Supervisor – Core Upper Steering

Jobtailor; Dearborn (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a seasoned Senior Mechanical Engineering leader to oversee the Upper Steering portfolio, including Column and I-shaft systems, with a focus on safety-critical design and robust validation.

You will mentor engineers, coordinate with Steering Technical Experts, and drive DFMEA, DVP&R, and MBSE practices across global supplier networks to ensure high-quality, cost-efficient solutions.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field
• 10+ years in safety-critical automotive design or equivalent
• 8+ years in Upper Steering experience (Columns, I-shafts)
• Strong leadership and drive for results
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage complex programs
• Excellent written and oral communication for reviews and stakeholders
• Ability to build productive relationships with technical partners and suppliers
• Experience with DFMEA, DVP&R, PFMEA, System Engineering Fundamentals
• Experience managing senior engineering teams and delivering on GPDS/GTDS timelines
• Familiarity with Ford tools including FEDE, Teamcenter, WERS
• Cross-functional knowledge of Steering components and interfaces

Responsibilities

• Lead the Upper Steering section to deliver core mechanical column systems and related components
• Mentor the team and coordinate with Steering Technical Experts
• Plan workloads and resources for on-time delivery
• Drive continuous improvement and cost-efficient validation
• Develop and enforce foundation standards and design rules (DFMEA, DVP&R, MBSE)
• Oversee supplier development and RFQ workstreams with Supply Chain
• Validate designs with robust testing methods across vehicle and subsystem levels
• Lead design reviews with Application engineers and ensure signoffs against requirements
• Address quality issues and drive corrective actions with root-cause analysis
• Lead technical club and knowledge transfer for ongoing training
• Support PFMEA, SCCAF and control execution during APQP supplier reviews
• Drive new steering technology concepts and robust validation plans

Skills

Leadership

Systems Engineering

Communications

Problem solving

Supplier management

Cross-functional leadership

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Tools

FEDE

Teamcenter

WERS

GPDS

GTDS

Job description

Responsibilities

• Lead the Upper Steering section of Engineers to deliver Core deliverables for the Steering Mechanical Column (Manual/Power), Locks, Shift Lever, Intermediate Shaft, and Dash Boot
• Mentor and coach the team providing technical guidance and professional development, ensuring collaboration with Steering Technical Experts
• Manage workload distribution and resource planning
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, diversity, and technical innovation
• Create and manage Upper Steering (Column, Locks, I-shaft, Dash Boot) foundation standards and processes using System Engineering to ensure robust system design and validation including DFMEAs/FUSA, SDS Requirements, Functional Specifications, Engineering Specifications, SySML/MBSE, Design Rules, Interface Drawings, Guide Files, SCAFF/SCCP, Quality History, RCL/RDM, Test Methods, Perfect Drawing Plans, etc.
• Optimize requirements and DV for cost efficiency ensuring Quality and Reliability
• Maintain and execute the Upper Steering Commodity Business Plans, focusing on cost efficiency and resiliency while delivering technical excellence
• Lead development of new Steering Column suppliers in alignment with the CBP ensuring designs meet requirements with robust validation, DFMEA, SCAFF/SCCP
• Lead Upper Steering technical RFQ workstreams collaborating with Supply Chain to meet requirements, quality, timing, and deliver cost target
• Lead supplier technical development to ensure an optimal, and cost-efficient supply base, with appropriate supplier tension
• Collaborate with Technical Experts/Subject Matter Experts to conduct Technical Design Reviews with Application engineers to ensure clean signoff against Requirements and Design Rules with disciplined DVP&R
• Execute Prevent Recurrence process for FSA, Stop Ship, High-Priority issues, ensuring Foundation Design Deliverables are updated to prevent future escapes
• Develop advanced Upper Steering technology including Mechanical Column integration into the Steer-by-Wire Handwheel Actuator, and Stowable Column concepts, as well as other new Upper Steering technologies
• Ensure robust Test Methods (Physical and Analytical) are documented to validate all requirements at all necessary levels including vehicle, system, sub-system, mechanical, electrical, as well interfacing systems
• Provide Technical Leadership for critical issue resolution for in-flight and new Upper Steering components including launch, Recall, Quality/Field issues
• Actively support emerging quality issues aiding the Application teams with technical depth and speed to identify root cause, ICA, PCA. Go, See & Do at Supplier & Supplier Plants
• Lead Global Upper Steering Tech Club to drive technical depth and on-the-job training
• Develop Perfect Drawing Plan execution to align with GPDS and deliver high-quality execution
• Actively support the Application team on new program APQP Supplier site reviews to ensure robust PFMEA, SCCAF, and Control execution
• Actively support TVM idea generation through optimizing requirements and benchmarking as well as idea generation
• Support Regulatory Signoff and Compliance

Requirements

• BS Engineering- Mechanical Engineering or strongly related
• 10+ years of safety critical Automotive design experience or related Industry experience
• 8+ years of Upper steering experience in Columns, I-shafts or both
• Strong leadership skills, passion for quality, passion for customer – inherent self-starter with strong drive for results
• Demonstrated leadership experience or demonstrated leadership traits
• Strong oral/written communication skills to lead group projects, issue resolution, and management reviews
• Demonstrated ability to forge productive relationships, achieve cooperation, and influence priorities of technical experts and other key partners
• High technical aptitude. Experience with strong supplier management of complex systems
• Thorough understanding of Upper Steering technology, component design, and joint design
• Technical depth in system, system architecture and mechanical design
• Experience applying Systems Engineering, Failure Mode Avoidance, to develop safety critical systems
• Advanced problem-solving skills including 8D, 6 Sigma, 5-Why, Contrast/Converge, y= f(x), Experimental Design
• Strong failure mode avoidance skills with a deep understanding of Upper Steering Failure modes
• Demonstrated Proficiency in engineering disciplines: DFMEA, DVP&R, 8D, Process Control, PFMEA, and System Engineering Fundamentals
• Ability to manage/resolve simultaneous challenging complex technical issues
• Experience developing a safety critical product/new technology from initial development through launch
• Experience managing a senior engineering team
• Knowledgeable in automotive program deliverables timing GPDS and GTDS
• Familiar with Ford tools including FEDE, Teamcenter, WERS
• Interface experience with Corporate Safety and Legal teams on safety critical systems
• Cross-functional knowledge of interfacing systems – Steering Wheels, Steering Column control modules, dash systems, Steering Gears