Thermal Firmware Engineer – Mechatronics for EVs (6M)

Ford Motor Company; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 51,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Ford Motor Company in Palo Alto is offering a 6‑month Early Career Program as a Thermal Firmware Integration Engineer. You will bridge thermal hardware and embedded software, Bring‑up, integration, and debugging on real hardware.

You’ll work with embedded C and vehicle logs, collaborate across teams, and contribute to diagnostics, sensor/actuator characterization, and test automation. onsite four+ days per week with relocation stipend eligibility.

Qualifications

• Pursuit of a degree in Mechatronics, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Support bench bring‑up and integration of thermal mechatronic devices (smart pumps, valves, electric compressors, actuators, motorized registers, and cabin/environmental sensors).
• Work with other engineers to build and instrument prototype bench setups that combine simulated and actual vehicle components for firmware integration testing.
• Write and execute verification test cases for component controls, application logic, and diagnostics, and report results to development teams.
• Analyze CAN, LIN, and Automotive Ethernet traces and vehicle logs to characterize device behavior and isolate integration issues.
• Read and trace embedded C to understand implemented behavior, and support root‑cause investigation across the electrical, mechanical, and software domains.
• Support characterization of sensors and actuators across operating conditions, and help define plausibility, validity, and fault‑detection expectations with controls engineers.
• Support verification of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) and manufacturing self‑test behavior.
• Document interfaces, test setups, and known issues, and track issues to closure in the team's Jira workflow.

Skills

Embedded C

CAN/LIN/Ethernet

Python scripting

Debugging

Mechatronics fundamentals

Team collaboration

Lab experience

Jira/Confluence

GPA 3.0+

Education

Mechatronics/Electrical/Mechanical/CS engineering degree

Tools

Vector CANalyzer/CANoe/CANape

Git

HIL bench testing

Jira/Confluence

Job description

Ford Motor Company in Palo Alto is offering a 6‑month Early Career Program as a Thermal Firmware Integration Engineer. You will bridge thermal hardware and embedded software, Bring‑up, integration, and debugging on real hardware.

You’ll work with embedded C and vehicle logs, collaborate across teams, and contribute to diagnostics, sensor/actuator characterization, and test automation. onsite four+ days per week with relocation stipend eligibility.