Thermal Test Engineer - Early Career Program, Advanced EV

Ford • Long Beach, CA

12h • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford Motor Company is hiring a Thermal Test Engineer for its six-month Early Career Program in Advanced EV, with a start as early as spring 2027. A shorter program duration may be possible in some cases. The engineer will support physical validation of next-generation EV thermal management systems, generating data used to guide design and control decisions. The work involves hands-on activity in thermal laboratories and on vehicle test events, including instrumenting hardware, running tests, and interpreting results against system targets.

The role supports thermal testing across components, benches, subsystems, and vehicles. It includes assisting with test setup and lab operations, preparing and checking instrumentation and data acquisition systems, developing automated test sequences, analyzing data with Python or MATLAB, and documenting and presenting results. Test events may take place in environmental chambers, climatic wind tunnels, and proving grounds. Candidates may be required to work onsite four or more days per week.

The program offers substantial involvement with Ford’s engineering team and the opportunity to develop practical skills in automotive thermal testing. A $5,000 pre-tax relocation stipend is available to eligible candidates who live 50 or more miles away. The position is salary grade 4. Visa sponsorship is not available; candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and employment eligibility will be verified at hire.

Requirements

• Pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related thermal/fluid sciences discipline.
• Strong foundational knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
• Hands-on laboratory experience with experimental methods, instrumentation, and data acquisition.
• Proficiency with Python or MATLAB for processing, analyzing, and plotting experimental data.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to support multiple test events and schedules in parallel.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent.
• Ability to dedicate six months to the engagement.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with EV thermal management, including battery thermal management, power electronics and drive unit cooling, and cabin HVAC.
• Experience with environmental or climatic testing, such as chambers, wind tunnels, or hot- or cold-weather testing.
• Experience with test automation tools and scripting, such as Python, LabVIEW, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with vehicle communication protocols such as CAN, LIN, and Automotive Ethernet, and with logging data from vehicle networks.
• Exposure to test fixture design and CAD software such as CATIA V6.
• Working knowledge of measurement uncertainty, design of experiments (DOE), and statistical analysis of test data.
• Experience with programming best practices, including readable, reusable, version-controlled code, and Git.

Responsibilities

• Support planning, readiness, and execution of component, bench, subsystem, and vehicle-level thermal tests.
• Support thermal lab operations, including test fixture build-up, equipment readiness, and safe and efficient test execution with test engineers and technicians.
• Support development of automated test sequences for repeat, durability, and reliability cycles, including monitoring and safe-shutdown behavior.
• Instrument test articles and vehicles with thermocouples, pressure transducers, flow meters, and related sensors; support data acquisition setup, checkout, and calibration.
• Process, analyze, and visualize test data using Python.
• Assist with environmental chamber, climatic wind tunnel, and proving-ground test events, including preparing test matrices and collecting data onsite.
• Document test plans, procedures, and results, and present findings to stakeholders.

Benefits

• $5,000 pre-tax relocation stipend for eligible candidates living 50 or more miles away.
• Program provides meaningful involvement with an experienced team and opportunities to develop skills for future career pursuits; additional salary and benefits information is available through Ford Careers.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed