Closures Systems Launch Engineer

Ford; Allen Park (MI); Hybrid; USD 133,000 - 251,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount program

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a Staff Closures Systems Engineer to lead design, development and integration of closure mechanisms for Advanced EV programs. You will own CAD/BOM, work with CAE results, and ensure doors, hoods and tailgates meet performance, safety and aesthetics.

This leadership role is hybrid, onsite most days, with collaboration across engineering, manufacturing and purchasing to deliver production-ready closures and manage supplier technical execution through vehicle launches.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• 3+ years owning components through a full production vehicle development cycle.
• 5+ years of automotive closures or mechanism engineering.
• 5+ years of CAD collaboration (3DX/CATIA preferred).
• Experience in moving mechanical system design and release.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical development and integration of closure systems (latches, hinges, handles).
• Serve as primary production-level engineer ensuring performance and durability.
• Support early-stage concept development with Studio Design for packaging compatibility.
• Integrate mechanisms into sheet metal environments with reinforcements and attachments.
• Interpret CAE results to optimize designs prior to prototyping.
• Own CAD and BOM for closure systems with GD&T.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing and purchasing on feasibility and serviceability.
• Manage supplier technical execution to meet Ford's quality standards.

Skills

Closure systems engineering

Mechanism engineering

CAD proficiency

Cross-functional collaboration

Production vehicle lifecycle

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

3DX/CATIA

NX

ICEM SURF

Alias

Job description

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.

Product Creation and Industrialization (PC&I) brings together Ford’s vehicle, electric, digital and design teams with our global manufacturing system. Working as one end-to-end organization, we turn ideas into high-quality vehicles, software and experiences across gas, hybrid and electric, designed around what customers need.

In this position...

The Staff Closures Systems Engineer will be a key member responsible for the design, development, and integration of closure mechanisms for Advanced EV development programs. This role spans the entire product lifecycle, from supporting early concept development and studio feasibility to leading production-level engineering and launch. You will focus on the complex world of moving parts—including door, hood, and tailgate latches, hinges, struts, and handles—ensuring these systems integrate seamlessly with sheet metal structures and meet all functional, safety, and aesthetic requirements.

What you'll do...

• Lead the mechanical development and integration of closure systems, including door latches, hinges, hood/tailgate hardware, struts, and exterior handles.
• Act as a primary individual contributor for production-level engineering, ensuring all components meet rigorous performance and durability standards for vehicle launch.
• Support early-stage concept development, working closely with Studio Design to ensure 'Class A' surfaces are compatible with mechanism kinematics and packaging requirements.
• Integrate complex mechanisms into sheet metal environments, providing technical expertise on reinforcements, attachment strategies, and material selection.
• Interpret and utilize CAE simulation results (kinematics, strength, and crash) to optimize designs and resolve integration issues before physical prototyping.
• Own the CAD and BOM for closure systems, delivering high-quality surface development, datum strategies, and comprehensive GD&T.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams within engineering, manufacturing, and purchasing to ensure system manufacturing, assembly feasibility, and serviceability. Support vehicle development milestones and prototype/production build events
• Manage supplier technical execution to ensure components meet Ford’s stringent quality and functional specifications.

You’ll have...

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 3+ years of experience owning components through a full production vehicle development cycle and launch.
• 5+ years of experience in automotive closures or mechanism engineering.
• 5+ years of experience utilizing CAD collaboratively (3DX or CATIA preferred; NX, ICEMSURF, or Alias considered).
• Demonstrated experience in the design and release of moving mechanical systems (latches, hinges, or actuators).

Even better, you may have...

• Expert Mechanical Fundamentals:Deep understanding of mechanism kinematics, linkages, and electromechanical integration (e.g., e-latches and powered closures).
• Materials & Manufacturing:Strong knowledge of sheet metal stamping, casting, and materials science to facilitate seamless integration of hardware into the vehicle body.
• CAE Literacy:Ability to leverage CAE tools to drive design decisions regarding mechanism stiffness, timing, and structural integrity.
• Regulatory Knowledge:Familiarity with global safety standards and FMVSS requirements related to door retention and closure systems.
• Craftsmanship:Strong understanding of GD&T and how mechanism tolerances impact vehicle-level gaps, flushes, and user perceived quality.
• Hands-on Approach:Experience in physical prototyping and a 'boots-on-the-ground' mentality during production build events.

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 leadership level 6 and ranges from $132,800-$250,800.

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 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. #LI-Hybrid

#LI-BB1 #UEV