Ford Racing - Suspension and Chassis Controls Engineer

Ford Motor • Allen Park, MI

23h • 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 collaborates with powertrain, chassis, and architecture engineers, as well as digital performance feature owners.

The engineer will design, implement, integrate, and validate embedded software and control strategies for Ford Racing off-road semi-active suspensions. Work includes developing low- and high-level software, expanding Simulink models for new hardware, creating software testing approaches, and performing hands-on hardware bring-up, debugging, and optimization. The position is hybrid and requires onsite work four or more days per week.

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.
• Familiarity with ISO26262-compliant software.

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 Ford in-house controls to accelerate Ford Racing algorithm development.
• Develop software strategies using Ford and Ford Racing in-house resources as well as external 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 and implement software component testing methodologies to assess maturity, stability, and release readiness.
• Develop software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (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 comprehensive 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 engineering teams 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