Staff Hardware Test Automation Engineer

Ford Motor Company; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a Hardware Test Automation Engineer to join their Electric Vehicles, Digital and Design team. This role will focus on developing and implementing automated test solutions for next-generation electric vehicle powertrains. Candidates should possess significant experience in test automation, mechanical systems, and data acquisition, ensuring high-quality performance of evolving electric vehicle technologies. This prestigious role offers a competitive salary package and opportunities for growth within a pioneering team dedicated to innovation and a sustainable future.

Benefits

Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage

Flexible family care days and paid parental leave

Tuition assistance

Paid time off for community service

Vehicle discount program for employees and family

Qualifications

• 8+ years in hardware test automation, particularly in EV powertrains.
• Proficiency in data acquisition and analysis software.
• Experience with real-time control systems and safety procedures for high-voltage systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of automated test solutions for EV components.
• Architect data acquisition systems for testing platforms and integrate fault injection capabilities.
• Analyze test data and generate reports for cross-functional communication.

Skills

Test automation scripting

Mechanical aptitude

Data acquisition systems

Troubleshooting skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

LabVIEW

Python

CAN bus

VeriStand

PUMA

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...
The Hardware Test Automation Engineer will lead the development and implementation of advanced automated test solutions for Ford’s next-generation electric vehicle (EV) powertrain components and systems. This role requires a strong understanding of test automation principles, data acquisition systems, and powertrain testing methodologies. The engineer will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of test automation projects, from concept and design to implementation, validation, and deployment. This includes developing automated test equipment and software for a variety of mechanical hardware, including dyno testing, component-level validation, and system integration.

Qualifications

You'll have…

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in hardware test automation, preferably with EV powertrains or similar systems.
• Strong understanding of mechanical and electromechanical systems.
• Proficiency in data acquisition systems and analysis software.
• Extensive experience with test automation scripting and programming.
• Excellent mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience with real-time control systems and data acquisition hardware (e.g., dSpace, National Instruments).
• Familiarity with high-voltage electrical systems and safety procedures.

Even better, you may have…

• Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience leading the relocation, expansion, and management of powertrain testing facilities.
• Experience with instrumentation and sensor technology.
• A strong understanding of data analysis and statistical methods.
• Experience with design of experiments.
• Experience developing and implementing SIL (Software-in-the-Loop) and HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) test systems.
• Proficiency in LabVIEW, Python, CAN bus, EtherCAT, Altium, JSON and PUMA.
• Experience with embedded software development in C/C++ and model-based development tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, Stateflow).
• Familiarity with calibration tools and protocols, electric drives and energy storage systems.
• Experience with fault injection techniques and automated test sequencing.

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 leadership level 6.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6SP4

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.

Onsite work of up to three days per week may be required for candidates within commuting distance of a Ford hub location. #LI-Hybrid #LI-HA1

Responsibilities

What you'll do...

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of automated test solutions for EV powertrain components and systems, including dynos, battery test systems, and power electronics test benches.
• Architect and maintain real-time controllers and data acquisition systems for various test platforms, integrating fault injection capabilities for automated and repeatable testing.
• Develop and execute automated test scripts for various test platforms, maximizing efficiency and data accuracy, leveraging tools such as LabVIEW, Python, and VeriStand, and PUMA.
• Specify, install, and calibrate data acquisition systems to collect comprehensive and reliable data during testing, ensuring compatibility with various communication protocols (e.g., CAN, LIN, SPI).
• Analyze test data, generate reports, and communicate findings to cross-functional teams.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software issues related to automated test equipment, minimizing downtime and maximizing test throughput.