Senior Product Development Engineer – Exterior Architecture Truck/SUV

Job ID: 68134
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...

At Ford Motor Company, we are dedicated to designing, manufacturing, and offering high quality vehicles that meet the diverse needs of our customers. We believe in our employees, and value the diverse perspectives that they bring to the business that is the driving force behind Ford’s success. Come join a company that is focused on the customers of our vehicles, the quality of product they deserve, the sustainability of our environment, the communities our products help thrive.

Currently, we are seeking a Body on Frame (BoF) Truck & SUV Structures Architecture Senior Engineer candidate for our Dearborn, Michigan location having a technical background in BoF Body-in-White (BIW) Structures, with a focus on Pick Up Box development.

The importance of flexible BoF BIW architecture has grown significantly due to the need for cost-efficient, lightweight vehicles. These cater to a variety of occupancy & propulsion systems, all while derived through accelerated program timelines.
Development of robust design solutions for steel, aluminum and mixed materials including critical joining elements are required. Robust solutions include a proper definition of BoF platform bandwidth, system efficiencies through part complexity reduction technologies, critical fixed & variable parameters in Top Hat execution, all while meeting stringent durability and attribute requirements to balance customer expectations and cost & vehicle range.

Collaboration with Vehicle Hardware Engineering (VHE) Flexible Vehicle Architecture teams, Advanced Manufacturing, and Program Strategy & Planning organizations is vital to ensure compatible architecture designs with process assumptions. Quality assurance must be detected and confirmed in resulting architecture definitions, so VO and Supply Base can properly control Ford Vehicle quality expectations during production.
Recognized expertise, demonstrated leadership behaviors, and technical maturity within BoF Structures is critical for this role, and the expected successful business delivery.

What you'll do...

Develop new BoF BIW architectures with a focus on Pick-up Box development and real world knowledge of pick up box customer usage that aligns with advanced manufacturing and product cycle plan requirements.
Collaborate extensively with RIC, VO – Manufacturing, Materials Engineering, Vehicle Program Teams to develop efficient and feasible BIW solutions in support of our Quality and Cost efficiency corporate objectives.
Maintain a thorough knowledge of new and critical competitive benchmarks to fully understand Best in Class designs and develop advanced projects to ensure Ford supersedes existing BoF Platform & Top Hat architectures.
Work with Application engineering teams to optimize designs as a system, leveraging your expertise.
Support the development and institutionalization of best practices, design rules, and requirements in FEDE for BoF BIW design applications.
Define and validate BoF architecture system assumptions for program applications during the development phase.
Validation and optimization of standard and mixed-metal joint designs in BIW architectures.
Close cooperation with Architecture & Applications CAE-team for the development of new BoF architectures, as well as adaptation and optimization of existing platforms.
Development of new lightweight designs including Aluminum High Pressure Die Casting, Plastic-Metal Hybrids, Multi-Piece-Integration(MPI) technologies, and new material grades of aluminum and steel sheet materials.
Deliver a robust hand-off to Applications Structures Engineering for seamless progression toward optimization, without revolution of architecture designs.
Use AI to improve development efficiency, development time, reduce cost, while improving quality.

Success Metrics:

Use AI to improve development efficiency, development time, reduce cost, while improving quality.
Ensure that Ford remains in a leadership position for BoF architectures, while promoting enhancements and innovation to existing structure designs currently in production.
Robust implementation of new architecture designs and joining processes into forward-model programs in line with GTDS-principles; elimination of last-minute design pivots.
Leverage Ford’s internal manufacturing assets to ensure Exterior cost targets can be delivered to support EBIT.
Use simulation tools to reduce dependency on external support and physical testing.
Implement architecture strategies that align with Ford Purchasing objectives for sourcing efficiencies.

You'll have...

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline (required).
Minimum of 6 years’ experience in the Body Structure product development, with direct advancement (UNV/UPV series), validation (FJD/DCV), and industrialization (launch) experience.
Experience with Advanced Technology development – particularly in body structure systems and mixed materials joining with aluminum.
The D&R Engineer will perform feasibility analyses using CAD tools, including draft angle analysis, undercut detection, minimum bend radius validation for sheet metal, and clearance checks to support manufacturing and machining requirements.
Working knowledge and experience with Engineering toolsets to derive, communicate, and publish 3D surfaces via: Catia V5/TeamCenter Engineering and/or Catia V6/3DX is required.
Experience with GPDS milestone delivery, with knowledge of GTDS timing Milestones for new technologies.

Even better, if you have …

Preferred

Master of Science degree in Engineering preferred.
Body Engineering Design and Release experience in Body Structures strongly preferred.
Strong skillset in Systems interaction and integration with frames, battery structures, Chassis, and Interior Trim preferred.
Strong written/verbal communication skills, with demonstrated successes in technical presentations.
Demonstrated track record of strong Leadership Behaviors aligned with Leadership+.
Demonstrated track record of strong collaboration / negotiation skills to drive global alignment Strong team problem solving skills - technical and non-technical to achieve collaborative outcomes.

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 salary grade 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.

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Senior Product Development Engineer – Exterior Architecture Truck/SUV

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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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