Audio Control Module - Product Development Engineer

Socket.dev; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Onsite 4+ days per week

Job summary

Ford’s Electric Vehicles, Digital and Design (EVDD) team is seeking an engineer to develop and validate high-performance automotive audio components, including tuners and controllers, across platforms. You will collaborate with hardware, software, and suppliers to ensure seamless integration in next‑gen vehicles.

The role emphasizes hands-on design, testing, and documentation, with a focus on CAN/A2B communication, MATLAB/Python tools, and rigorous validation to meet performance standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• 1+ year of experience in the development, implementation, and maintenance of automotive audio amplifiers.
• 1+ year of experience with product development methodologies, including Agile, and development tools like Jira and Confluence.
• 1+ year of experience in integrating amplifiers into vehicle systems including knowledge of CAN and A2B and associated tools (e.g. CANoe).
• 1+ year of experience using simulation and analysis tools for amplifier development and evaluation including Python, with a solid understanding of audio signal processing and acoustic measurement techniques.

Responsibilities

• Play a key role in the technical specification, design, development, and validation of high-performance automotive AM, FM, HD, SiriusXM and DAB tuners and audio controllers, ensuring best-in-class performance from concept through production.
• Work closely with hardware engineers, software developers, and suppliers to integrate audio controller solutions into vehicle systems.
• Integrate audio controllers with other vehicle systems, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance.
• Manage a supplier through all aspects of the core design and release of the product including commercial kickoff, project timing and management, change control, platform readiness, DV, build support, issue resolution, software delivery, Production Validation and ongoing product support after launch.
• Perform initial audio system issue triage using CAN tools toward issue resolution with externally supplied ECUs (Audio Control Module and DSP amplifiers).
• Develop engineering documentation related to audio tuner and controller development, including system specifications, standards, Design FMEA and reliability methods, testing protocols, and validation results.
• Conduct rigorous testing and validation procedures to ensure the audio controller meets performance and operational standards.
• Collaborate with in-house SMEs for audio technologies, and provide corporate support for competitive assessments, troubleshooting, program delivery, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in audio technologies, automotive audio trends, and software development techniques to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge.

Skills

Automotive audio development

CAN / A2B protocols

Python for simulation

Audio signal processing

Agile development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Job description

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.

In-vehicle audio systems are critically important to the customer’s experience in our vehicles as Ford transitions from a manufacturer of vehicles to a producer of vehicles for the delivery of digital experiences and brand-enhancing services. This position will play an important role in that transition and in developing and delivering class-leading in-vehicle audio features, services, and customer experiences.

This role will be a key member of the team developing, integrating, and testing automotive audio control modules for current and future vehicles.

What you’ll do...

• Play a key role in the technical specification, design, development, and validation of high-performance automotive AM, FM, HD, SiriusXM and DAB tuners and audio controllers, ensuring best-in-class performance from concept through production.

• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders, including hardware engineers, software developers, and suppliers, to integrate audio controller solutions seamlessly into vehicle systems.

• Play a key role in the integration of audio controllers with other vehicle systems, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance.

• Manage a supplier through all aspects of the core design and release of the product including commercial kickoff, project timing and management, change control, platform readiness, DV, build support, issue resolution, software delivery, Production Validation and ongoing product support after launch.

• Perform initial audio system issue triage using CAN tools to work toward issue resolution (Launching and Forward Models) with a focused responsibility on the externally supplied ECUs (Audio Control Module and DSP amplifiers)

• Develop engineering documentation related to audio tuner and controller development, including system specifications, standards, Design FMEA and reliability methods, testing protocols, and validation results.

• Conduct rigorous testing and validation procedures to ensure the audio controller meets all performance and operational standards.

• Collaborate with in-house subject matter experts for audio technologies, and provide corporate support for competitive assessments, troubleshooting, program delivery, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in audio technologies, automotive audio trends, and software development techniques to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge.

You’ll have...

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.

• 1+ year of experience in the development, implementation, and maintenance of automotive audio amplifiers.

• 1+ year of experience with product development methodologies, including Agile, and development tools like Jira and Confluence.

• 1+ year of experience in integrating amplifiers into vehicle systems including knowledge of automotive communication protocols such as CAN and A2B and associated tools (e.g. CANoe).

• 1+ year of experience using simulation and analysis tools for amplifier development and evaluation including Python, with a solid understanding of audio signal processing and acoustic measurement techniques.

Even better, you may have...

• Master’s degree Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.

• Passion for automotive audio systems, particularly audio amplifiers and audio software.

• Excellent teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and project management skills.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced and collaborative team environment.

• Willingness to travel as needed to train and support model engineering teams.

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

Flexible family care days, 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

A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day

Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is a range of salary grades 5-8 and ranges from $68,300-$192,900.

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.

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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