Rear Closures Application Engineer

Job-ID: 72852Category: PD Operations and QualityLocation: Dearborn, MI, United StatesWorkplace: HybridSchedule: Full timePosted: 2026-10-23Preferred Degree: Master of EngineeringWe 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.In this position... The candidate will work with internal and external customers to develop competitive cost & weight efficient designs that meet all manufacturing and functional performance requirements- The candidate will work with internal and external suppliers to procure components and assemblies for verification/validation testing and execute the design validation plan- The candidate will lead on site build support and issue resolution for prototype, production pre-builds and production of responsible components and systems- In addition to future model programs, the candidate will deliver current model quality and cost improvementsQualificationsYou'll have...Minimum- BS Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering or a related field- 8+ years of professional experience in the Automotive or Aerospace industry (experience with hinged closures is preferred)- 5+ years of experience on rear closures systems for forward model vehicles with direct ownership of part engineering, system engineering, and part release to meet cost, weight, quality, functional performance, studio appearance, craftmanship, test validation, manufacturing feasibility, and launch timing requirements(e.g. tailgates, liftgates, swing gates, side doors, cargo doors, moveable roof systems)- Experience with sheet metal body structures, closures, stamping, static and/or dynamic sealing, power/gas struts, power drive units/motors, and hinges- Hands-on experience with \"in-house\" engineering, design, and release, as well as managing full-service supplier commodities, with on-time delivery at cost & quality targets.- Design and Release/Product Development Engineer/ Closures Commodity Subject Matter Expert experience- Ability to work overtime & travel to support launchesEven better, if you have ...Preferred- Experience interfacing with design studio on resolution of design issues related to Exterior Rear Closures system.- Experience leading peers via Design reviews to resolve part to part interface issues and deliver a successful system.- Experience solving current model quality issues and implementing corrective actions.- Ability to utilize and demonstrate System engineering disciplines and Design for Manufacturing principles to proactively solve issues.- Knowledge of craftsmanship expectations, benchmarking, and futuring.- Knowledge of automotive exterior components, including materials and manufacturing technologies, such as stamping, injection molding, extrusion, forging, casting, welding, riveting, etc.- Experience with bolted joint structures- Experience with Structural mechanics- Experience with hinge mechanism dynamics- Experience with Systems engineering- Working knowledge of FEA, DFMEA, Control Plan development, & Dimensional Variation Analysis- Ability to operate within CATIA/3DX environment, Teamcenter Engineering, and Digital Buck- CATIA/3DX ability to create simple parts, sections, and studies a plus- Capability with Microsoft Suite of products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've 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 builder…or 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• 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 • Generous vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day This position is a salary grade 5- 8 and ranges from $99,100-$166,200. Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's 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 status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io.This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid#VehicleHardwareEngineering #LI-KH2 ResponsibilitiesWhat you'll do... - The Product Development Engineer is responsible for managing product release CAD and BOM structures, including assembly positioning and mass attribute analysis. This role also includes facilitating supplier data integration and developing CAD studies to support and drive design improvements- The Product Development Engineer is expected to understand and effectively utilize product check-in/check-out processes, version control, data release, and change management within Ford's PLM ecosystem- The Product Development Engineer will perform feasibility analyses using CAD tools, including draft angle analysis, undercut detection, minimum bend radius validation for sheet metal, and clearance checks to support manufacturing and machining requirements- Additionally, the candidate will be responsible to engineer the required CAD and lead analytical and physical analysis to deliver a system that will meet all prescribed requirements- As the program matures, responsibilities will shift to product testing, delivering PSW, and launching within one of Ford's many assembly plants