Customer Quality Engineering Specialist, BlueOval Battery Park Michigan

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.

Ford’s legacy of innovation is about to reach new heights. Imagine being on the ground floor of something truly extraordinary. At BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, we’re not just assembling battery systems; we’re leading a transformation. As a key member of our start-up team, you’ll have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to launch a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility from the ground up. Imagine: you, at the forefront of the electrification movement, helping to bring the next generation of vehicles to driveways, job sites and highways everywhere.

At BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, you will...
• use your entrepreneurial skills and team mindset to come up with data-driven solutions
• build and lead an agile team to deliver the advanced technology that drives the future
• create a culture of trust, encourage diversity of thought and foster leadership in others
• be part of the historic transformation of the automotive industry.

In this position... 
The Customer Quality Engineer (CQE) is the primary advocate for the customer within the BOBM Battery Pack Assembly plant. This role leads the Problem Resolving Team (PRT) in identifying, analyzing, and resolving complex quality issues that reach Vehicle Operations (VO) or the field (Warranty). The CQE bridges the gap between manufacturing, design, and suppliers to ensure that every battery pack meets the highest standards of safety and performance, driving a "Zero Defect" and "No Faults Forward" culture.

What you'll do...

1. VO & Field Quality Leadership

VO Interface: Act as the primary point of contact for Vehicle Operations (VO) plants regarding battery pack quality concerns.

Warranty Analysis: Monitor and analyze field warranty data to identify emerging trends and failure modes; lead investigations into high-impact "Time-In-Service" (TIS) failures.

Vehicle Pulls: Coordinate and lead "Vehicle Pulls" and physical inspections of battery packs at VO plants or in the field to characterize issues.

Issue Resolution: Drive the resolution of VO and Field concerns by collaborating with Product Development (PD), Plant Engineering, and Suppliers.

2. Problem Resolving Team (PRT) & Technical Analysis

PRT Leadership: Lead and facilitate the Battery Pack Problem Resolving Team (PRT) meetings, ensuring a disciplined approach to the 8D process.

Root Cause Investigation: Conduct in-depth technical investigations into complex issues involving battery chemistry, electrical systems (BMS), and mechanical assembly.

ECB Participation: Support the Engineering Change Board (ECB) by assessing the quality impact of proposed design or process changes on the customer experience.

Data Interpretation: Interpret complex data sets (e.g., end-of-line test results, SPC, and telematics data) to pinpoint the origin of defects.

3. Containment & Customer Protection

Rapid Containment: Coordinate immediate containment actions, including Dock Holds and Special Checks, to prevent non-conforming material from reaching the customer.

Stop-Ship Management: Lead the technical justification and clearing process for plant stop-ships and quality holds.

Clean Point Verification: Ensure that Permanent Corrective Actions (PCAs) are verified and that "clean points" are clearly communicated to downstream customers.

4. Documentation & Reporting

Reporting: Prepare and present technical reports for the Plant Quality Review (PQR) and executive leadership.

Documentation: Manage and maintain high-quality documentation for Customer 8Ds, Outgoing Dock Audits, and First Time Through (FTT) metrics.

Standardization: Ensure all problem-solving activities follow Ford TDM (Time and Data Management) standards.

5. Work Environment:

This role typically involves a mix of office work and significant time spent on the manufacturing floor. May require occasional travel to VO plants and other company locations.

6. Role Deliverables

Successful 8D closure for VO and Field issues.

Effective management of ECB and PRT activities.

Timely execution of Vehicle Pulls and root cause characterization.

Improvement in FTT and reduction in Warranty R/1000 (Repairs per 1,000 vehicles).

You'll have...

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, or Materials Science preferred).
• 3–5 years of experience in Quality, Design, or Manufacturing Engineering (Automotive or Battery industry preferred).
  

Even better, you may have...

• Master's degree in engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, or Materials Science preferred)
• Expertise in 8D Problem Solving, Six Sigma, and Root Cause Analysis.
• Strong understanding of Lithium-ion battery technology, high-voltage safety, and Battery Management Systems (BMS).
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams under high-pressure, "line-down" scenarios.
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification, or ASQ certification (CQE).
  

Technical Skills & Ford Systems:

• Quality Tools: Proficiency in FMEA, SPC, MSA, and APQP.

• Systems: Familiarity with Ford-specific quality systems (GSDB, AWS, CQIS) and PRT/ECB processes.

Analytical: 

• Ability to use statistical software (Minitab or JMP) to analyze warranty and production data.

  
  

Soft Skills:

• Customer Advocacy: A relentless focus on protecting the end-user and the Ford brand.
• Communication: Ability to translate complex technical battery failures into clear, actionable summaries for non-technical stakeholders.
• Influence: Ability to drive accountability across Design, Supplier Quality, and Production teams.
  

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 range of salary grades 6-8 and ranges from $74,300-$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.

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