Senior Hardware Manufacturing Test Engineer

Ford; Long Beach (CA); Hybrid; USD 135,420 - 226,980; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off & holidays

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount program

Employee resource groups

Parental leave & family care support

Professional development

Job summary

Ford is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Hardware Test Engineer to lead end‑of‑line test systems for electronic and electromechanical products. You will own test strategy from early development through high‑volume production, driving improvements in test coverage, equipment reliability, and yield.

The Senior Engineer operates with autonomy, provides technical leadership across cross‑functional teams, mentors junior engineers, and contributes to manufacturing readiness reviews and NPI.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering.
• 5+ years in manufacturing test engineering or hardware validation.
• Strong understanding of industrial automation, PLCs, and test instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Design, architecture, and development of robust EOL test systems.
• Own end-to-end test strategy and diagnostic capability.
• Lead integration with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Install, commission, and validate test stations on the floor.
• Develop standardized test methodologies and calibration strategies.
• Troubleshoot complex hardware and software failures to improve OEE.
• Analyze test data to reduce false failures and improve yield.
• Ensure safety, regulatory, and quality compliance.
• Collaborate with Design, Manufacturing, Quality and Operations.
• Mentor Associate and mid-level Test Engineers and guide NPI/DFT.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

LabVIEW

Python

CANoe

Job description

We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we’re all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves?
Ford’s Electric Vehicles, Digital and Design (EVDD) team is charged with delivering the company’s vision of a fully electric transportation future. EVDD is customer-obsessed, entrepreneurial, and data-driven and is dedicated to delivering industry-leading customer experience for electric vehicle buyers and owners. You’ll join an agile team of doers pioneering our EV future by working collaboratively, staying focused on only what matters, and delivering excellence day in and day out. Join us to make positive change by helping build a better world where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.

In this position...
We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Manufacturing Hardware Test Engineer to lead the architecture, development, and deployment of end‑of‑line (EOL) manufacturing test systems for electronic and electromechanical products. This role owns test strategy from early product development through high‑volume production and drives continuous improvement in test coverage, equipment reliability, and manufacturing yield.

The Senior Engineer is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, provide technical leadership across cross‑functional teams, mentor junior engineers, and act as a key contributor in manufacturing readiness reviews and new product introductions (NPI). This role can be based in either our Long Beach, CA or Allen Park, MI offices.

What you'll do

• Lead the design, architecture, and development of robust EOL test systems for complex electronic and electromechanical assemblies, ensuring scalability and reliability for high‑volume manufacturing.
• Own end‑to‑end test strategy including test coverage definition, fault isolation, and diagnostic capability to meet quality, cost, and throughput targets.
• Serve as the technical focal point for test equipment suppliers and internal stakeholders, guiding specifications, design reviews, supplier selection, and acceptance testing.
• Drive installation, commissioning, and validation of test stations on the manufacturing floor, including site readiness, prove‑out, and production handoff.
• Develop and enforce standardized test methodologies, documentation practices, and calibration strategies across manufacturing programs.
• Lead advanced troubleshooting of complex hardware, software, and system‑level test failures, minimizing downtime and improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Analyze large‑scale test data to identify systemic issues, reduce false failures, improve yield, and influence product and process design decisions.
• Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, quality, and industry standards, acting as a subject‑matter expert during audits and reviews.
• Partner closely with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations to ensure products are manufacturable and testable.
• Mentor and technically guide Associate and mid‑level Test Engineers, providing design feedback, best practices, and career development support.
• Support NPI and design‑for‑test (DFT) initiatives, proactively identifying risks and driving corrective actions before production launch.

Travel 50% of the time may be required in this role.

You’ll have

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing test engineering, hardware validation, or end‑of‑line test system development.
• Strong understanding in industrial automation, PLCs, and test instrumentation, with hands‑on experience using tools such as NI LabVIEW, Python, CANoe, or equivalent.
• Proven ability to design and deploy complex test systems in high‑volume manufacturing environments.
• Advanced understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to read, create, and review electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and mechanical drawings.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to independently drive projects, manage competing priorities, and influence technical decisions.

Even better, you may have

• Experience in automotive, aerospace, or other regulated high‑reliability industries.
• Deep knowledge of MES integration, test data management systems, and traceability requirements.
• Experience applying Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies to test operations.
• Background in equipment validation, GR&R, PFMEA, and control plan development.
• Familiarity with design‑for‑manufacturing (DFM) and design‑for‑test (DFT) best practices.
• Prior experience leading supplier technical engagements and cross‑site manufacturing deployments.

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 8 and ranges from $135,420-226,980.

Visa sponsorship is 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.