Prototype Engineering Design Manager

Ford Design; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 115,500 - 218,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount program

Flexible family care days

Job summary

Ford Design in Dearborn is seeking a Prototype Engineering Design Manager to lead a team in creating high-fidelity prototypes of future vehicles. This role requires strong experience in automotive design, leading complex projects, and collaboration with engineering and marketing teams.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or design and over 5 years of relevant experience. The position offers a hybrid work model and extensive benefits, including medical coverage and tuition assistance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in leading complex projects and teams.
• Deep understanding of automotive systems and subsystems.
• Experience with prototype manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team to design high-fidelity prototypes.
• Manage prototype build plans and deliver quality data on time.
• Collaborate with design and engineering teams.

Skills

Automotive engineering

Project management

Creative problem-solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelors degree in engineering or design

Tools

CAD software (Catia, Rhino, Alias)

PLM software (Teamcenter)

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.

In this position

As a Prototype Engineering Design Manager you will lead a team of product engineering designers to bring concepts to life in the form of functional high‑fidelity prototypes. Leveraging your expertise in automotive design and/or engineering 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 vehicle content and experiences. This role requires a deep understanding of automotive systems and subsystems, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage complex projects from conception to completion.

What you’ll do

• Lead a team to engineer / design prototypes which include:
  • 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 model armatures
• Support the development of prototype build plans, lead the team through delivering data on time and with quality
• Work collaboratively with design, engineering, marketing and program teams to align on scope of work, build timing and budget – managing those throughout the prototype build cycle
• Leverage background in automotive systems and subsystems to identify and document design and engineering feasibility concerns and support the identification of robust solutions
• Identify areas of opportunity and process efficiencies and action those as appropriate
• Stay updated with the latest industry trends and technologies to continuously improve prototypes

You’ll have

• Bachelors degree in engineering, design, or equivalent
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced and rapidly changing environment
• 5+ years of experience working in automotive engineering and/or design with a strong understanding of vehicle level systems and subsystems
• 5+ years of experience leading complex projects and project teams – leveraging program management tools as appropriate
• 5+ years of experience leveraging prototype manufacturing techniques to build high fidelity prototypes such as additive manufacturing (3D Printing), milling, fiberglass layups, clay modeling, etc.
• 5+ years of experience with design / PLM software such as Catia, 3DX, Teamcenter, Alias etc.
• 5+ years of experience working collaboratively with design, engineering, product marketing and program management
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to think creatively
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills

Even better, you may have

• Masters degree in design, engineering or equivalent
• 5+ years of experience in prototype software design and development, with a focus on prototyping and rapid iteration
• Fluent in various CAD software such as Catia, Rhino, Alias, etc.
• 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!

Benefits

• 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.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here

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. #DesignTeam