Product Development Engineer-Brake Core NVH and Dynamometers

Job ID: 72993
Location: Livonia, Michigan
Category: PD Operations and Quality

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At Ford, you’ll work on ideas that matter, alongside passionate people who want to make a global impact. Together, we’re shaping the next era of transportation—grounded in purpose, driven by progress. Make your move.

Job Type: Full time
Work Type: Hybrid

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We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

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!

In this position...
The Brake NVH Core Engineer is a technical and operational leadership role in Underbody Systems. It requires deep expertise in brake noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), friction-pair behavior, system integration, and vehicle-level performance. It also requires practical command of brake dynamometer operations.

The role has two connected parts. On the engineering side, you own brake NVH methods, author system and component requirements, and use model-based systems engineering to link customer attributes to design decisions and verification evidence. You are the technical lead with CAE and lead the peer network of brake NVH champions. You also support program-level NVH work, including dyno noise signoff, cold-room and low-frequency vehicle testing, electric parking brake (EPB) sound quality, and vehicle-level subjective and objective evaluation.

On the operations side, you are the single point of ownership for brake dyno testing. Ford-operated dynos at Building 4 and leased dynos at LTL run in parallel, and the machines differ widely in capability. You decide which tests run where and when. You also oversee an annual operating budget in the millions of dollars and manage the working relationships among Ford engineering, facilities (VEV), the Ford skilled trades, and the test-lab operators and suppliers (LINK, MSC) who make testing possible.

This is a high-visibility role. Programs compete for scarce test capacity, and you will need to make firm, well-explained prioritization decisions. Your work directly affects program timing, launch quality, warranty performance, and customer satisfaction.

What you'll do...

Brake NVH engineering and technical leadership

Develop, document, and maintain brake NVH test and analysis methods. Turn analytical and physical learnings into design guidance and reusable standards.
Author and maintain system and component NVH requirements. Use model-based systems engineering to keep traceability from customer needs through CAE, test methods, and verification evidence.
Serve as the key technical lead with CAE. Align modeling priorities and drive model-to-test correlation.
Lead the peer network of brake NVH champions. Provide coaching, common methods, escalation support, and cross-program alignment.
Define dyno and vehicle-level test strategies. Interpret acoustic, vibration, thermal, and dyno data, and support supplier signoff testing.
Support program NVH deliverables such as dyno noise signoff, cold-room and low-frequency noise vehicle tests, EPB sound quality, and low-speed vehicle tests.
Lead root-cause investigations of squeal, judder, roughness, moan, and groan. Confirm that corrective actions work under representative conditions. Explain differences between Ford and supplier test results.

Test request intake and scheduling

Receive and reconcile every dyno test request. Confirm that none were missed.
Lead the weekly dyno scheduling meeting. Review the operational status of the dynos and the status of fixture builds, parts, and supplier signoffs.
Assign tests to the right dyno based on capability: heavy-duty, drag, EMB, EPB, speed, inertia, torque, pressure, and fixture size. Use simpler machines where appropriate to maximize total capacity.
Schedule tests only when parts have arrived and signoff photos are approved. Set priorities across competing programs, and explain decisions clearly to stakeholders who may disagree.
Serve as the escalation point for dyno problems, including breakdowns, machine malfunctions, late reports, no-show supplier signoffs, and urgent test starts. Be available outside normal hours when needed.
Plan holiday coverage, including lab staffing and moving fixtures and parts between buildings.

Budget and spending

Manage the annual dyno operating budget. Authorize normal operations spending, and forecast monthly spend and burn rate against planned fixture builds, emissions testing, and other purchases.
Decide when and how many leased dynos to fund, based on workload and availability. Reduce capacity when it isn't needed.
Audit the monthly operating invoice in detail. Check every dyno charge, fixture build, script update, canceled-test charge, and software development charge. Resolve discrepancies with the lab operator before recommending payment.
Schedule and approve dyno and capacitance-probe rack calibrations. Approve fixture and driver builds (quantity, design, timing). Order spare hardware such as shafts, bearings, and seals.
Support the annual budget process with workload inputs. Work with Ford facilities leadership to rank and fund dyno repairs and upgrades.

Operations efficiency and reliability

Run the biweekly operations efficiency review. Update metrics and run charts from the lab operator's data, and prepare agendas covering downtime and open issues.
Review each dyno breakdown and repair: duration, root cause, lessons learned, and missed preventive maintenance. Look past symptoms such as blown fuses to underlying causes.
Track downtime waiting for engineering and for technicians, and track test-lab uptime against contractual commitments. Use any make-up time to fund additional test capacity.
Identify hidden losses, such as tests that take much longer than expected. Add and monitor metrics such as report-generation timing.
Monitor recurring failure modes in the environmental control units, refrigerant systems, cooling-water systems, and main drive systems. Push for effective preventive maintenance.
Establish and run similar oversight for the vehicle chassis dyno at the leased facility. Track uptime and root causes, and evaluate long-term options such as a new chassis dyno with EMB capability.

Dyno hardware and software upgrades

Lead upgrade planning for evolving test needs. Obtain quotes, define scope, and agree on who funds what.
Drive current and upcoming projects, including EMB-compatible noise scripts and servo control updates, higher-voltage and higher-amperage power supplies for EMB and EPB testing, and EMB updates to the highest-inertia dyno.
Secure a replacement corrosion-chamber capability as existing facilities are retired.
Coordinate across engineering, facilities, the skilled trades, and the lab operators and software specialists.

Process, fixtures, and parts management

Audit, enforce, and update operating procedures, including test request flow, supplier signoff guidelines, and pre-test dyno setup checks to company standards.
Maintain the fixture inventory. Manage fixture storage and scrapping guidelines, and post-test part retention (NVH and performance tests follow different processes).
Host professional lab tours for audiences from interns to executives.

Relationships and collaboration

Manage the working relationships among Ford engineering, Ford facilities, skilled trades, the contracted lab operators and software specialists, and the chassis-dyno lab.
Know who is responsible for what: facilities own the Building 4 dynos, repairs, and building services, and the lab operators run the dynos. Escalate through the right channel to get repairs and upgrades done.
Communicate test status, risks, and results clearly to technical and leadership audiences.

You'll have...

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Automotive, Aerospace, or a related engineering field.
5+ years of experience in brake NVH, brake system engineering or brake dynamometer testing.

Even better, you may have...
Master's degree in Mechanical, Automotive, Aerospace, or a related engineering field.
Hands-on experience executing and interpreting dyno or vehicle-level tests.
Experience managing a laboratory or test facility: scheduling, calibration, uptime metrics, and vendor oversight.
Familiarity with dynamometer systems, including environmental control, drive systems, and control software such as LabLINK, RevData, and ProLINK.
Knowledge of EMB, EPB, and 48V brake systems and their test requirements.
Working knowledge of CAE and model-to-test correlation.
Experience writing technical requirements and applying systems engineering practices.
Experience with model-based systems engineering tools.
Experience leading technical networks, training others, or managing contracted test providers.
Experience supporting vehicle launch and warranty-reduction activities.
CAD Level 2 capability, if applicable to this grade.
Ability to prioritize competing demands, make decisions under pressure, and influence without direct authority.
Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills across engineering, trades, suppliers, and management.
Financial skills: budget tracking, forecasting, and detailed invoice review.
Willingness to be available for urgent issues outside normal hours.
Professional proficiency in English and Spanish.

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
• Paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare 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
• Generous vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day

This position is a salary grade 5 and ranges from $65,100-$109,300.

This position is a salary grade 6 and ranges from $74,300-$124,500

This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $86,600-$144,900.

This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $99,100-$166,200.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

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

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.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.

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Change the world with your ideas.

Speak up. We’re listening. At Ford, we believe the right ideas, and the people behind them, can move an entire industry. Here, you'll work with teams who value your voice, push bold ideas forward, and leave a mark that lasts.

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Support designed to go the distance.

From day one, Ford invests in you with medical benefits built to help you plan for what’s next. You’ll also get support for you and your family that meets you at every step, so you can move forward with confidence.

Health and Wellness

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, mental health, and unique wellness perks keep you and your family supported every step of the way.
Financial and Retirement Programs

Build a strong financial future with robust retirement contributions, savings programs, and free personalized financial planning tools.
Flexible Vacation and Holidays

Enjoy your time away from work with generous vacation, holidays, and flexible family leave designed to help you balance life and work with ease.
Vehicle Discount Program

The best thing about building great products is driving them! The second-best thing: sharing your discount with family and friends so they can drive them, too.
Family Growth and Support

Grow your family confidently with fertility, surrogacy, and adoption assistance, paid parental leave, and a supportive new-parent ramp-up program.
Additional Programs

Enjoy unexpected extras like pet insurance, legal services, identity protection, and access to convenient health and wellness services.

Ford gives me the space to innovate, to lead, and to serve — all while staying true to who I am as an engineer, educator, and parent. It’s not just a career; it’s a community that drives change.

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Product Development Engineer-Brake Core NVH and Dynamometers

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Change the world with your ideas.

Support designed to go the distance.

Health and Wellness

Financial and Retirement Programs

Flexible Vacation and Holidays

Vehicle Discount Program

Family Growth and Support

Additional Programs

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