Ford Racing Chassis and Advanced Systems Analytical Engineer

Socket.dev; Allen Park (MI); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Paid time off

Holidays

Tuition assistance

Employee discounts

Job summary

Ford Racing is seeking a Chassis and Advanced Systems engineer to develop high-performance models and CAE workflows. You will link requirements to CAE analyses, pursue robust model correlations, and support program targets through CAE-driven decision making.

The role is hybrid with four onsite days per week in Allen Park, MI, and involves working across tire modeling, controls, and advanced systems to push vehicle performance and reliability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Systems Engineering, or related field.
• 10 years of professional experience in automotive CAE (including MBD, NVH, FEA, or CFD).
• Experience with ADAMS, MotionView/Solve, CarSim, MATLAB/Simulink, DOE optimization tools (HEEDS, Hyperstudy), DiL systems.
• Knowledge of tire testing methods and standard vehicle dynamics tests.

Responsibilities

• MBD Model development for vehicle and subsystem models including chassis, controls, aero, tire, damper and powertrain systems.
• Vehicle Dynamics Test/CAE Correlation: define test methods, analyze data, and build correlated models for CAE environments.
• Vehicle Dynamics Program Support: set pre-program targets, cascade to subsystems, and define engineering roadmaps.
• CAE Optimization and Automation: apply DOE, regression analyses, and topology optimization tools to Ford Racing products.
• AI/ML applications to CAE: explore advanced tech for analysis, test data, and correlation.

Skills

MBD Modeling

Vehicle Dynamics

CAe Analysis

DOE Optimization

AI/ML in CAE

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

ADAMS

MotionView/Solve

CarSim

MATLAB/Simulink

DOE tools (HEEDS, Hyperstudy)

Abaqus

Nastran

Ansys

Star-CCM+

Job description

Racing is where our story began.

In 1901, Henry Ford climbed into a car he built himself—"Sweepstakes"—and beat America's most famous driver. He wasn't a racer, but he had to win. He did. Ford Motor Company was born from that victory.

That fighting spirit lives on in Ford Racing today. We're the engineers, strategists, and competitors who bring Ford's track-tested edge into every vehicle we build. Every track, every stage, every proving ground—that's where we prove ourselves.

The result: one of the world's most iconic brands, legendary nameplates, and a team unmatched in the industry.

Our mantra: Race to win, engineer to lead.

If you're a competitor, innovator, or performance obsessive, Ford Racing is where you belong. Help us write the next chapter.

In this position...

Ford Racing is looking for a Chassis and Advanced Systems engineer to work on some of the industry’s highest performing and most interesting cars and trucks. We need experienced, capable professionals passionate about developing comprehensive analytical tools that give us a competitive edge and correlate to the real world. In this position you’ll have the opportunity to work on everything from tire and ground modeling to advanced controls systems from requirements definition through vehicle test and development.

This role is hybrid and requires 4 days per week onsite in Allen Park, MI.

Responsibilities

What you'll do...

• MBD Model development: Build vehicle and subsystem models including chassis, controls, aero, tire, damper and powertrain systems for static and dynamic analyses. Models may be MBD or lumped parameter for use in offline, lap time simulation or DiL.
• Vehicle Dynamics Test/CAE Correlation:Work with Vehicle Dynamics, VEME, Chassis, VE and Racing teams to define test methods, collect and analyze data, and identify opportunities that build well correlated models for objective and subjective analytical environments. Develop and document best practices to define and refine the science of how to build correlated models for vehicle development.
• Vehicle Dynamics Program Support:Help create vehicle dynamics pre-program targets that define the product and ensure success. Collaborate with Vehicle Dynamics and Program teams to identify what targets to set, cascade them to subsytems and ensure an engineering roadmap exists so they can be evaluated through CAE analyses. Refine the process of target setting and definition for Ford Racing across a wide variety of production and racing vehicles to help enable others.
• CAE Optimization and Automation:Look for opportunities to apply holistic systems optimization tools (DOE, Regression analyses and tool creation, FEA Topology, multi-disciplinary opt tools, etc) and develop processes for Ford Racing products.
• AI/ML applications to CAE: Identify opportunities for application of advanced technology to analytical methods, test data and correlation.

Qualifications

You'll have...

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Systems Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• 10 years of professional experience in automotive CAE (including MBD, NVH, FEA, or CFD).
• Experience with ADAMS, MotionView/Solve, CarSim, MatLab/Simulink, DOE optimization tools (HEEDS, Hyperstudy etc.), DiL systems.
• Experience and knowledge of vehicle test methods such as K&C, Flat track tire testing for tire model creation, industry standard vehicle dynamics tests, and component testing.

Even better, you may have...

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Systems Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Proven expertise in project management methodologies, with a track record of leading complex, multi-disciplinary analytical simulation projects from concept to delivery.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to collaborate across global, multi-cultural engineering teams and present complex technical data to senior leadership.
• Deep understanding of suspension, steering, driveline, and transmission component physics.
• Familiarity with industry-standard CAE solvers (e.g., Abaqus, Nastran, Ansys, Adams, Star-CCM+) and CAD/PLM environments.
• Experience managing or directing work packages executed by global engineering service providers or offshore/LCC technical centers.
• Vehicle testing and development experience a plus. High-performance driving background including OE vehicle certification, racing and hands on instrumented testing highly desired.

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 salary grade 5 - 8 and 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.

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. #LI-Hybrid #FR1#LI-LC2