Exterior Lighting Engineer

Job-: PD Operations and Quality

Location:

Dearborn, MI, United States Workplace:
Hybrid

Schedule:

Full time Posted:
Closes:
Preferred Degree:
Bachelor of Engineering 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...The Ford Exterior Lighting Engineer role is intended for an experienced automotive lighting Design & Release engineer who can independently lead exterior lighting systems from early concept through production launch. The role requires deep working knowledge of lamp design, CAD/package development, requirements cascade, supplier execution, validation planning, tooling readiness, production release, and launch issue resolution. This engineer will lead cross-functional execution with lighting suppliers, optics, studio, software, electrical, purchasing, manufacturing, supplier technical assistance, and quality teams while balancing performance, craftsmanship, cost, weight, timing, and regulatory compliance.

Our ideal candidate is an experienced, hands-on exterior lighting engineer who can quickly contribute with limited ramp-up time. This candidate should be comfortable developing preliminary CAD concepts, assessing design feasibility, driving supplier design convergence, identifying risks early, and making sound engineering decisions across mechanical, optical, electrical, software, manufacturing, validation, and quality interfaces. The candidate must demonstrate strong ownership, technical judgment, communication, and program leadership skills.

This role is intended for an experienced engineer who can contribute quickly in a Design & Release environment.

The right candidate will bring practical exterior lighting experience, strong technical ownership, and the ability to work effectively with suppliers and cross-functional teams.

Qualifications You'll have...

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or related field5+ years of professional automotive exterior lighting engineering experience, including direct responsibility for production-intent lamp systems, components, or features.

Demonstrated CAD design capability for preliminary design work, package studies, section development, etc. Experience leading exterior lighting development across key program milestones.

Experience with DFMEA, DVP&R, design reviews, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and engineering change management

Ability to lead suppliers and cross-functional teams with clear communication, technical ownership, and timing discipline

Ability to evaluate design tradeoffs and resolve technical issues using data-driven engineering judgment

Appropriate for an experienced-hire role with limited ramp-up time required

Even better, if you have …Preferred Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Optical, or Software Engineering Master’s Degree or other Advanced Degree Direct experience with the engineering design and release of exterior lighting components such as headlamps, rear lamps, CHMSL, light bars, reflectors, bezels, lenses, housings, electronics modules, or lamp-level wire harnesses

Familiarity with Design For Six Sigma process

Experience with DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effect Analysis), GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing), and ISO standards

Experience with CATIA, Teamcenter/TCE, 3DX, WERS, FEDEBOM, or similar automotive CAD, release, and BOM management systems

Knowledge of plastic materials, plastic injection molding, optics, basic electrical/electronic circuitry, software, lamp manufacturing processes, tooling, fixture design and product validation

Knowledge of exterior lighting performance attributes including photometry, lit appearance, condensation, thermal management, EMC, electronics/software interfaces, aiming, serviceability, craftsmanship, and perceived quality

Knowledge of global lighting regulations

Prior experience supporting prototype builds, plant launch, PPAP, safe launch, warranty/quality…