Design Theme and Surface Development Supervisor (Exterior or Interior)

At Ford, you can see the impact of your work on the road every day. Join a global team working to help people move freely and pursue their dreams.

As part of Ford Design, you’ll be at the cutting edge of Ford’s most strategically critical work, designing the next generation of products, services, and experiences.

Design Technical Operations turns design vision into reality with an obsession to detail and the art of the possible. As an integral part of Ford Global Design, we deliver theme feasibility, surface geometry, and production-launch appearance quality.

In this position...
As the Supervisor of Theme Feasibility & Surface Development, you will guide your team and cross-functional partners to deliver Class A Surfaces that are feasible and maintain the emotive direction of the Design Studio. You’ll lead Ford’s Design Feasibility (FC) progression - from early concept feasibility through final, tool-ready A-surface approval - working across Design, program, engineering, and manufacturing teams.

What you'll do...

1. Lead surface and feasibility development

• Guide the development of Class A surfaces, integrating Design intent with technical, feasibility, manufacturing, and program requirements.

• Lead the Design Feasibility progression process from early concepts through production surfaces, including required studio deliverables and the resolution of program, functional, manufacturing, and attribute trade-offs.

• Develop feasible surface proposals throughout theme and surface development to enable the Design vision.

• Deliver high-quality, feasible surfaces on time and to agreed requirements.

2. Align teams and drive decisions

• Lead surface-development reviews within Design; track issues and drive them to resolution. 

• Reconcile conflicts between Design and hardpoints, documenting decisions, agreements, and next steps.

• Create surface proposals that help align stakeholders around Design intent and program requirements.

• Partner with teams to identify possibilities and practical win-win solutions that align Design vision, program direction, and engineering requirements.

• Compile, publish, and drive closure of surface and feasibility critique sheets

3. Support studio readiness

• Lead studio property planning, content, development, setup, and assumption integrity 

• Ensure studio properties meet requirements for content, data pedigree, ride height, manikin drop, and overall suitability.

You'll have…

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent experience.

• 5+ yrs. of automotive surfacing authoring or surface feasibility experience

• 2+ yrs. experience utilizing CAD (Catia V5/3DX) with operational knowledge of surfacing tools such as ISD, ICEMSURF or Alias. Experience with data-management tools such as TCe and visualization tools such as VRED or Unreal

Even better, You'll have…

• Strong understanding of studio procedures, Design progression, and the FC process.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and present in cross-functional forums.
• Strong understanding of the Class A digital and physical surface verification processes
• Strong attention to detail and disciplined process execution.
• High proficiency in CAD (Catia V5/3DX) with operational knowledge of Surfacing Tools such as ISD, ICEMSURF, or Alias.
• Experience with data-management tools such as  TCe and visualization tools such as VRED or Unreal.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
• 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. 

This position is a Leadership Level 6 and ranges from $115,000 - $192,000. 

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6. 

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week. 

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