Senior Systems Engineer

Ford; Dearborn, Northern (MI, KY); On-site; USD 68,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision plans

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Ford is seeking a highly capable Systems Engineer to drive product excellence and system integration across vehicle programs. You will apply aerospace-caliber MBSE techniques to automotive development, managing the complete lifecycle from concept to deployment while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.

You will lead system architecture modeling, requirements cascade, and rigorous verification activities, collaborating with design, manufacturing, electrical, and purchasing teams to deliver

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field is required.
• 7+ years of experience in systems engineering or complex systems integration.
• Strong MBSE experience with SysML and modeling tools.
• Experience with MBSE, MBFMA, DFMEA, 8D, Six Sigma, and 3L5Y methodologies.
• Ability to lead cross-functional design and integration discussions.

Responsibilities

• Lead system architecture and modeling using SysML (MagicDraw).
• Define and cascade requirements from vehicle level to subsystems with traceability (ISO 26262).
• Perform trade studies to optimize cost, weight, performance, and manufacturability.
• Develop analytical models for electromechanical systems using MATLAB/Simulink; conduct MiL/HiL/RiL analyses.
• Drive MBFMAs (P-diagrams, DFMEAs, Fault Tree Analyses) and V&V activities.

Skills

MBSE

SysML

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering or related technical field

Tools

MagicDraw

Dassault 3DX

Catia V6

MATLAB

Simulink

LabVIEW

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 Systems Engineering team provides end-to-end, industrialized solutions encompassing the entire lifecycle of complex vehicle systems. From initial concept and requirements derivation through architecture design, integration, testing, and deployment, we ensure seamless coordination across multidisciplinary teams to deliver highly optimized, innovative, and safe vehicles.

We are seeking a highly capable and rigorous Systems Engineer to drive product excellence and system integration. In this role, you will apply aerospace-caliber systems engineering principles to automotive development, leveraging advanced Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) technologies to improve quality, reliability, and efficiency. You will manage the complete system lifecycle—acting as the central technical authority for system-level architecture, trade studies, optimization, and Model-Based Failure Mode Analysis (MBFMA). By combining deep technical expertise with a holistic, highly structured approach to system design, you will ensure that all functional, safety, and operational requirements are strictly met and validated.

What you’ll do...

• System Architecture & Modeling: Lead the development and maintenance of comprehensive system models using SysML (MagicDraw), including boundary diagrams, Use Case Diagrams, Behavior Diagrams, and detailed component interactions.

• Requirements Engineering: Define, decompose, and cascade realistic, balanced targets and functional requirements from the vehicle level down to hardware/software subsystem stakeholders, ensuring strict traceability and compliance with regulatory and safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262).

• Trade Studies & Optimization: Lead formal technical trade-off discussions and decision matrices within Systems Engineering Reviews to optimize solutions across cost, weight, performance, and manufacturability objectives. Develop and use Tradespaces, utility curves, and Design Structure Matrices

• Analytical Modeling & Simulation: Develop mathematical and analytical models for electromechanical systems (using free body diagrams, MATLAB, and Simulink) to conduct Model-in-the-Loop (MiL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL), and Requirements-in-the-Loop (RiL) analyses.

• Rigorous Failure Mode Analysis: Drive the development of robust MBFMAs including P-diagrams, DFMEAs, and Fault Tree Analyses. Utilize Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI assistants to enhance the speed, accuracy, and depth of failure mode identification.

• Verification & Validation (V&V): Ensure the on-time and rigorous execution of the Robustness Checklist process and secure necessary signoffs to minimize failure risks and guarantee part reliability under all operational conditions.

• Complex Problem Solving: Act as the primary engineering authority for cross-functional design and integration issues, applying advanced statistical methods and formal root-cause analysis frameworks (e.g., 8D, Six Sigma, 3L5Y) to identify and permanently resolve systemic issues.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Drive alignment across design, manufacturing, electrical, and purchasing teams, translating complex stakeholder constraints into clear, measurable system requirements.

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 $68,300-$114,800

This position is a salary grade 6 and ranges from $85,400-$143,200

This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $99,600-$166,600

This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $115,000-$192,900

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, visit https://fordcareers.co/GSR

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.

  #LI-JF1#LI-Hybrid #VehicleHardwareEngineering

You’ll have...

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.

• 7+ years of proven experience in systems engineering, architecture development, or complex systems integration (automotive, aerospace, or defense industries preferred).
• Demonstrated expertise in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and hands-on experience with SysML and modeling tools (e.g., MagicDraw, Dassault 3DX, Catia V6).
• Strong proficiency in analytical modeling and simulation tools (MATLAB, Simulink, LABVIEW, SIMSOLID).
• Deep understanding of the Systems Engineering V-model, requirements derivation, and structured engineering processes.
• Expertise in formal problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D, Six Sigma, 3L5Y) and statistical analysis.
• Exceptional analytical thinking, emotional resilience, and the ability to effectively negotiate and drive cross-functional trade-offs

Even better, you may have...

• Master’s degree in Systems Engineering or related field.
• INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional Certification (ASEP/CSEP) or OMG SysML Certification.
• Experience with functional safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262, ARP4754, or DO-178C).
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt Certification.
• Proven experience transitioning traditional document-based engineering processes into an industrialized, model-based environment.
• Familiarity with Ford-specific engineering tools and processes (TCe/FEDE, CAE/IPS, JIRA).