Vehicle Structures Architecture 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.

In this position...

Currently, we are seeking a Vehicle Structures Architecture Engineer candidate for our Dearborn, Michigan location that has a technical background in Body-in-White (BIW) Structures, with a focus on Tophat sheet metal development.

The importance of flexible architecture has grown significantly due to the need for cost-efficient, lightweight vehicles. These cater to a variety of occupancy & propulsion systems, all while derived through accelerated program timelines.

Development of robust design solutions for steel, aluminum and mixed materials including critical joining elements are required. Robust solutions include proper definition of structural load paths, stamping feasibility enablers, system efficiencies through part complexity reduction technologies, critical fixed & variable parameters in Top Hat execution, all while meeting stringent durability and attribute requirements to balance customer expectations, cost, vehicle range or fuel economy.

Collaboration with Vehicle Hardware Engineering (VHE), Flexible Vehicle Architecture teams, Advanced Manufacturing, and Program Strategy & Planning organizations is vital to ensure compatible architecture designs with process assumptions.

Recognized expertise, demonstrated leadership behaviors, and technical maturity within Top Hat Structures is critical for this role, and the expected successful business delivery.

• Develop new sheet metal Top hat BIW architectures with a focus on bodyside and roof development. Use real-world knowledge of customer usage that aligns with advanced manufacturing and product cycle plan requirements.
• Parts you develop could apply to all vehicle types: Unibody and Body-on-Frame, steel and aluminum, Truck, SUV, and Sedan, Internal Combustion, light EV / FHEV, heavy EV PHEV & BEV
• Collaborate extensively with Safety, Research, Manufacturing, Closures, Platform Structures, Materials Engineering, and Vehicle Program Teams to develop efficient and feasible BIW solutions in support of our Quality and Cost efficiency corporate objectives.
• Create Catia (V5 / 3DX) sheet metal studies and proposals to review with affected teams
• Maintain a thorough knowledge of new and critical competitive benchmarks to fully understand Best-in-Class designs and develop advanced projects to ensure Ford supersedes existing Top Hat architectures.
• Validation and optimization of standard and mixed-metal joint designs in BIW architectures.
• Close cooperation with Safety and CAE teams for the development of new architectures, as well as adaptation and optimization of existing platforms.
• Work closely with Studio Engineering to ensure designs are evocative, cost competitive, and feasible to manufacture.
• Development of new lightweight designs including stamping of new materials, Aluminum High Pressure Die Casting, Plastic-Metal Hybrids, Multi-Piece-Integration (MPI) technologies, and new material grades of aluminum and steel sheet materials.
• Deliver a robust hand-off to Applications Structures Engineering for seamless progression toward optimization, without revolution of architecture designs.
• Use AI to improve development efficiency, development time, reduce cost, while improving quality.

Minimum Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline (required).
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in Tophat or Platform Body Structure sheet metal or Closures sheet metal product development, on program timelines, including validation (virtual and prototype builds), and industrialization (launch) experience.
• Experience with Advanced Technology development – particularly in body structure.
• Candidate has the ability to perform feasibility analyses using CAD tools, including master section development, draft angle analysis, undercut / die lock detection, minimum bend radius validation for sheet metal, and clearance checks to support manufacturing requirements.
• Working knowledge and experience with Engineering toolsets to derive, communicate, and publish 3D surfaces via Catia V5/TeamCenter Engineering and/or Catia V6/3DX.

Preferred
• Master of Science degree in Engineering preferred.
• 5+ Body Engineering Design and Release experience in Body Structures strongly.
• Expert level Catia V5 or 3DX.
• Strong skillset in Systems interaction and integration with Closures, Safety, Studio / Class-A development, Exterior Ornamentation, Durability / NVH, Purchasing / Costing preferred.
• Strong written/verbal communication skills, with demonstrated successes in technical presentations.
• Demonstrated track record of strong Leadership Behaviors.

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 through 8. Ranges from $65,100-$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: https://fordcareers.co/GSR

Visa 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 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.

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