Product Development Engineer - Exterior Underbody Structure Architecture

Job ID: 69633
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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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...

An engineering role within the Exterior Underbody Structure Architecture team, reporting to a Structures Architecture Supervisor. The engineer is responsible for developing technical content, strategy, and processes for exterior underbody structural systems including frames, subframes, body mounts, front end structure, floor structure, bumper beams, tow hitches, tow recovery systems, EV battery structures, and associated hardware required for underbody functional interface. In this role, you will work as part of a team to support exterior advanced architecture by defining robust underbody structure design solutions, assuring quality performance, and delivering target designs for underbody structure components and systems.

This position collaborates across product development, manufacturing, suppliers, and core engineering to support product and technology development, supplier sourcing inputs, design analytical verification aligned to production requirements, and implementation of quality assurance through FMA methodology.

What you'll do...

Work within the Exterior Underbody Structure Architecture team to develop and deliver engineering work products that support robust exterior system design solutions.
Lead & ensure successful alignment of Underbody Structure KPIs including Quality, Cost, Weight & Functional Performance for major programs prior to the Strategic Confirmation milestone.
Derive efficient underbody structure system design solutions aligned to program scope definition, technology readiness and capability, and affordable program targets for cost and TFLE.
Create underbody structure systems fundamental design definitions aligned to attribute performance targets and manufacturing feasibility through systemic analysis of interactions between interfacing components and systems.
Utilize customer-based data, Quality History, prior issues Prevent recurrence, and reliability & robustness methods to define FMEA action items tied to fundamental underbody architecture execution affiliated with each program.
Mature underbody structure design from surrogate or concept designs to align with applicable architecture with continuous focus on failure mode avoidance.
Deliver robust architecture design recommendations, with defined fixed and variable parameters, to support on-time program milestones with quality.
Build strong relationships and collaborate with Flexible Vehicle Architecture, Design Technical Operations, Manufacturing, and Supplier partners.
Communicate underbody structure architectural issues, trade-offs, risks, and recommendations with the supervisor, management, and cross-functional partners.
Construct & develop relevant business cases for system selection alignment that offer proper support of program and corporate EBIT.
Support your supervisor and broader team in end-to-end underbody structure architecture development through technical analysis, target alignment, issue resolution, and design maturity tracking.
Ability to share & present work with cross-functional teams, Exterior Applications engineering teammates, and executive leadership with professionalism tied to technical data and facts.
Collaborate with structures core engineering for recent lessons learned via tech club and other forums.
Responsible for defining architecture design executions that meet/exceed quality targets, such as Safety, NVH, stiffness, and supply-base controls.
Integrate Structural Systems TVM actions into forward models designs, to avoid post Job 1 design churn for cost reduction.
Support Team-of-Four forums for design system selection, target derivation and alignment, and supplier sourcing plans that meet quality delivery and timing requirements.

You'll have...

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a related field
5 years of experience in Structures Product Development
Thorough knowledge of early product definition and proven skill of deciphering deliverables for
Underbody Structures commodities
Launch delivery experience on at least one major program required
The D&R Engineer is responsible for managing product release CAD and BOM structures, including assembly positioning and mass attribute analysis. This role also includes facilitating supplier data integration and developing CAD studies to support and drive design improvements.
Catia V5 or 3DX or Teamcenter experience
Demonstrated problem solving skills with emphasis on business plan comparisons for different solutions.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively as part of an engineering team and influence technical decisions through data-driven recommendations
Position will require occasional travel to Ford and supplier assembly plants for process reviews, technology demonstrations and PD events.
Travel to global Ford engineering locations will be occasional.

Even better, if you have …

Preferred

Master’s degree preferred
Program experience from inception through final design judgement required.

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 salary grades 7 - 8 and ranges from $86,600 -$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. 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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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.