Product Development Engineer: Design & Release (Hybrid)

Ford; Allen Park (MI); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a Product Development Engineer (PDE) to lead assigned programs from concept through production launch.

The PDE serves as the primary engineering technical lead, coordinating with suppliers, Program Managers, Product Planners, Manufacturing, Design, Base Vehicle Engineering, Quality, and Purchasing to ensure safety, regulatory, and customer requirements are met and launches are timely.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Demonstrated experience in product development, engineering, design and release.
• Strong understanding of product development processes, engineering principles, vehicle systems, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to lead engineering projects and coordinate multiple programs, suppliers, and deliverables simultaneously.
• Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills with sound engineering judgment.
• Ability to interpret engineering requirements, CAD data, technical documentation, test results, and vehicle-level information.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
• Preferred: experience with WERS, CAD systems, vehicle modification centers, supplier development, or automotive accessory development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and prioritize engineering activities for assigned programs from concept through production launch, including accessories installed at vehicle plants, modification centers, and dealer facilities.
• Lead new-product discussions, design and technical reviews, issue-resolution activities, and weekly engineering project/status meetings; communicate status, risks, actions, and timing to leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Establish engineering priorities, monitor milestones, and ensure deliverables—including WERS releases—are completed on schedule to support on-time launches at designated facilities.
• Provide technical guidance to new engineers and demonstrate the full range of PDE responsibilities.
• Follow engineering department processes for efficiency, quality, and consistency, and support continuous improvement through AI and new technologies.
• Partner with Program Managers and Product Planners to assess new product opportunities, engineering assumptions, and feasibility, and to support product-line planning.
• Support business case development and the CFT process with engineering assessments, technical data, cost considerations, timing, and feasibility input.
• Review supplier CAD data, designs, engineering assumptions, packaging studies, environmental considerations, and validation plans.
• Provide CAD and Technical information needed to suppliers to support accessory development.
• Review Product Development Letters (PDLs) and base vehicle changes to identify model-year impacts on existing or future accessories.
• Work with Base Vehicle Design and Release Engineers to understand vehicle changes and ensure accessory compatibility.
• Develop accessory designs directly with suppliers; validate engineering data, resolve technical issues, and confirm products meet established requirements.
• Ensure designs address applicable safety, regulatory, functional, quality, durability, EMC, and vehicle integration requirements.
• Establish and maintain effective supplier relationships, provide clear engineering direction and expectations, and ensure alignment with ESOW requirements.
• Monitor supplier engineering performance and ensure required deliverables are completed according to program timing and quality expectations.
• Evaluate accessory fit, function, appearance, installation, and overall performance; provide analytical feedback from vehicle fit-ups, plant and modification-center evaluations, and field/dealer activities and issue product evaluation and installation reports.
• Support prototype and production fit-ups by coordinating vehicles, parts, work orders, and required engineering activities.
• Coordinate vehicle-level testing and validation with suppliers and appropriate Ford organizations; review and approve engineering documentation and validation evidence supporting product release, including required approvals and engineering sign-offs. FESO.
• Review, validate and approve accessory installation instructions and related customer/service documentation.
• Ensure accessories are properly validated for each applicable model year, incorporating any vehicle changes into development and release activities.
• Review warranty data and field information to identify trends, recurring issues, and improvement opportunities; lead technical investigations and corrective actions for engineering, quality, fit, function, and launch issues.
• Maintain engineering records and documentation throughout the product development cycle.

Skills

Lead engineering projects

Strong technical problem-solving

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

CAD data interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD systems

WERS

Job description

Ford Motor Company is seeking a Product Development Engineer (PDE) to lead assigned programs from concept through production launch.

The PDE serves as the primary engineering technical lead, coordinating with suppliers, Program Managers, Product Planners, Manufacturing, Design, Base Vehicle Engineering, Quality, and Purchasing to ensure safety, regulatory, and customer requirements are met and launches are timely.