Product Engineer Materials

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.

Product Development uses design thinking & user experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that delight our customers. We bring innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. We have opportunities around the world for you to contribute to advancements in autonomy, electrification, smart mobility technologies, and more!

Responsibilities

In this position...

This position is responsible for the development and release of bulk materials, with a focus on 2K structural adhesives and foams, utilized in Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Battery Pack. The engineer provides dedicated technical ownership of 2K adhesive and foam material specifications, supplier testing and data review, new test method development, adhesive dispensing process support, and initiate EHS/toxicological approval requests, and directly supports Ford’s battery manufacturing plant. Additionally, the materials engineer works with the vehicle teams and core engineering to resolve material compatibility, warranty, production, and processing problems encountered during the life of a components or assembly. The emphasis is on teamwork with Ford Product Development (PD) and Battery Manufacturing Engineering (BME), material suppliers, dispensing equipment suppliers, purchasing, laboratory engineers, other materials engineers, EHS/Industrial Hygiene, and manufacturing plant personnel.

What you'll do...

• Demonstrate exemplary Ford OS behaviors – Excellence, Focus, and Collaboration

• Develop and manage materials engineering foundation documents and update for prevent recurrence:

• Material and Performance Specifications, Approved Source List and Ford Laboratory Test Methods, including 2K structural adhesive and foam material specifications

• Support development material FEDE requirements and Design Rules

• Ability to describe the operating environment in which the components/systems function.

• Ability to describe the compatibility of the basic materials within the Ford manufacturing and processing environment including Tier 1 suppliers.

• Review and signoff on engineering drawings and Bill of Materials (BOMs) in TeamCenter (TCe).

• Review and signoff on Design Verification/Product Validation (DV/PV) plans and part performance test reports.

• Provide root cause analysis, materials and process expertise to support resolution for manufacturing, and field issues by collaborating with Engineering, Supplier Technical Assistance (STA), Program Vehicle Team (PVT), Purchasing and Research. Initiate lab requests as required.

• Support manufacturing site assessments, process development and issue resolution.

• Collaborate with the core engineering functions to develop/update test methods for improved field correlation and prevent recurrence.

• Own the development, revision, and release of 2K structural adhesive and foam material specifications, keeping pace with new formulations and technologies, supplier changes, and program timing to avoid bottlenecks at launch gates (PPAP, DVP&R, sign-off).

• Work with suppliers to define and track testing per specification and timing plan; review supplier test data and results to identify non-conformances early and drive deviation and root-cause resolution.

• Develop, validate, and standardize new test methods for evolving adhesive and foam chemistries and battery-specific requirements (e.g., electrical insulation, thermal management, durable adhesion), correlating lab results to real-world performance to reduce warranty and field risk.

• Support adhesive dispensing process development and troubleshooting (bead geometry, flow rate, mix ratio, cure time) at supplier and plant level; serve as point of contact between material suppliers, dispensing equipment suppliers, PD, R&A, BME

• Partner with EHS and Industrial Hygiene to obtain toxicological (tox) numbers for new materials ahead of full approval for plant use, proactively managing review timelines to prevent delays to material approval or program launch.

• Support the Ford battery manufacturing plant (launch support, issue resolution, process assessments) to reduce the risk of costly retrofits or requalification after launch.

• Support material cost reduction initiatives.

• Support process innovations (collaborate with suppliers and Research).

• Approving and releasing new technology materials that lower cost, reduce weight, improve quality or contribute to Ford Motor Co. sustainability targets.

• Supporting CAE, virtual weight, and thermal modeling activities with qualified material data.

• Participating in Materials Engineering Department training events and committees.
   

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
• 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.

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

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.

#LI-JF1 #LI-Hybrid#VehicleHardwareEngineering
 

Qualifications

You'll have...

• Bachelor of Science in Material Science & Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Chemistry

• Minimum 5 years of experience in Materials or Chemical Engineering in the following subsystems/components:
• Bulk Chemicals
• Sealers, and Adhesives, and Foams – specifically 2K structural chemistries
• Thermal Interface Materials
• Knowledge of dispensable bulk material manufacturing processes used in automotive applications, including dispensing equipment and process parameters (bead geometry, flow rate, mix ratio, cure)
• Experience working with suppliers on material specification, test plan execution, and test data review
• Proficient in Microsoft Office tools Knowledge in statistical and data analysis and proficient in the related software tools

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with others

Even better, you may have...

• Master of Science in Material Science & Engineering, Materials Engineering or Chemical Engineering
• Knowledge in industry test methods and experience developing new test methods
• Knowledge of corporate tools (MATS, MSC, GMAP, FEDE, TeamCenter)
• Experience supporting battery manufacturing plant launches and production issues
• Ability to use AI tools (e.g., generative AI assistants, data analytics) to improve efficiency in specification drafting, test data review, and technical problem solving