Product Development Engineer – Transmission Systems

Ford; Livonia (MI); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Vehicle discount program

Job summary

Ford Motor Company in Livonia, MI, is seeking a Product Development Engineer to lead quality and cost optimization for front-wheel-drive hybrid and automatic transmissions. You will collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and service teams to address complex issues impacting customer satisfaction and business performance.

The role follows a hybrid model with onsite presence four days a week in Livonia, MI, and occasional travel to facilities and supplier sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Automotive Engineering or related field.
• 4+ years in transmission, driveline, powertrain, or automotive systems engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional quality improvement and warranty reduction initiatives for hybrid and automatic transmission systems.
• Analyze field performance trends and develop quality improvement actions.
• Develop cost-reduction strategies while maintaining product quality and customer satisfaction.
• Lead root-cause investigations and implement corrective actions to improve quality.

Skills

Project management

Data analysis

Problem solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Automotive Engineering

Master's degree in Mechanical/Systems Engineering

Tools

8D methodology

Six Sigma

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.

Product Development

uses design thinking & user experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that delight our customers. We bring innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life.We have opportunities around the world for you to contribute to advancements in autonomy, electrification, smart mobility technologies, and more!

In this position...
The Front Wheel Drive Transmission Systems team is seeking a Product Development Engineer to lead quality improvement and cost optimization initiatives for advanced hybrid and automatic transmission systems. This role provides the opportunity to work cross-functional with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and service teams to identify, investigate, and resolve complex vehicle and transmission issues that directly impact customer satisfaction and business performance.

What you'll do...

Lead cross-functional quality improvement, warranty reduction, and cost optimization initiatives for front-wheel-drive hybrid and automatic transmission systems.

Analyze early-life and long-term field performance trends and develop quality improvement actions.

Develop repair cost reduction strategies while maintaining customer satisfaction and product quality.

Lead component and system cost optimization initiatives while maintaining quality and customer satisfaction.

Develop and implement initiatives to reduce field repair frequency and improve product reliability.

Lead root-cause investigations and implement corrective actions that improve quality performance, reduce warranty spend, and lower product lifecycle costs.

Proactively identify emerging product concerns through data analysis, field investigations, and cross-functional collaboration.

Develop business cases, risk assessments, and implementation plans for high-priority quality and cost initiatives.

Provide warranty data analysis and field performance insights to support product development, quality, and service engineering activities.

Maintain project documentation including technical reports, 8D corrective action reports, and management summary materials.

Present project status, technical findings, and recommendations to engineering leadership and management teams.

This position follows a hybrid work model, requiring onsite presence four days per week (Monday through Thursday) in Livonia, Michigan.

Occasional travel to manufacturing facilities, supplier locations, and vehicle assembly plants may be required.

Key cross-functional partners include:

• Product Development Engineering
• Product Development Quality
• Powertrain Assembly Plants
• Vehicle Assembly Plants
• Service Engineering

You’ll have...

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
4+ years of experience in transmission, driveline, powertrain, or automotive systems engineering, with a strong understanding of systems engineering principles.
Even better, you may have...
Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Experience with automotive warranty analysis, field data, or quality improvement initiatives.
Knowledge of transmission or electrified powertrain systems.
Experience leading structured problem-solving efforts such as 8D, Six Sigma, Shainin, or similar methodologies.
Familiarity with manufacturing, service engineering, or customer quality processes.
Experience working with manufacturing, assembly plant operations, supplier quality, or vehicle launch activities.
Experience presenting technical findings to leadership and cross-functional teams.
Strong project management skills with the capability of managing multiple projects from inception to completion.
Ability to effectively lead and handle both strategic and tactical assignments in a timely manner.
Experience analyzing large datasets and identifying trends from warranty, manufacturing, test, or field performance data.
Demonstrated process discipline with strong problem solving and analytical skills.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in ambiguous environments and define solutions for new or emerging challenges.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

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 a salary grade 5 and ranges from $65,100-$109,300.

This position is a salary grade 6 and ranges from $74,300-$124,500.

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.

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 with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.