FEA Material Trial Engineer

Ford Motor Company

FEA Material Trial Engineer providing comprehensive technical support and coordination for material and process trials at Ford. Evaluate trial proposals and assess part suitability in automotive manufacturing.

Posted 4/22/2026full-timeDearborn • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $65,100 - $166,100 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as a primary technical resource regarding running FEA’s and assessing the effects of material changes on parts.
Conduct thorough evaluations of trial proposals, specifically focusing on aspects such as stamping formability, strain, wrinkling, and process effects.
Critically assess parts for their suitability in proposed trials, ensuring alignment with trial objectives and minimizing potential risks.
Work in teams to develop strategic plans and guide part selection to minimize the number of required trials while ensuring comprehensive data collection and validation.
Act as a key interface and technical liaison between Product Development (PD), Research & Innovation Center (RIC), Materials Engineering, Paint, and Supplier Technical Assistance (STA) teams to gather necessary technical support and insights.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Education: Associate's degree in Engineering (e.g., Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering) or a related technical field.
Experience: 3+ years of experience in an engineering role, preferably within an automotive manufacturing or R&D environment.
Technical Acumen: Demonstrated understanding of manufacturing processes, material properties, and testing methodologies related to FEA, hemming, and joining.
Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex technical data and proposals.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate technical information to diverse audiences.
Interpersonal Skills: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and build strong working relationships.
Organizational Skills: Highly organized with strong project coordination and time management abilities.
Travel: Ability to travel to various stamping facilities as required (monthly or bi-weekly).
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor degree in Engineering (e.g., Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering) or a related technical field.
Experience with FEA tools for Stamping Formability assessments
Experience with quality tools such as Argus
Knowledge of Ford's product development and manufacturing processes.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)Manufacturing processesMaterial propertiesTesting methodologiesStamping formabilityHemmingJoining

Soft Skills

Analytical skillsProblem-solving skillsCommunication skillsInterpersonal skillsOrganizational skillsProject coordinationTime management

Certifications

Associate's degree in EngineeringBachelor's degree in Engineering