SET Leader

Ford; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 218,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking an experienced Systems Engineering leader to drive multi-vehicle program teams in a hybrid on-site environment. You will oversee system integration across vehicle zones, lead design reviews, and collaborate with suppliers to deliver cost and weight efficiencies while meeting program milestones.

The role emphasizes strong leadership, data-driven decision making, and a deep understanding of Systems Engineering fundamentals to enable breakthrough lifecycle cost

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering required.
• 5+ years of experience in one or more of the listed systems.
• Ability to pull down CAD in CATIA v.5 or 3DX and create sections/take measurements.
• Fluent in English (speaking and writing).
• Onsite collaboration required for at least 4 days per week.

Responsibilities

• Identify and deliver cost/weight efficiencies, part reductions, quality improvements, labor savings, and service efficiency.
• Develop relationships with Tier 1 suppliers and assess their capabilities.
• Lead trade-off discussions using data with program leadership.
• Lead target setting through benchmarking and core engineering opportunities.
• Collaborate across teams on packaging, weight, cost, labor, timing, and integration.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Leadership

CATIA v.5

3DX

Teamcenter

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's in Systems Engineering

Tools

CATIA v.5

3DX

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.

In this position... A System Engineering Team (SET) acts as single point of contact between Functional Engineering and the program team, ensuring and coordinating functional support and assisting functional teams in any way possible to remove roadblocks and get the job done. SET leaders are responsible for system engineering efficiency and delivery.

The Systems Engineering Teams (SET) are focused on cross functional collaboration to rethink the base design, interaction, and manufacturing of our newest vehicle lines for a given SET zone. This role will be at the helm of leading product development engineering of new vehicle lines. There are multiple engineers reporting directly to this position with primary focus to enable full systems integration, resulting in minimized part counts, complexity, labor hours, and service time. In this role, we will look for you to focus teams on Engineering First Principles to re-think Product Development, breaking from the traditional designs of the past. You will be tasked with delivering breakthrough efficiencies and full lifecycle cost improvements. You will work with teams across Ford and serve as the Engineering leader of the designated SET zone to setup multiple new vehicle programs prior to hand-off to Vehicle Hardware Integration and Application Engineering teams.

What you'll do

Through Systems Design methodology identify and deliver cost / weight efficiencies, component part reductions, quality improvement, labor savings, and service efficiency.

Develop and maintain relationships with Tier 1 suppliers and understand their technical capabilities.

Champion trade‑off discussions using data to balance targets and co‑lead content and attribute proposals with Program Chief Engineering and Vehicle Engineering.

Lead target setting, through extensive benchmarking and leverage Core Engineering team opportunities / technology.

Collaborate with team members and external partners on packaging, weight, cost, labor, timing, and integration from a systems perspective according to assigned vehicle zone and content.

Lead Systems Technical Design and Compatibility Reviews to optimize designs, resolve issues, and deliver all Program Milestones on‑time / on‑target. Often leading review with Ford leadership.

Drive SET Adherence to Systems Engineering Operating Principles.

Drive cross‑functional issue resolution (including program, finance, quality, attribute, manufacturing, STA, studio, suppliers, etc.). Support escalation when needed.

Collaborate with SET members and external partners for System Level Engineering Sign‑Off and handover to Hardware Integration and Application Engineering teams.

You'll have

Bachelor's degree in engineering required.

5+ years of experience with one or more of the following systems: body structure, interior systems, seating systems, exterior lighting, chassis

Design & Release Engineering, Systems Engineering or Vehicle Engineering experience is preferred.

Capability to pull down CAD in CATIA v.5 or 3DX and create sections / take measurements.

Must have the knowledge of Systems Engineering Fundamental and Design Thinking

Demonstrates critical thinking, courage, humility, decisiveness, flexibility, knowledge, vision, communications.

Ability to work in dynamic, fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment.

Demonstrated ability to show initiative.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills (open, clear, and inclusive)

Excellent leadership skills with demonstrated ability to deliver results.

Demonstrated organizational & delegation skills with proper follow‑up.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple issues effectively and efficiently.

Demonstrated ability to prioritize workload managing immediate and future needs.

Ability to build strong effective relationships with cross functional teams (Program, Studio, Purchasing, Finance, Engineering).

Strong technical capability and problem‑solving skills.

Fluent in English Speaking and Writing.

Onsite collaboration required for at least 4‑days per week.

Willingness to travel on limited basis for assembly plant line walks, supplier site visits, and benchmarking exercises.

Even better, you may have

Experience working on U.S. Department of War projects and / or military vehicles

Master's in Systems Engineering or Engineering preferred.

10+ years' experience in product engineering design environment.

Demonstrated Production Launch experience.

Demonstrated experience with program management.

Effective coaching skills.

Strong fundamentals and working knowledge of Global Product Development Systems processes.

Strong understanding of Teamcenter, Bill of Materials management.

CAD authoring capability in CATIA v.5 or 3DX.

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 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.

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. #LI-Hybrid

#VehicleHardwareEngineering #LI-KH2