Suspension and Chassis Controls Engineer

Ford; Allen Park (MI); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Parental leave

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount program

Paid time off

Job summary

Ford Racing is seeking an experienced controls engineer to deliver semi-active suspension and chassis controls across programs. You will manage embedded controls from Pre-PS through OPD, interfacing with powertrain, chassis, and architecture teams to expand knowledge across automotive systems.

Join Ford Racing to shape growth, people, and products, contributing to real-world performance and advanced vehicle technologies while collaborating across Ford teams and suppliers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering.
• 1+ years of embedded design or controls experience.
• Proficiency in Embedded C/C++ programming.
• Proficiency in MATLAB and Simulink modeling.
• Proficiency in embedded systems and microcontrollers.
• Knowledge of electrical engineering fundamentals including circuit analysis and design.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills.
• Experience with JIRA/Confluence or similar tracking systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement chassis controls on the VDM for off-road semi-active suspensions.
• Specification, design, and testing of low/high-level software for semi-active suspension controls.
• Develop embedded software from drivers to application layer components.
• Create interfaces between application software and firmware.
• Expand Simulink models to control new semi-active suspension hardware.
• Perform system debug and code optimization with hardware bring-up.
• Develop testing methodologies and verification for firmware.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

MATLAB/Simulink

Embedded systems

Microcontrollers

Electrical fundamentals

Collaboration & communication

JIRA/Confluence

Software design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering / Computer Science / Computer Engineering

Tools

Vector AUTOSAR

CANalyzer

CANape

DET

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.

Racing is where our story began.

In 1901, Henry Ford climbed into a car he built himself—'Sweepstakes'—and beat America's most famous driver. He wasn't a racer, but he had to win. He did. Ford Motor Company was born from that victory.

That fighting spirit lives on in Ford Racing today. We're the engineers, strategists, and competitors who bring Ford's track-tested edge into every vehicle we build. Every track, every stage, every proving ground—that's where we prove ourselves.

The result: one of the world's most iconic brands, legendary nameplates, and a team unmatched in the industry.

Our mantra: Race to win, engineer to lead.

If you're a competitor, innovator, or performance obsessive, Ford Racing is where you belong. Help us write the next chapter.

In this position...

We’re looking for an experienced and talented individual to join Ford Racing to serve as a controls engineer who will deliver semi-active suspension and chassis controls across multiple programs.

As we expand our global Ford Racing team, we are seeking an engineer that can help shape our growth, our people and our products. This role will be focused on managing embedded controls work Pre-PS through OPD for all Ford Racing Applications.Applicants will also interface with teams including powertrain, chassis and architecture engineers, and digital performance feature owners, allowing for numerous opportunities to expand technical knowledge in a wide area of automotive technologies, systems, and components.

What you'll do…

• Designing and implementing the chassis controls on the vehicle dynamics module (VDM) controlling Ford Racing’s off-road semi-active suspensions.
• Specification, design, implementation, and testing of low-level and high-level software for semi-active suspension controls
• Identify reusable strategies from current Ford in-house controls to accelerate new Ford Racing algorithm development
• Develop software strategies that utilize a mix of Ford and Ford Racing in-house resources as well as outside resources
• Develop embedded software from low-level hardware drivers to application layer components
• Design and specify interfaces between application software and firmware
• Expand Ford Racing Simulink models to control new semi-active suspension hardware (Stabilizer Bars, new damper technology)
• Work with/resolve ambiguity in requirements/specifications/designs
• Create elegant, efficient real-time software components and interfaces
• Develop software component testing methodologies and implementations to ensure maturity/stability/release readiness
• Develop SIL/HIL testing methods for Ford Racing modules including using hardware debuggers
• Familiar with ISO26262-compliant software
• Instrument and profile software to identify opportunities for optimization on the submodule and system level
• Develop comprehensive test plans and perform thorough testing to validate firmware functionality, stability, and performance under normal, extreme, and faulted conditions
• Hands‑on hardware bring‑up, system debugging, and code optimization

You’ll have...

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering; equivalent experience demonstrating exceptional ability may also qualify.
• 1+ years of relevant experience in embedded design and/or controls.
• High proficiency in Embedded C/C++ programming.
• High proficiency with MATLAB and Simulink modeling.
• Proficiency in embedded systems and microcontrollers.
• Knowledge of electrical engineering fundamentals, including circuit analysis and design.
• Highly collaborative mindset and strong communication skills.
• Experience with JIRA/Confluence or a similar system for tracking inputs and results.

Even better, you may have...

• Working knowledge of semi-active damper technology, including solenoid controls, internal bypass dampers, and CCD dampers.
• Working knowledge of mechatronic chassis devices, such as steering and brake controls.
• Experience in early prototype development.
• Experience with in-vehicle software integration and testing.
• Experience with Embedded Coder code generation.
• Experience with Vector AUTOSAR integration.
• Experience in powertrain controls or chassis controls.
• Experience with Ford Networked Vehicle (FNV) architecture.
• Experience with Ford and Vector diagnostic software, including DET, CANalyzer, and CANape.
• Experience with fundamental PCB hardware components and their analysis tools.
• Fluency in software fundamentals, including software design and maintainability.
• Hands‑on experience in hardware bring‑up, system debugging, and code optimization.
• Working knowledge of the Ford Platform Software Release process.

Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage

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

Generous vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day

This position is a salary grade 5 and ranges from $65,100-$109,300.

This position is a salary grade 6 and ranges from $74,300-$124,500.

This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $86,600-$144,900.

This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $99,100-$166,200.

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.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: New Hire Benefits

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.