Technical Expert - Handles

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This Technical Expert role within Closures & HLM, Vehicle Hardware Engineering, Body Exterior, is an individual contributor leadership role responsible for technical content, strategy and processes related to exterior closure handles, including exterior release handles (counterbalanced mechanical, fixed electrical, flush/deployable, etc.) and interior release handles.  In this role, you will serve as the technical expert for all closure handle related matters, ensuring robust design and delivery of components and vehicle systems.  You will lead all technical aspects of global product strategy, including product concept development, business case approval, supplier development, product development, verification & validation, launch/sign-off and ongoing support and quality assurance of products in the field. In addition, you will lead technical development of global team members, oversee foundation document creation and enforcement of prevent recurrence, guiding development of standardized tools, methods, and execution.

In this position...

• Act as technical architect for Closures & HLM handle system function on a global scale.
• Act as technical resource internally and externally on component and vehicle systems. Provide technical support to global teams.
• Interface closely with technical counterparts (fellow technical experts, core and component engineers and supervisors) to ensure robust system level understanding and execution, as well as issue read across/lessons learned cascade for the Closures & HLM organization.

What you'll do...

• Lead technical signoff of handle systems at critical engineering gateways.
• Lead development and ongoing maintenance of commodity specific standards, specifications, and verification methods.
• Lead development and deployment of all commodity foundation documents including DFMEAs, SCCAFs, Boundary Diagrams, P-Diagrams, DVP&R, and integration manuals.
• Recommend, develop, and verify applications for new and advanced designs.
• Analyze designs during the development process and address any potential failures and error states.
• Lead design of new concepts to improve system performance and provide leadership and support for timely implementation.
• Monitor and investigate new technologies to drive company to best-in-class quality, cost and function.
• Assist Global Chief Engineer and Closures & HLM management in the identification, resolution and presentation of department technical strategies, objectives, mission, and values.
• Guide and oversee training, mentoring and provide consulting to department engineers, supervisors, and other interfacing functions.
• Support Campaign Prevention activities for pertinent systems.
• Provide technical advice and support for handle system related matters to the Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG), the Automotive Safety Office (ASO), Office of General the Council (OGC) and Design Analysis teams.
• Construct and develop simple and complex business cases for various designs and commercial negotiations.
• Guide development of system tools, methods, and processes.
• Lead design reviews based on Failure Mode Avoidance (FMA).
• Lead supplier selection and development with cross-functional teams.
• Lead and drive prevent recurrence process for systems and components.
• Share and present work to cross-functional teams and executive leadership.
   

You'll have...

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• Minimum 10 years total experience with 6 years in exterior closure handles design and release.
• Experience in automotive product development in all program phases, from pre-program through launch.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in closure handle system integration and development including architectural setup, kinematic analysis (travel/effort calculation and control methods, inertial calculations, complex mechanism design), Class A surface development and execution (studio interface), injection molding/high pressure die-casting, spring design, mechanical (membrane)/capacitive switch design, etc.
• Working knowledge closures system verification, quality, manufacturing, and assembly methods.
• Working knowledge of closures interfacing subsystems to enable system optimization.
• Demonstrated capability and willingness to teach/coach/mentor and document technical knowledge.
• Demonstrated high level of communication skills and teamwork.
• Experience interfacing with the design studio.
• Experience working with crash safety.
• Recognized as a “go-to” person in functional area of expertise.
• Ability to lead a team in the delivery of technical objectives.

NOTE: After the interview, selected candidates must provide an evidence book detailing education, technical experience, knowledge and competence, key accomplishments, recognitions, training, publications, patents, and any other supporting evidence pertinent to the role.

Even better, you may have...

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
• Ability to drive supply base and interface with supplier leadership.
• 10+ years of experience in exterior closure system design and release
• Strong understanding of statistical analysis and failure mode avoidance.
• Experience in development of plastic liftgate systems.
• Extensive experience and strong technical maturity working on safety critical systems and components.
• Ability to build strong working relationships with all stakeholders including program teams, purchasing, manufacturing, Supplier Technical Assistance (STA) and suppliers.

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/LL6NonHTHD

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.

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-CW1