Heat Treatment Manufacturing Engineer (Ohio)

Ford Motor Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Parental leave & family care support

Vehicle discount program

Job summary

Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer focused on heat treatment and metallurgical processing equipment for gears and transmission components. You will own the full equipment lifecycle from specification to start-up and collaborate with suppliers and internal teams.

This role requires 5+ years in manufacturing engineering with ferrous metallurgical processing experience, RFQ/CAPEX budgeting, and delivering on cost, quality, and delivery targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical, Materials, Mechanical, Industrial/Production Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in manufacturing engineering with metallurgical background.
• High-volume, ferrous-based metallurgical processing experience (heat treatment, welding, surface treatments).
• Proven track record leading equipment acquisition, installation, and commissioning projects.
• Experience in supplier / technical procurement (RFQ) and CAPEX budget / schedule control.

Responsibilities

• Specify, procure, and qualify equipment / tooling for metallurgical processing (carburizing, vacuum, induction hardening, shot peening, laser welding, automation).
• Lead end-to-end equipment delivery: design, supplier runoff, shipment, installation, commissioning, and start-up at production facilities.
• Manage supplier / integrator contracts and ensure adherence to technical specs, deadlines, and safety requirements.
• Develop timing plans, identify deviations, and drive recovery actions.
• Coordinate manpower planning for installation and present status reports on cost, schedule, and quality.

Skills

Communication

Self-motivation

Ownership

Planning

Analytical

Willing to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical, Materials, Mechanical, Industrial/Production Engineering

5+ years in manufacturing engineering

Ferrous metallurgical processing experience

Experience with RFQ / CAPEX budgeting

Manufacturing plant experience

Tools

AutoCAD

Excel

Minitab

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.

As part of our Manufacturing team, you’ll help build the world-class, state-of-the-art smart vehicles we're known for. In our plants around the world, we’re constantly developing new technologies and processes to further increase our efficiency. You'll get the satisfaction of making great products people use and love.

This position provides an exciting opportunity to specify, procure, qualify, and implement equipment and processes for heat treatment and metallurgical processing (carburizing, vacuum carburizing, induction hardening, shot peening, laser welding, and automation) applied to gears and transmission / axle components. The role owns the full equipment lifecycle — from specification through installation and start-up — ensuring manufacturing feasibility, robust process design, and achievement of program cost, quality, and delivery targets.

What You'll Do

• Specify, procure, and qualify equipment / tooling for metallurgical processing (carburizing, vacuum, induction hardening, shot peening, laser welding, automation).
• Implement qualified machines and processes into manufacturing systems at powertrain plants.
• Drive continuous improvement and adoption of new technologies, materials, and methods in heat treatment.
• Lead the equipment acquisition process end-to-end: technical specification (RFQ), supplier evaluation / selection, and Purchase Requisitions — in partnership with Purchasing.
• Own full equipment delivery: design, supplier runoff, shipment, installation, commissioning, and start-up (power-on) at production facilities.
• Manage supplier / integrator contracts, ensuring adherence to technical specs, deadlines, and safety requirements.
• Hold financial ownership of the project: cost estimates, checkbook control, and PO tracking within authorized budgets.
• Develop and manage timing plans, identifying deviations and driving recovery actions.
• Ensure complete supplier documentation (manuals, drawings, spare parts lists, maintenance plans). Support process documentation (flow charts, PFMEA, DCP, process sheets, gauging instructions, control charts).
• Apply Failure Mode Avoidance tools (PFMEA, Control Plan, SCCAF, Error Proofing) to mitigate program risks.
• Develop standardized engineering solutions, ensuring ergonomics, safety, productivity, and process compliance.
• Support operating strategies (plant layout, spare parts, visual factory, scrap disposal) to improve quality and reduce cost.
• Act as main interface between engineering, suppliers (OEMs), plants, maintenance, and internal areas (purchasing, quality, safety, facilities).
• Partner with cross-functional teams and product design to meet program cost, quality, and delivery targets.
• Escalate technical / program issues with significant cost, schedule, or scope impact.
• Coordinate manpower planning to ensure skilled trades availability for installation.
• Prepare and present status reports and executive updates on cost, schedule, and quality indicators.
• This role requires frequent travel (~75%), most of them to Ohio (Cincinnati area), to stay there for all the week (Monday AM - Friday lunch).

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical, Materials, Mechanical, Industrial/Production Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years in manufacturing engineering, including metallurgical background.
• High-volume, ferrous-based metallurgical processing experience (heat treatment, welding, surface treatments).
• Proven track record leading equipment acquisition, installation, and commissioning projects.
• Experience in supplier / technical procurement (RFQ) and CAPEX budget / schedule control.
• Experience in a manufacturing plant environment.

Technical Knowledge

• Heat treatment processes: continuous / batch furnaces, controlled atmospheres, carburizing, hardenability.
• Vacuum carburizing experience is a plus.
• Gear machining and metrology knowledge.
• Computer skills: AutoCAD, Word, Excel, Minitab, statistical tools.

Skills & Behavioral Profile

• Strong written/verbal communication for executive audiences.
• Self-motivated, autonomous, with strong ownership of projects.
• Excellent planning and organization; able to manage multiple work streams.
• Analytical, data-driven, proactive problem solver.
• Effective in cross-functional, multicultural teams.
• Willing to travel during installation/commissioning phases.

Even better, you may have

• ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 familiarity.
• Automotive or powertrain/battery manufacturing experience.
• Materials Science (ferrous-based) or Mechanical Engineering background with metallurgical processing exposure.

VISA SPONSORSHIP IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION

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 7 and ranges from $86,600-$144,900.

This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $99,100-$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.

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 role is hybrid and requires onsite attendance four out of the five workdays a week.