Thermal Engineer

Ford • Long Beach, CA

8h • $100,400 - $232,700 • Hybrid

About The Position

Product Creation and Industrialization (PC&I) brings together Ford’s vehicle, electric, digital and design teams with our global manufacturing system. Working as one end-to-end organization, we turn ideas into high-quality vehicles, software and experiences across gas, hybrid and electric, designed around what customers need.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Strong fundamentals in heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics.
• Coursework, internship, research, or project experience with thermal systems.
• MATLAB and/or Python experience for data analysis, modeling, or automation.
• Familiarity with thermal components such as heat exchangers, compressors, pumps, fans, cold plates, coolant loops, or refrigerant systems.
• Ability to analyze data, document results, and communicate findings clearly.
• Strong teamwork, communication, self-motivation, and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• A first-principles approach to engineering problem solving.
• Curiosity and eagerness to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, cross-functional EV development environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with physics-based 1D modeling or reduced-order thermal/fluid models.
• Exposure to CFD/FEA tools such as STAR-CCM+, ANSYS, COMSOL, or similar.
• CAD experience; CATIA or SolidWorks preferred.
• Experience with prototype builds, instrumentation, data acquisition, and validation testing.
• Familiarity with battery thermal systems, energy storage, EVs, HVAC, or powertrain thermal management.
• Familiarity with design validation plans, DFMEA, design-for-manufacturing, or technical design documentation.
• Experience analyzing experimental data from lab, supplier, vehicle, or field-representative testing.
• Hands-on experience in a lab, test cell, prototype shop, Formula SAE, Baja SAE, solar car, robotics, battery research, or similar engineering environment.

Responsibilities

• Support thermal-system modeling and development for battery, drive unit, and powertrain products.
• Build and use reduced-order thermal/fluid models to support system and component decisions.
• Assist with thermal component and subsystem feasibility studies.
• Support prototype builds, test setup, instrumentation, and data acquisition.
• Analyze test data and compare measured performance against model predictions.
• Develop and support validation plans, test methods, and technical summaries.
• Document model assumptions, specifications, design updates, test results, and validation findings.
• Work with test engineers and subject matter experts to understand correlation between predicted and measured results.
• Collaborate with controls, electrical, software, manufacturing, validation, and supplier teams to resolve technical issues.
• Support continuous improvement of thermal models, tools, workflows, and development methodologies.
• Help identify opportunities to improve thermal performance, system efficiency, manufacturability, cost, and reliability.

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