Functional Safety Engineer

Job ID: 72288
Location: Dearborn, 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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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...

Ford is strengthening its core Functional Safety capability to support base steering and broader vehicle motion systems across vehicle programs. The scope includes steering foundation functions, electric power-assisted steering, steer-by-wire interfaces where applicable, steering control functions, braking, propulsion and driveline interactions, vehicle dynamics, motion coordination, electrical/electronic elements, mechanical interfaces, and interactions with driver-assistance features.

The Functional Safety Engineer will be part of a Product Development team responsible for applying ISO 26262 principles, methods, and tools to base steering and assigned vehicle motion activities from concept through production. The role partners with steering foundation, vehicle motion controls, brakes, powertrain, hardware, software, electrical architecture, vehicle integration, supplier, feature, and program teams to develop complete and traceable Functional Safety work products that support safe and robust system design.

This position offers an opportunity to build technical depth in steering and vehicle motion systems, strengthen system-level safety engineering capability, and improve Ford Functional Safety methods, templates, training, and model-based engineering practices for reusable application across vehicle programs.

What you'll do...

Lead and support ISO 26262 Functional Safety activities for new and carry-over base steering and assigned vehicle motion systems across applicable vehicle programs.
Develop, maintain, and deliver Functional Safety work products for steering and vehicle motion, including item definitions, hazard analysis and risk assessments, safety goals, functional and technical safety concepts, safety requirements, verification evidence, and safety case inputs, as applicable to the assigned scope.
Analyze steering and vehicle motion functions to address loss, unintended, degraded, delayed, or incorrect assist, actuation, coordination, and control behavior, including relevant vehicle-level effects, dependencies, and interactions across steering, braking, propulsion, driveline, and vehicle dynamics systems.
Partner with steering foundation, vehicle motion controls, brakes, powertrain, software, hardware, electrical/electronic architecture, mechanical, vehicle integration, test, feature, program, and supplier teams to define safety mechanisms and support safe design decisions.
Allocate and trace Functional Safety requirements across vehicle motion features, vehicle, system, subsystem, hardware, software, and supplier interfaces, and maintain alignment as architectures, designs, dependencies, or program assumptions change.
Perform or support safety analyses such as FMEA, FTA, dependent failure analysis, interface analysis, and freedom-from-interference assessment, as applicable to steering and distributed vehicle motion architectures.
Support confirmation reviews, technical reviews, verification planning, test evidence assessment, anomaly resolution, change impact analysis, and closure of Functional Safety actions for steering and vehicle motion deliverables.
Apply Ford Functional Safety processes, methods, tools, and training to ensure consistent execution, milestone-based delivery, and end-to-end traceability of steering and vehicle motion safety activities.
Use MBSE, SysML, requirements management, and model-based analysis practices where appropriate to improve clarity, reuse, integration, and efficiency of steering Functional Safety work.
Communicate safety assumptions, technical conclusions, risks, dependencies, and decisions clearly to steering, vehicle motion, feature, integration, Functional Safety, supplier, and program stakeholders.

You'll have...

Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Two or more years of experience engineering software-enabled, electrical/electronic, mechanical, systems, controls, or embedded vehicle systems.
Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams in a dynamic product development environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document technical analysis clearly and concisely.

Even better, you may have...

Experience with ISO 26262 and Functional Safety work products for steering, chassis, brakes, powertrain, vehicle motion, controls, or other safety-related automotive systems.
Working knowledge of steering system architecture, electric power-assisted steering, steering controls, braking, propulsion or driveline systems, vehicle motion controls, sensors, actuators, electrical/electronic hardware, embedded software, mechanical interfaces, or vehicle dynamics.
Experience using requirements management, traceability, FMEA/FTA, MBSE, SysML, calibration, test, or engineering analysis tools.
Demonstrated leadership through technical projects, professional experience, internships, research, student organizations, or cross-functional team activities.
Ability to simplify complex technical topics, drive alignment, and influence decisions through data, structured analysis, and clear communication.
Interest in the automotive industry and in developing safe, innovative, and customer-focused vehicle technologies.

Success Profile

Owns steering and vehicle motion safety deliverables with strong attention to technical quality, timing, assumptions, interfaces, dependencies, and traceability.
Understands steering behavior, vehicle motion interactions, and system-level dependencies, and works collaboratively to resolve unclear ownership, interfaces, assumptions, and requirements.
Engages steering foundation, vehicle motion, brakes, powertrain, feature, supplier, vehicle integration, and Functional Safety teams early to align decisions and close safety gaps.
Continuously improves tools, templates, lessons learned, and methods to make steering and vehicle motion Functional Safety execution more efficient, reusable, and scalable.

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 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
• 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 salary grade 5-8, and ranges from $68,300-$192,900.

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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Functional Safety Engineer

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Looking for jobs tailored to you?

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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