Ford Racing Off-Road Performance Engineer

Ford Racing; Allen Park (MI); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount

Parental leave

Back-up child care

Employee resource groups

Job summary

Ford Racing is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Performance Engineer to support total vehicle optimization across off-road racing programs, with a primary focus on T1+ and Stock Trucks in global competition. This role will also contribute across Ford Racing platforms within the Performance Engineering Group.

The ideal candidate combines hands-on motorsports experience with strong data analysis skills and a passion for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics, suspension systems, dampers, tire behavior, powertrain integration, test methodology, and race-event strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of methodologies, tools, and processes to enhance performance across Ford’s racing programs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to align technical objectives with broader program goals.
• Take ownership of performance engineering activities for T1+ and Stock Truck platforms while supporting additional Ford Racing programs as needed.
• Help establish structured engineering processes that improve efficiency, repeatability, and competitive performance.
• Lead planning and execution of test activities including desert, proving ground, and lab testing.
• Analyze test and race data to identify opportunities in pace, consistency, drivability, reliability, and strategic execution.
• Support race-event engineering through setup recommendations, performance analysis, and race strategy development, including stage planning, tire pressure and fuel considerations, service planning, and terrain-specific decision support.
• Contribute to the development of performance models and simulation tools to improve decision-making and predict vehicle behavior across varied terrain and conditions.
• Identify and apply emerging technologies, analytical methods, and engineering practices that enhance race performance.
• Lead pre-event, in-event, and post-event strategy reviews by assessing pace across different terrains and operating conditions.

Skills

Vehicle dynamics

Suspension systems

Dampers

Tire behavior

Powertrain integration

Test methodology

Race-event strategy

Data acquisition

Data analysis

Performance modeling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Bosch WinDARAB

MoTeC i2

Atlas

Pi Cosworth

Dymola

VI Grade

CarSim

Canopy

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 seeking a highly motivated and experienced Performance Engineer to support total vehicle optimization across our off-road racing programs, with a primary focus on T1+ and Stock Trucks in global competition. This role will also contribute across Ford Racing platforms within the Performance Engineering Group.

You will work cross-functionally with engineering teams in vehicle dynamics, chassis, powertrain, aerodynamics, and electrical systems to optimize vehicle performance in some of the most demanding racing environments in the world. You will play a key role in translating technical capability into competitive results through vehicle integration, setup development, testing, simulation, race strategy, and event support.

The ideal candidate brings a strong engineering foundation, hands-on motorsports experience, and a passion for continuous improvement. This role requires both technical depth and the ability to collaborate effectively across a broad group of stakeholders to deliver race-winning performance, execution, and strategic decision-making.

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

What You'll Do...

Process & Integration

• Lead development and implementation of methodologies, tools, and processes to enhance performance across Ford’s racing programs
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to align technical objectives with broader program goals
• Take ownership of performance engineering activities for T1+ and Stock Truck platforms while supporting additional Ford Racing programs as needed
• Help establish structured engineering processes that improve efficiency, repeatability, and competitive performance

Performance Development

• Lead planning and execution of test activities including desert, proving ground, and lab testing
• Analyze test and race data to identify opportunities in pace, consistency, drivability, reliability, and strategic execution
• Support race-event engineering through setup recommendations, performance analysis, and race strategy development, including stage planning, tire pressure and fuel considerations, service planning, and terrain-specific decision support
• Contribute to the development of performance models and simulation tools to improve decision-making and predict vehicle behavior across varied terrain and conditions
• Identify and apply emerging technologies, analytical methods, and engineering practices that enhance race performance
• Lead pre-event, in-event, and post-event strategy reviews by assessing pace across different terrains and operating conditions

Communication & Collaboration

• Provide data-backed recommendations to improve vehicle and system performance
• Work closely with Vehicle Dynamics, Powertrain, Aerodynamics, and Program teams to ensure technical solutions are effectively integrated
• Collaborate with race operations, test teams, drivers, and co-drivers to convert feedback into actionable engineering direction and strategic recommendations
• Build strong working relationships across Ford technical teams to improve methods, tools, and outcomes across all racing programs
• Contribute to a high-performance team culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

You’ll have...

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in race engineering, performance engineering, off-road motorsports, or a related field which includes:
  • Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics, suspension systems, dampers, tire behavior, powertrain integration, test methodology, and race-event strategy.
  • Experience with vehicle setup and performance optimization in variable and demanding operating conditions.
  • Proficiency with data acquisition and analysis tools such as Bosch WinDarab, MoTeC i2, Atlas, Pi Cosworth, or similar.
  • Experience with simulation and modeling tools such as Dymola, VI Grade, CarSim, Canopy, or equivalent.

Even better, you may have...

• Experience in W2RC, Dakar, SCORE, Best in the Desert, Baja, NORRA, or other top-tier off-road series
• Experience supporting T1+, rally raid, desert racing, or production-based Stock Truck programs
• Demonstrated success managing complex technical projects across cross-functional teams
• Experience in high-performance team environments with demanding timing and execution requirements
• Strong understanding of durability, serviceability, and manufacturing considerations in motorsports applications
• Familiarity with Machine Learning and AI tools for performance analysis, modeling, process improvement, or race strategy support
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively across multiple functions and priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Passion for motorsports and a commitment to engineering excellence
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally for W2RC, Baja 1000, Mint 400, V2R, and King of the Hammers races, as well as scheduled test events. Travel may include weekends, extended periods away from home, and remote locations.

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.

Internal applicants: moving into this role may result in an adjustment to your current compensation based on the posted pay range for this role, taking into consideration your qualifications and other relevant factors.

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. #FR1