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.
• 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: Entry Level