Tech Expert - Friction Clutch & Disconnect

Ford • Livonia, MI

42d • $112,680 - $212,760 • Hybrid

About The Position

We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.
This position is for a system subject matter expert in hydraulic/clutch-based technology design, focusing on traditional stepped transmission friction clutches and powertrain disconnects. The Friction Clutch and Disconnect Technical Expert will define and execute our current stepped ratio transmission friction clutch systems and disconnects, as well as future strategy. Expertise is required to deliver industry leading efficiency (energy, mass, cost) and robust functionality. The propulsion systems portfolio is evolving and proliferating rapidly with advancements and technology development. It is vital that we in how we execute our existing transmissions, which include 10-speed and 8-speed transmission families, which support all major revenue generating vehicle programs.
Tremendous opportunities exist for innovation, consolidation, simplification, and quality improvements in the traditional transmission space. Technical leadership is needed to manage the specific demands associated with this position which include hydrodynamic, damping and performance characteristics. Our transformation in product design and manufacturing efficiency requires clear and correlated engineering specifications, acceptance criteria, correlated CAE models and deep understanding of potential failure modes across new technologies. The quality and robustness of our emerging strategy requires specific functional direction which will span attributes, components, systems, vehicles in product development and industrialization.
Able to lead technical discussions and deep dives to balanced conclusions.
Understands upfront design, verification plan and methods, and industrialization process.
Authors requirements, rules, methods in a manner that institutionalizes key learnings.
Author and maintain friction plate and disconnect design engineering specifications.
Partner with Vehicle Dynamics and NVH teams to improve development statement process.
Co-Lead technical peer reviews with component supervisor
Coach, mentor, and train Suspension D&R engineers across all the global regions
Own the friction plate and disconnect warranty spend including driving best practices across supply base.
Responsible (Owner) for the creation and maintenance of the Core Engineering Documents (FMA Documents, SDS/Requirements and Test Procedures, etc.)
Integral to Signoff of System/Subsystem/Component with specific signoff responsibility before Chief Signoff
Go-To for Problem Solving – Launch, Recall, Quality / Field Issues, DV/PV issues.
Conduct global supplier onsite reviews at component plants and recommend best practices for manufacturing process and quality control.
Provide technical support to the Architecture, Core, and Applications teams for the development of disconnects.
Develop and own interfaces with interfacing component/systems on boundary diagram including joint specs and device transmittals.
Partner with Simulation Team to improve tunable models for use on full vehicle simulator.
Conduct benchmarking to optimize component design for future programs.
Provide Technical leadership to broader Underbody Systems engineering teams.
Leverage CAE modelling capability to optimize quality, maximize efficiency and minimize cost.
Create and Conduct training sessions.
Leads Technical Design Reviews (TDRs) for System/Subsystem/Component

Requirements

• BS-Engineering required. Master of Engineering (tribology, mechanical, controls, systems, etc.) preferred.
• Proven history of design and verification directly applicable to friction clutches and powertrain disconnects.
• Proven history of evaluating choices and directing a team based on technical ideals balanced with industrialization realities.
• 10 years component engineering design & release experience in friction clutch and disconnects, including specific experience on launch. >6 years of experience in friction clutch systems and powertrain disconnect architectural design.
• Extensive experience creating and managing DFMEA/PFMEA/SCCAF/Control Plans/ drawings.
• Experience with CAE tools and methods.
• Extensive knowledge & experience with associated supplier manufacturing and quality processes.
• Required leadership skills - quality focused as #1 priority, innovative, excellent communicator, strong organizational skills, highly motivated self-starter.
• Ability to lead and align collections of people that do not directly report to this position (lead the collection of sub-system and component technical specialists that make up the TS team contributing to the power unit success)
• Ability to institutionalize the key factors of power unit success and lessons learned through documentation (design rules, SDS, technical design guides, etc.) and to teach associated learning sessions.
• Ability to form an opinion, communicate it effectively at all levels, and drive the company in a winning direction.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Engineering (tribology, mechanical, controls, systems, etc.)

Responsibilities

• Lead technical discussions and deep dives to balanced conclusions.
• Understand upfront design, verification plan and methods, and industrialization process.
• Author requirements, rules, methods in a manner that institutionalizes key learnings.
• Author and maintain friction plate and disconnect design engineering specifications.
• Partner with Vehicle Dynamics and NVH teams to improve development statement process.
• Co-Lead technical peer reviews with component supervisor
• Coach, mentor, and train Suspension D&R engineers across all the global regions
• Own the friction plate and disconnect warranty spend including driving best practices across supply base.
• Responsible (Owner) for the creation and maintenance of the Core Engineering Documents (FMA Documents, SDS/Requirements and Test Procedures, etc.)
• Integral to Signoff of System/Subsystem/Component with specific signoff responsibility before Chief Signoff
• Go-To for Problem Solving – Launch, Recall, Quality / Field Issues, DV/PV issues.
• Conduct global supplier onsite reviews at component plants and recommend best practices for manufacturing process and quality control.
• Provide technical support to the Architecture, Core, and Applications teams for the development of disconnects.
• Develop and own interfaces with interfacing component/systems on boundary diagram including joint specs and device transmittals.
• Partner with Simulation Team to improve tunable models for use on full vehicle simulator.
• Conduct benchmarking to optimize component design for future programs.
• Provide Technical leadership to broader Underbody Systems engineering teams.
• Leverage CAE modelling capability to optimize quality, maximize efficiency and minimize cost.
• Create and Conduct training sessions.
• Leads Technical Design Reviews (TDRs) for System/Subsystem/Component

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of 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: Mid Level