SET Leader

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.

At Ford, the Vehicle Hardware Engineering teams are using Design Thinking & User Experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that will delight our customers. Our employees are laser-focused on bringing innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. From autonomy and electrification to smart mobility technologies, our teams around the world are working together with excitement to make smart vehicles for a smart world.

This role will be at the helm of leading product development engineering of new vehicle lines. There are multiple engineers reporting directly to this position with primary focus to enable full systems integration, resulting in minimized part counts, complexity, labor hours, and service time. In this role, we will look for you to focus teams on Engineering First Principles to re-think Product Development, breaking from the traditional designs of the past.

You will be tasked with delivering breakthrough efficiencies and full lifecycle cost improvements. You will work with teams across Ford and serve as the Engineering leader of the designated SET zone to setup multiple new vehicle programs prior to hand-off to Vehicle Hardware Integration and Application Engineering teams.

• Pick-up trucks – box structure, tailgate system, hardware/locks/mechanisms, box top moldings, exterior trim, exterior lighting, electrical distribution system.
• SUV’s – liftgate system, backlite, rear wiper / washer system, exterior trim, rear exterior lighting, hardware/locks/mechanisms, dynamic sealing, interior liftgate trim, electrical distribution system, rear fascias.
• Manage SET zone, through Systems Design methodology, to identify and deliver cost / weight efficiencies, component part reductions, quality improvement, labor savings, and service efficiency.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Tier 1 suppliers and understand their technical capabilities.
• Champion trade-off discussions using data to balance targets for assigned SET zone and co-lead content and attribute proposals with Program Chief Engineering and Vehicle Engineering.
• Lead SET zone target setting, through extensive benchmarking and leverage Core Engineering team opportunities / technology.

• Collaborate with team members and external partners on packaging, weight, cost, labor, timing, and integration from a systems perspective according to assigned vehicle zone and content.
• Lead Systems Technical Design and Compatibility Reviews to optimize designs, resolve issues, and deliver all Program Milestones on-time / on-target. Often leading review with Ford leadership.
• Drive SET Adherence to Systems Engineering Operating Principles.
• Drive cross-functional issue resolution (including program, finance, quality, attribute, manufacturing, STA, studio, suppliers, etc.). Support escalation when needed.
• Collaborate with SET members and external partners for System Level Engineering Sign-Off and handover to Hardware Integration and Application Engineering teams.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering required.
• 5+ years of experience with one or more of the following systems: liftgate / tailgates, rear end exterior / interior trim, hardware/locks/mechanisms, rear lighting, rear fascias / bumpers.
• Design & Release Engineering, Systems Engineering or Vehicle Engineering experience is preferred.
• Capability to pull down CAD in CATIA v.5 or 3DX and create sections /…