Manager - Paint and Trim

Ford-Motor-Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 218,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Ford Motor Company in Ford Design seeks a Design Fabrication Manager to lead a cross-functional team of prototype technologists, trim developers and vehicle paint technologists to bring concepts to life as high-fidelity prototypes. You will guide early-stage development of the next generation of Ford vehicles and experiences.

This leadership role requires deep automotive systems knowledge, strong people management, and the ability to navigate ambiguity while delivering prototypes on time and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, design, business or equivalent.
• At least 5 years leading teams in design, engineering or manufacturing.
• 10+ years experience in automotive engineering/design with vehicle systems understanding.
• 10+ years leading complex projects leveraging program management tools.
• 10+ years using prototype manufacturing techniques (3D printing, milling, fiberglass layups, clay modeling).
• Strong problem-solving and excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead Prototype Teams in Paint and Trim.
• Develop prototype build plans and manage workloads to deliver on time and quality.
• Mentor subordinates; support performance reviews and development plans.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, design, business or equivalent

Masters degree in engineering, design, business or equivalent

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.

Join us in shaping the future of Ford Motor Company, as part of a global organization with exceptional colleagues in world‑class facilities. As part of Ford Design, you’ll be at the cutting edge of Ford’s most strategically critical work, designing people and society’s needs into the heart of our next generation of products, services, and experiences.

As a manager in design fabrication, you will lead a strong, cross functional team of prototype technologists, trim developers and vehicle paint technologists to bring concepts to life in the form of high‑fidelity physical prototypes. Leveraging your expertise in automotive design/engineering and prototyping techniques you will have the opportunity to see the future of Ford firsthand and play a pivotal role in the early‑stage development of the next generation of Ford vehicles, content and experiences. This role requires a deep understanding of automotive systems and subsystems, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage a large, complex team to deliver physical prototypes on time and with quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Prototype Teams you will lead:
  • Paint
  • Trim
• Lead a team of prototype technologists to deliver high fidelity physical prototypes on time and with quality including
  • Show / Concept / Pre-Production vehicles
  • Interior and exterior systems (Ex: Lighting, Closures, Instruments Panels, Consoles, Seats)
  • Interior and exterior components (Ex: Buttons, nobs and switches)
  • Interior and exterior clay models
  • Color development for future model programs
  • Trim development for future model programs
  • Etc.
• Support the development of prototype build plans, lead the team through delivering prototypes on time and with quality - Plan and organize the workload and job assignments of subordinate personnel accordingly
• Recommend and implement training and development plans for subordinates. Assist leadership in the proper and effective implementation of personnel programs, including performance reviews, salary planning and employee counseling.
• Be comfortable with complexity—finding opportunities and clear paths in ambiguous environments. You’re comfortable facilitating senior stakeholder discussions
• Have strong people management and leadership skills to hire, develop, and inspire the creative team.
• Work collaboratively with design, engineering and marketing to align on scope of work, build timing and budget - managing your teams deliverables throughout the prototype build cycle
• Leverage knowledge of prototype technologies and build workflows - identify and document opportunity areas and process efficiencies and action those as appropriate
• Stay updated with the latest industry trends and technologies to continuously improve prototypes.
• Cultivate employee engagement and improve morale. Embody our culture and steward others in the direction of our shared values and ways of working inside the shops and with Ford. You have patience to mentor and coach others through difficult challenges and can serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders.

You’ll have…

• Bachelors degree in engineering, design, business or equivalent
• Ability to lead a team in a fast‑paced and rapidly changing environment
• 5+ years of experience managing teams within design, engineering or manufacturing, experience with trim development, paint development and application highly preferred
• 10+ years of experience working in automotive engineering and/or design with a strong understanding of vehicle level systems and subsystems
• 10+ years of experience leading complex projects and project teams – leveraging program management tools as appropriate
• 10+ years of experience leveraging prototype manufacturing techniques to build high fidelity prototypes such as additive manufacturing (3D Printing), milling, fiberglass layups, clay modeling, etc.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to think creatively.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Even better, you may have…

• Masters degree in engineering, design, business or equivalent
• Experience with machine learning, artificial intelligence, or other advanced technologies.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

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 $115,500-$218,100. 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. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.