Product Development Engineer Hatches, Locks & Mechanisms

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In this position...
The HLM (Handles Locks and Mechanisms) Design and Release Engineer leads the design validation release and production implementation of closure hardware systems handles latches locks strikers hinges door checks and the manual and powered mechanisms used in hoods front trunks (frunks) side doors tailgates liftgates and decklids. These are safety-critical high-cycle systems: they restrain occupants in a crash resist theft and environmental attack and must operate cleanly hundreds of thousands of times over a vehicles life.

You will own the complete product lifecycle concept development and design feasibility Design Validation (DV) Product Validation (PV) Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) manufacturing launch and ongoing production support. Throughout you will establish and document compliance with performance safety durability and quality targets; with applicable global closure safety regulations; and with emerging emergency-egress expectations for electronic latch and flush handle systems on electrified and software-defined vehicles.

Working closely with Body Engineering Design Studio CAE Manufacturing Quality Purchasing and supplier partners you will resolve technical challenges implement engineering changes and deliver closure systems that meet program objectives for quality cost mass and timing. You will balance competing constraints styling intent packaging envelopes craftsmanship targets such as closing efforts and door-close sound quality and manufacturing feasibility to land a design that works in the studio in the plant and in the customers hands.

Beyond launch you will drive continuous product improvement: analyzing warranty and field data resolving customer-facing issues increasing reliability and durability and optimizing system cost and mass. Your decisions show up in Fords quality metrics in assembly plant throughput and ultimately in whether a customers door opens exactly the same way in year ten as it did on day one.

Design & Development

• Lead HLM system design development and integration with cross-functional teams and suppliers delivering closure hardware that meets program targets for quality performance safety cost mass and timing.

• Apply the Global Product Development System (GPDS) to plan schedule and execute engineering deliverables and milestone commitments across every phase of the product development lifecycle.

• Evaluate package and validate all HLM component and vehicle-level interfaces including mechatronic content such as powered and flush handles e-latches cinching latches and power liftgate and frunk systems.

• Perform review and approve technical analyses including GD&T stack-ups dimensional studies packaging assessments mechanism kinematics load and effort calculations and CAE evaluations of strength and durability.

• Review and approve CAD models drawings and supplier design data for compliance with Ford design standards corporate specifications craftsmanship targets and program-specific requirements prior to release.

• Identify and drive functionality reliability cost and mass optimization opportunities through competitive benchmarking teardown analysis VAVE studies and application of lessons learned from prior programs.

Release & Documentation

• Release and manage engineering parts Bills of Material (BOMs) and engineering changes through Ford release systems (WERS FEDEBOM Teamcenter/3DX) maintaining accurate structure and mass properties throughout the lifecycle.

• Develop and maintain core engineering documentation including DFMEAs SCCAFs Boundary Diagrams P-Diagrams DVP&Rs Engineering Statements of Work (ESOW) and verification records supporting program milestone deliverables.

• Compile document approve and present evidence of compliance to applicable engineering requirements corporate design rules and safety and regulatory standards supporting certification and homologation reviews.

• Assess Product Development Letter (PDL) revisions and other program direction changes determining technical impact cost and timing implications and the actions required to maintain program commitments.

Validation & Quality

• Define validation durability and functional test requirements per System Design Specifications (SDS) Engineering Specifications (ES) and DVP covering slam durability environmental exposure closing efforts security and emergency-release performance.

• Define procure and validate engineering prototype requirements at the component and system level supporting build events vehicle-level evaluations and design confirmation ahead of formal validation gateways.

• Lead Technical Design Reviews and Failure Mode Avoidance activities driving design robustness manufacturing readiness and closure of open technical risks ahead of each program gateway.

• Apply structured problem-solving methods including Global 8D 3x5 Why and Six Sigma to identify root causes implement permanent corrective actions and capture findings in design standards.

Launch & Supplier Engagement

• Lead part implementation and sign-off at assembly plants supporting build events tooling and fixture readiness operator feedback and issue resolution through every milestone to launch.

• Support sourcing activities including SOBA ED&T (Engineering Design & Testing) reviews supplier technical assessments quoting and piece and tooling cost evaluations against program cost objectives.

• Partner with Supplier Technical Assistance (STA) on supplier capability reviews process sign-off capacity verification Phased PPAP progression and launch readiness at supplier manufacturing facilities.

Post-Launch & Current Model Support

• Monitor production and field performance using warranty quality survey and field return data diagnosing customer-facing concerns and quantifying their impact on quality metrics and cost.

• Implement running design changes and permanent corrective actions after Start of Production partnering with assembly plants Service Engineering and suppliers to contain root-cause and resolve issues.

Collaboration & Communication

• Create and present technical reviews design assessments risk summaries and recommendations to peers cross-functional stakeholders and engineering leadership to drive alignment and timely decisions.

• Partner with global engineering manufacturing quality purchasing electrical and software and supplier organizations across regions and time zones demonstrating the Ford Behaviors.

Work Conditions

• This is an on-site position requiring five days per week at the Ford Product Development Center in Dearborn Michigan with regular presence across the surrounding Ford campus and facilities.

• Occasional domestic and international travel is required to supplier manufacturing and test facilities and North American assembly plants supporting development validation launch and quality issue resolution.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelors degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.

• 2 years of engineering experience in the design development validation or launch of mechanical products or systems. Relevant co-op and internship experience counts toward this requirement.

• Experience in one or more of the following areas:

  • Automotive latching or closure systems

  • Automotive Design & Release (D&R) or product engineering in body structure systems

  • Seat structures and seating mechanisms

  • Aerospace mechanical systems such as landing gear or actuation systems

  • Agricultural construction industrial or oil and gas mechanisms

  • Heavy-duty vehicle mechanical systems

• Proficiency with CAD and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools such as CATIA Teamcenter 3DEXPERIENCE (3DX) or equivalent.

• Experience managing product releases CAD data and Bill of Material (BOM) structures including assembly positioning mass properties and change control.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel Word PowerPoint Teams and SharePoint.

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• Masters degree (MEng or MS) in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline with coursework or research in mechanism design machine design structures or dynamics.

Domain Experience

• Experience with the design and release of latching mechanisms closure systems or related mechanical applications such as seating systems and seat structures.

• Working knowledge of closure safety regulations including child-safety lock and emergency egress requirements.

• Experience with mechatronic and software-integrated mechanical products including e-latch redundancy and backup-power strategies.

• Working knowledge of materials engineering manufacturing processes dimensional management and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).

Tools Methods & Process

• Experience developing and applying DFMEAs PFMEAs SCCAFs (Special Characteristics Communication and Agreement Forms) Boundary Diagrams and P-Diagrams.

• Working knowledge of the Phased PPAP process and production launch requirements.

• Experience with CAE tools variation simulation and tolerance-analysis tools such as VisVSA or 3DCS and engineering analysis methodologies.

• Experience supporting supplier data integration and developing CAD studies that drive product design improvement.

• Working knowledge of statistical analysis methods and data-driven decision making.

Ways of Working

• Demonstrated ability to solve complex system-level issues involving multiple technical interfaces and competing requirements.

• Ability to thrive in an evolving development environment where vehicle targets packaging constraints styling direction and manufacturing locations may shift across the program lifecycle.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills including the ability to present technical information to cross-functional teams and leadership.

If you have built validated or launched complex mechanical systems in automotive closures seating aerospace industrial agricultural or heavy-duty equipment we want to hear from you. We hire for mechanism engineering judgment and we will teach you the rest.

You may not check every box or your experience may look a little different from what weve 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 builderor 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 Years Day
Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is a salary grade 5 to a salary grade 8. Salaries can range from $65100-$166200.
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidates 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: 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 the United States if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability please call 1-.
This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid
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