Product Development Engineer - Rear Axle Design & Release

In this position:

Join our team as a Design and Release Engineer for the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) Rear Axle. You will hold critical engineering responsibility for a leading drivetrain system within the industry, directly contributing to the superior performance and segment-defining capabilities of the Expedition and Navigator. We're actively developing exciting new designs, and your talent is essential to bringing these innovations to market.

The Opportunity:

As a Design & Release Engineer within the Underbody Systems Engineering (UnSE) organization, you will be the primary owner of the Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) Rear Axle for the iconic Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicle lines. This critical platform is exclusively built in our North American assembly plants, notably the Kentucky Truck Plant, with the axle assemblies manufactured at the Sterling Axle Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

You will be instrumental in bridging engineering design with manufacturing reality, directly collaborating with skilled engineering teams and operators at both assembly and component plants. This role involves optimizing existing designs for streamlined assembly and maximizing the performance our customers expect, while also spearheading new design implementations. You will also leverage our onsite dynamometer cells, actively supporting comprehensive testing, teardown, and in-depth analysis of axles to ensure program Design Verification Plans (DVPs) are met and technical issues are swiftly resolved.

At Ford, we are driven by a shared vision to move the world and shape the future. We embrace innovation, collaborate passionately, and contribute to something larger than ourselves every day. Are you ready to be a part of transforming mobility? Our Product Development team leverages design thinking and user experience methodologies to deliver breakthrough products and services that truly delight our customers.

We are committed to bringing innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life, with global opportunities to advance autonomy, electrification, smart mobility technologies, and more.

What you'll do...

* Lead the design, development, and release of innovative engineering solutions to significantly enhance the performance, efficiency, and durability of the IRS Rear Axle system

* Drive cross-functional collaboration with Design, Manufacturing, Quality, and other engineering teams to ensure seamless integration and successful implementation of new technologies and processes

* Manage and oversee rigorous testing and validation protocols, guaranteeing the highest levels of reliability, safety, and compliance for the IRS Rear Axle

* Conduct in-depth data analysis and provide critical technical insights to inform strategic product improvements and optimizations

* Maintain expert-level knowledge of the latest automotive industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory landscapes pertinent to axle systems

* Actively participate in and contribute to design reviews, technical meetings, and comprehensive project planning sessions

* Serve as a technical resource, leading the resolution of complex engineering issues and mentoring other team members

What you'll do...

* Lead the design, development, and release of innovative engineering solutions to significantly enhance the performance, efficiency, and durability of the IRS Rear Axle system

* Drive cross-functional collaboration with Design, Manufacturing, Quality, and other engineering teams to ensure seamless integration and successful implementation of new technologies and processes

* Manage and oversee rigorous testing and validation protocols, guaranteeing the highest levels of reliability, safety, and compliance for the IRS Rear Axle

* Conduct in-depth data analysis and provide critical technical insights to inform strategic product improvements and optimizations

* Maintain expert-level knowledge of the latest automotive industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory landscapes pertinent to axle systems

* Actively participate in and contribute to design reviews, technical meetings, and comprehensive project planning sessions

* Serve as a technical resource, leading the resolution of complex engineering issues and mentoring other team members