Thermal Test Engineer - Early Career Program, Advanced EV

Ford Motor • Long Beach, CA

14h • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford Motor Company is hiring a Thermal Test Engineer for a six-month Early Career Program in Advanced EV, with a start date as early as spring 2027. The program offers hands-on experience working with engineering, design, and software teams on electric vehicle technologies. The thermal systems team works to balance heating and cooling performance, energy consumption, cost, reliability, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), and packaging through cross-functional engineering collaboration.

The Thermal Test Engineer supports physical validation of Ford’s next-generation EV thermal management systems. The role involves hands-on work in the thermal lab and at vehicle test events, including instrumenting hardware, running tests, and analyzing data to assess whether systems meet their targets. Candidates may be required to work onsite four or more days per week. Eligible candidates who live 50 or more miles away may receive a $5,000 pre-tax relocation stipend. The engagement requires a six-month commitment; shorter durations may be possible in some cases.

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 analytical, problem-solving, and written and verbal communication skills.
• GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent.
• Ability to dedicate six months to the engagement.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.
• Visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with EV thermal management concepts, including battery thermal management, power electronics and drive unit cooling, and cabin HVAC.
• Experience with environmental or climatic testing, including chambers, wind tunnels, and 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 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 in Python.
• Assist with environmental chamber, climatic wind tunnel, and proving-ground test events, including test matrix preparation and on-site data collection.
• 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.
• The program offers meaningful involvement with an exceptional team, contribution to breakthrough work, and skills development for future career pursuits.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed