Sensory Engineer

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 Electric Vehicles, Digital and Design (EVDD) team is charged with delivering the company’s vision of a fully electric transportation future. EVDD is customer-obsessed, entrepreneurial, and data-driven and is dedicated to delivering industry‑leading customer experience for electric vehicle buyers and owners. You’ll join an agile team of doers pioneering our EV future by working collaboratively, staying focused on only what matters, and delivering excellence day in and day out.

Join us to make positive change by helping build a better world where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.

This position will use your expertise to expand the scope of Craftsmanship and Sensory Experience (CSx) into new disciplines and across the entire vehicle development timeline. You will act as the voice of the customer for Color and Materials and Illumination attributes from product concept to production.

• Lead Perceived Quality evaluations for Color and Materials plus vehicle Illumination, assessing customer insight data, trends analysis, completing benchmarking and market spec assessments and generating targets and requirements to support your attribute.
• Develop the process for alignment of the Color and Material/Illumination specification on our vehicle projects, coordinating inputs from Color and Material Design, Studio Design, Marketing, Engineering and Programme, while also acting as the voice of the customer for Perceived Quality. Own the formal specification documentation which the whole team uses to understand the project intent.
• Lead the virtual phase development team to ‘build in’ Sensory Quality, ensuring that design solutions deliver best‑in‑class execution capability for all components including injection moldings, cut and sew, paint and films.
• In the launch phase, set the bar with respect to quality standards and requirements for Sensory Quality, ensuring that supplier‑sourced and internally produced components and assemblies meet the highest levels of competitiveness and world‑class standards.
• As components are nearing approval, engage closely with the color harmony process, defining and verifying requirements for our products, and collaborating with the Core Development and Manufacturing teams to uphold exacting standards of execution throughout production.

• Bachelor’s in Engineering, Product/Industrial/CMF/Automotive Design or a technical discipline or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 5+ years’ experience with Automotive Lighting, Design Quality, Mastering, Craftsmanship or Perceived Quality Standards at a global automotive company.
• Strong understanding of material and illumination impact on overall craftsmanship and perceived quality.
• Proven technical knowledge and ability to collaborate with engineering, design, manufacturing, and suppliers.
• Knowledge of various materials and decoration techniques (plastic, paint, leather/vinyl/fabrics, etc.).
• Knowledge of various lighting technologies used in automotive applications.
• Knowledge of texturing processes and applications.
• Knowledge of automotive components (interior/exterior) and relevant terminology.
• Willingness to travel 10‑20%.

• Experience with automotive product marketing or consumer research.
• Experience working in a manufacturing/production environment.

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp‑up programs, subsidized backup 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…