Technical Specialist - Chassis Systems Reliability Verification and Validation

Ford Motor Company; Helena (MT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off & holidays

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount program

Parental leave

Paid community service time

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a Technical Expert (LL6) to lead global suspension system reliability and verification. You will drive test methods, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration across vehicle hardware engineering to deliver durable, high-quality suspension systems.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years in chassis engineering, DFMEA experience, and proven leadership. Travel to global sites is expected, with a strong focus on design inputs, CAE alignment, and problem-solving

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering required.
• 10 years of chassis systems experience.
• Experience with durability validation methods.
• Extensive DFMEA/PFMEA and control plans familiarity.
• Experience with problem solving tools (8D, 5 Why, Six Sigma).
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Willingness for global travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead global suspension system reliability and verification methods.
• Demonstrate suspension system reliability from design to service.
• Develop and execute vehicle, system, and lab testing.
• Analyze data to support test method development and root cause analysis.
• Coordinate with CAE and design inputs and verification methods.
• Sign off on System/Subsystem/Component across the program.
• Coach and mentor suspension engineers across regions.
• Collaborate with Ford divisions and suppliers.

Skills

Chassis systems engineering

Durability validation

DFMEA/PFMEA

Six Sigma

Problem solving

Leadership

CAEA analysis

Project management

Communication skills

Education

BS in Engineering

Tools

DFMEA tools

CAE/testing equipment

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.

At Ford, the Vehicle Hardware Engineering teams are using Design Thinking & User Experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that will delight our customers. Our employees are laser-focused on bringing innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. From autonomy and electrification to smart mobility technologies, our teams around the world are working together with excitement to make smart vehicles for a smart world.

This is a Technical Expert (LL6) position leading global suspension system reliability and verification methods.

In this position...

• Suspension System reliability demonstration.
• Ensure best in world quality from initial vehicle quality through high time in service.
• Ensure aligned cascade of Reliability and Confidence statistical objectives for the 90th percentile use case with classification of end items aspects as Durable Core or Replaceable.
• Ensure aligned cascade of targets for reliability of suspension end items – vehicle to system to end item to end item functions.
• Ensure proper accounting of suspension function and performance within customer operating conditions and environments / noise factors using the system RCL and aligning with end item RCL’s.
• Expert in creating and executing vehicle, system, and lab testing that exercise applicable noise factors and potential failure modes to demonstrate targeted Reliability and Confidence.
• Hands on development, test, and data acquisition skills with ability to reduce and analyze data to support Test Method development and root cause analysis.
• Use of warranty analysis, management fleet information, government inspection data, supplier part sales, social media, etc to confirm coverage of our design verification test methods.
• Ensure connection of our physical test methods to our design inputs and CAE verification methods.

What you'll do...

• Drive key stress factors into specifications and test methods to eliminate HTIS failures collaborating with TE/SME Specification owners.
• Champion change point analysis for re-used or modified end items and ensure correct level of requirements and checks are planned as part of the program.
• Work with customer correlation and system technical specialists to align system durability verification methods for each application including a formalized engagement of connected vehicle data, vehicle platform engineering and Ford Business divisions like Ford Pro.
• Lead on suspension diagnostics and prognostics.
• Integral to Signoff of System/Subsystem/Component with specific signoff responsibility BEFORE Chief Signoff
• Coach, Mentor, & Train Suspension D&R engineers across all the global regions
• Go-To for System Problem Solving – Launch, Recall, Quality / Field Issues, DV/PV Issues

You'll have...

BS-Engineering required

10 years of experience in chassis systems and architecture development.

Extensive system and component engineering design & release experience, knowledge of various chassis architecture performance characteristics, and experience with vehicle, system, and component durability validation methods.

Extensive experience creating and managing DFMEA/PFMEA/SCCAF/Control Plans/ drawings-GD&T

Experience with problem solving tools – 8D, 5 why, Six Sigma, etc.

Experience analyzing output from CAE and physical test methods – vehicle, system, and component.

Working knowledge and familiarity with six sigma tools –

Required leadership skills - quality focused as #1 priority, innovative, excellent communicator, strong organizational skills, highly motivated self starter

Even better, you may have...

• MS-Engineering preferred.
• Ability to handle complex tasks and challenging situations under compressed timing
• Experience communicating with senior leaders, design and release, and testing groups.
• Outstanding planning, organizational and project management skills with proper follow-up to accomplish multiple objectives
• Strong One Ford Leadership Behaviors with demonstrated ability to drive and deliver results
• Effective coaching and mentoring skills
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills
• Ability to build strong effective relationships with cross functional teams (Foundation Chassis, Design and Release, Vehicle Operations, Testing Centers, and Suppliers)
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Preferred.

Position requires occasional travel to assembly plants and other global chassis engineering centers to support process development, issue identification/resolution, and launch/ongoing production.

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.

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.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6

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.

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