Product Development Engineer- Thermal Systems Attribute

Ford Motor Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 167,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Paid parental leave

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid holidays

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a Thermal Attribute Engineer for the F-150 5.0L to integrate hardware and software interactions across propulsion, battery, and climate control systems. The role manages wind tunnel and road tests to close thermal gaps early in development and to ensure milestones are met with cabin comfort in focus.

Responsibilities include modeling with CAE tools, coordinating tests, and delivering robust climate performance.

Qualifications

• Solid foundation in climate control refrigerant and air handling interactions with vehicle subsystems.
• Hands-on experience in vehicle level attribute development or testing.
• CAD familiarity for vehicle architecture and integration.
• Understanding of ICE/xEV vehicle systems and calibration methods.

Responsibilities

• Sign-off overall vehicle thermal system via wind tunnel testing and road development.
• Collaborate with propulsion and climate teams to calibrate climate control parameters.
• Develop calibration with Dual Automatic Temperature Control in mind.
• Analyze test data to verify thermal performance and reliability.
• Coordinate wind tunnel and road testing to meet program milestones.
• Document lessons learned and support CAE tool usage.

Skills

Thermal systems

Climate control

Vehicle testing

CAD

ICE/xEV interactions

Education

B.S. in Electrical/Mechanical Eng

M.S. in Electrical/Mechanical Eng (bonus)

Tools

CANoe

CANalyzer

CANape

ATI

Automotive Ethernet

Job description

In this position...

A dedicated Thermal Attribute Engineer for F-150 5.0L is required to integrate and validate hardware and software interactions across our propulsion, battery, and climate control systems. This role is essential for managing and running critical wind tunnel and road tests to resolve thermal performance gaps early in the development cycle. Securing this position will ensure key program milestones delivery and ensure the vehicle delivers on its thermal and cabin comfort targets.

In this position...

A dedicated Thermal Attribute Engineer for F-150 5.0L is required to integrate and validate hardware and software interactions across our propulsion, battery, and climate control systems. This role is essential for managing and running critical wind tunnel and road tests to resolve thermal performance gaps early in the development cycle. Securing this position will ensure key program milestones delivery and ensure the vehicle delivers on its thermal and cabin comfort targets.

What You’ll Do...

• Responsible for overall vehicle thermal system sign-off including Wind Tunnel Testing and Road Development
• Work with the propulsion (ICE/xEV) teams to develop key parameters of calibration as it relates to Climate Control
• Work with Dual Automatic Temperature Control team on calibration development
• Work with hardware teams to ensure components and sub-systems meets requirements to deliver expected climate performance
• Analyze test data to ensure vehicle is exhibiting expected behavior and passing all requirements
• Troubleshoot any short falls in performance and propose solutions
• Document/incorporate lessons learned
• Understand and apply Thermal/Cabin System CAE tools (i.e. A/C, Heater, and battery thermal simulations)
• Coordinate Vehicle testing to support Program Timing Milestones
• Plan and Execute Vehicle Wind Tunnel testing and Supplier data analysis
• Plan and Execute Vehicle Road Trip testing
• Ensure all the climate control comfort strategies are implemented in programs as applicable
• Can speak with confidence and authority but is humble and collaborative in leading a technical review and debate.

You’ll have...

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related degree
• 1+ years of experience in hands on vehicle level attribute development or vehicle testing
• Clear understanding of entire Climate Control refrigerant and Air Handling systems and how they interact with vehicle subsystems
• Basic CAD understanding for vehicle architecture
• Must understand interactions with ICE/xEV vehicle systems

Even better, you may have..

• M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related degree
• 3+ years’ experience in automotive climate control including Dual Automatic Temperature Control and heat pump systems
• Familiar with powertrain calibration methods and tools
• Familiar with software integration test tools (i.e. CANoe, CANalyzer, CANape, ATI)
• Familiar with automotive communication standards (i.e. CAN/CAN-FD/Automotive Ethernet)
• Knowledge of Ford engineering processes and systems (i.e. GPDS)

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 $68,300-$166,600.

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.