Technical Expert - Suspension Structural Component Design

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Product Development uses design thinking & user experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that delight our customers. We bring innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. We have opportunities around the world for you to contribute to advancements in autonomy, electrification, smart mobility technologies, and more! At Ford, the Vehicle Hardware Engineering teams are using Design Thinking & User Experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that will delight our customers. Our employees are laser-focused on bringing innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. From autonomy and electrification to smart mobility technologies, our teams around the world are working together with excitement to make smart vehicles for a smart world. Technical Expert (LL6) position leading the technical design, development, and in-house process delivery for Suspension Structural Components (stampings, castings, and forgings) in Ford Vehicles. The main role of this position will be to develop and deliver an in-house design process, executing engineering, manufacturing feasibility, and tooling optimization.

Requirements

• BS-Engineering required
• 10+ years of experience in automotive suspension engineering
• 6+ years of experience with design specific suspension components and commodities.
• Extensive component engineering design and release experience in suspension structural components (stampings, castings, forgings), including specific experience on launch.
• Deep understanding of Build-to-Print Supplier (BTPS) deliverables and the proven ability to execute manufacturing, tooling feasibility, and PPAP requirements in-house.
• Extensive experience creating and managing DFMEA, PFMEA, SCCAF, Control Plans, and drawings with advanced GD&T.
• Experience with CAE tools, manufacturing simulation software, and process optimization methodologies (DOE).
• Strong analytical, math, and problem-solving skills to lead root cause analysis for complex manufacturing and dimensional issues.
• Understanding of GPDS deliverables and basic Ford engineering tools including Teamcenter, WERS, and buck environments.
• Required leadership skills - quality-focused as #1 priority, innovative, excellent communicator, strong organizational skills, highly motivated self-starter.
• Ability to handle complex tasks and challenging situations under compressed timing.
• Experience communicating with senior leaders, design and release, manufacturing, and tooling suppliers.
• Outstanding planning, organizational, and project management skills with proper follow-up to accomplish multiple objectives.
• Strong One Ford Leadership Behaviors with a demonstrated ability to drive and deliver results.
• Ability to build strong effective relationships with cross-functional teams (Foundation Chassis, Design and Release, Vehicle Operations, Testing Centers, and Suppliers).
• Position requires occasional travel to assembly plants and other global chassis engineering centers to support new process development, issue resolution, and Design and Release engineer training. Travel may be significant at times as needed.
• Selected candidates will be required to submit a technical evidence book for review as part of the interview process.

Nice To Haves

• MS-Engineering preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of an in-house design and manufacturing process for suspension structural parts (stampings, castings, forgings), internalizing responsibilities
• Develop and maintain the Suspension Structural Component internal engineering foundation documents including design guides, design rules (DR’s), Requirements (RQTs), and interface contracts/agreements.
• Create and manage Level 2 technical materials including Process FMEAs, Control Plans, Safe Launch Control Plans, and Sub-component BOMs.
• Lead Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) feasibility reviews prior to tool kickoff, ensuring designs align with tool design specifications, plant equipment compatibility, and normal process capability limits.
• Drive in-house manufacturing process simulations (e.g., stamping formability, casting solidification, forging flow) to optimize structure and ensure manufacturing process feasibility
• Lead OK to tool process with BTP supplier including approving steel purchase, OK to rough cut, and OK to finish steps.
• Conduct test facility correlation study between Ford test facility (DV) to BTP supplier facility (PV) to ensure proper validation of the structure per core ES at both locations.
• Develop component and assembly GD&T for in-house designs and sign-off program prints for BTP structural parts.
• Support prototype development process with program teams on BTP parts.
• Manage the data collection and capability analysis for Significant/Critical Characteristics (SC/CC), calculating Ppk to ensure pre-production and production capability requirements are met.
• Lead demonstrable process optimization trials and Design of Experiments (DOE) to confirm manufacturing processes are optimized.
• Develop comprehensive APQP plans, conduct OK-To-Build and OK-To-Ship reviews, and oversee Gauge R&R trials, including the review and sign-off of gauge and check fixture designs.
• Lead root cause analysis and problem resolution (8D, JIRA ) for dimensional, processing, and manufacturing quality issues during launch, DV/PV testing, and production.
• Lead System-Level Integration: Direct the system-level development and integration of advanced active suspension systems, including ECU development, sensor integration, and electronically controlled dampers.
• Technical Specification & Design Control: Define system design guidelines, perform rigorous specification reviews, and author system-level Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) covering signal I/O, control modes, and hardware/software interfaces.
• Chassis Technology Roadmap Alignment: Guide the development of next-generation chassis technologies, including active dampers, air springs, and electronic roll control systems, ensuring alignment with future vehicle architecture glidepaths.

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: Principal