Thermal Test Engineer - Early Career Program, Advanced EV

Job ID: 73529
Location: Long Beach, California
Category: Enterprise Technology

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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 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.

Join us for a 6-month Early Career Program and help build the future of mobility. You'll work alongside top engineering, design, and software talent to create groundbreaking EVs. You'll contribute to key technologies like advanced structures, thermal management, hardware/software integration, and vehicle architectures. This is your chance to gain hands-on experience and make a real impact on the automotive industry.

Thermal systems spans a diverse range of critical customer-facing attributes, hardware, and software domains. Our work keeps occupants comfortable, enables full vehicle powertrain capability, and empowers battery fast charging - in all weather conditions. We strive to balance heating/cooling performance, energy consumption, cost, reliability, NVH and packaging trade-offs through physics-driven, cross-functional engineering collaboration. We work closely with mechanical engineers, aerodynamicists, battery and powertrain experts, electrical engineers, embedded/controls engineers, and more through all phases of vehicle development.

Program: 6-months (shorter duration possible in some cases), starting as early as spring 2027!

Work arrangement: Candidates may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.

Stipend: $5,000 pre-tax relocation stipend for eligible candidates living 50+ miles away.

The Role...

Thermal Test Engineer will support the physical validation of Ford's next-generation EV thermal management systems - generating the empirical data that every design and control decision is built on. You will work hands-on in the thermal lab and on vehicle test events, instrumenting hardware, running tests, and turning raw data into clear answers about whether the system meets its targets.

This role is a strong fit for an engineering student with an experimental background who enjoys building test setups, working with instrumentation and data acquisition, and writing Python to analyze what comes out of them.

What you'll do...

Support the 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 alongside 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, and support data acquisition (DAQ) 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.

You'll have...

Pursuit of 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 the ability to support multiple test events and schedules in parallel.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills (written and verbal).
A GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
Must be able to dedicate 6 MONTHS for this engagement.

Even better, you may have...

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 (chambers, wind tunnels, hot- or cold-weather testing).
Experience with test automation tools and scripting (Python, LabVIEW, or equivalent).
Familiarity with vehicle communication protocols (CAN, LIN, 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 (readable, reusable, version-controlled code) and Git.

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!

What you'll receive in return: As part of this exciting program, you'll enjoy a high level of involvement with an exceptional team of industry innovators and visionaries. You'll contribute in a meaningful way to our important, breakthrough work. And you'll develop the skills that will give you a significant edge in your future career pursuits. If you have what it takes to help us redefine the future of mobility, we'd love to have you join us.

This position is a salary grade 4.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: Click here to find out more about available programs and benefits: https://fordcareers.co/supplemental

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.

Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid #UEV #LI-NJ2

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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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Thermal Test Engineer - Early Career Program, Advanced EV

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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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