Sr Safety Investigations Engineer

Lincoln Motor Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 218,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Family care days

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid time off (PTO)

Paid holidays

Job summary

Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI is seeking a leadership role responsible for leading internal and external safety defect and compliance investigations. You will collaborate with Product Development, Manufacturing, Customer Service, and Suppliers to design tests, gather field data, and evaluate safety risks while preparing executive-ready reports and demonstrations.

Engage with government agencies (NHTSA, Transport Canada) on investigations and audits, providing technical support to OGC and

Qualifications

• Lead investigations into safety defects and compliance using rigorous data analysis.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design tests, collect field data, and assess safety risks.
• Document engineering positions and prepare reports for executive audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical investigations for internal and external safety and compliance cases.
• Partner with Product Development, Manufacturing, Customer Service, and Suppliers on tests and field surveys.
• Establish and document Ford's engineering positions with data-driven analysis.
• Prepare comprehensive reports, presentations, and vehicle demonstrations for technical and non-technical stakeholders, including leadership.
• Interact with government agencies (NHTSA, Transport Canada) on investigations and audits; support OGC and outside law firms.
• Identify global trends from field issues and feed insights back into the product development cycle to prevent recalls.
• Collaborate with regional and global teams to resolve complex vehicle concerns.
• Create and maintain investigation documentation per retention guidelines and submit regulatory paperwork as needed.

Skills

Software Development

Software Quality

ADAS engineering

Regulatory bodies

Tools

ISO 26262

Job description

What you'll do...

Prepare presentations and reports, including engineering analysis and the coordination of special vehicle/component demonstrations, to be used in both technical and non-technical discussions with all levels of leadership. Work proactively with NHTSA and TC on government investigations and compliance audits. Collaborate with facing organizations in the development of service solutions for potential field issues. Create and maintain investigation documentation in accordance with document retention guidelines and submit regulatory documentation as necessary. Identify potential lessons-learned opportunities in support of the company's efforts to prevent future potential recalls through involvement in stop ships, Prevent Action Closures, Campaign Trends Task Force meetings, SDS development, and other initiatives.

Work proactively with government agencies (e.g., NHTSA, Transport Canada) on investigations and compliance audits. Provide crucial technical assistance to the Office of General Counsel (OGC) and outside law firms.

You'll have...

• Act as the lead technical investigator for internal and external safety defect and compliance investigations.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (Product Development, Manufacturing, Customer Service, Suppliers) to design special tests, conduct field surveys, and gather the facts necessary to evaluate potential safety and compliance risks.
• Establish and document Ford's engineering positions using rigorous data analysis. Prepare comprehensive reports, presentations, and vehicle demonstrations for technical and non-technical audiences, including executive leadership.
• Work proactively with government agencies (e.g., NHTSA, Transport Canada) on investigations and compliance audits. Provide crucial technical assistance to the Office of General Counsel (OGC) and outside law firms.
• Identify global trends and lessons learned from field issues. Inject these insights back into the product development cycle (via stop ships, Task Forces, and design updates) to proactively prevent future recalls.
• Work seamlessly with regional peers and global teams to resolve complex, worldwide vehicle concerns.
• Create & maintain investigation documentation in accordance with document retention guidelines and submit regulatory documentation as necessary.
• Identify potential lessons-learned opportunities in support of the company’s efforts to prevent future potential recalls through involvement in stop ships, Prevent Action Closures, Campaign Trends Task Force meetings, SDS development, and other initiatives.
• Provide technical assistance to the OGC, Design Analysis, PD activities, and outside law firms as appropriate.

Even better, you may have...

High emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills to effectively navigate high-pressure situations with diverse, cross-functional global teams.

Even better:

• Hands-on experience in Software Development, Software Quality, or Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) engineering.
• Prior experience interacting directly with regulatory bodies (NHTSA, Transport Canada, FAA, FDA) or managing government compliance audits.
• A strong understanding of automotive OEM product development lifecycles and manufacturing processes (Ford-specific experience is a plus, but not required).
• Experience providing technical assistance to legal teams, participating in legal investigations, or drafting regulatory documentation.
• Familiarity with functional safety standards such as ISO 26262.

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.

Internal applicants: moving into this role may result in an adjustment to your current compensation based on the posted pay range for this role, taking into consideration your qualifications and other relevant factors.

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 #LI-RZ1