Technical Expert – Suspension Structural Component Design

Ford Motor Company

Technical Expert designing and delivering suspension structural components for Ford vehicles in a hybrid position. Leading technical design and process delivery in automotive engineering.

Posted 6/17/2026full-timeDearborn • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLeadWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Assembly

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the development and delivery of an in-house design and manufacturing process for suspension structural parts (stampings, castings, forgings), internalizing responsibilities
Develop and maintain the Suspension Structural Component internal engineering foundation documents including design guides, design rules (DR’s), Requirements (RQTs), and interface contracts/agreements.
Create and manage Level 2 technical materials including Process FMEAs, Control Plans, Safe Launch Control Plans, and Sub-component BOMs.
Lead Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) feasibility reviews prior to tool kickoff, ensuring designs align with tool design specifications, plant equipment compatibility, and normal process capability limits.
Drive in-house manufacturing process simulations (e.g., stamping formability, casting solidification, forging flow) to optimize structure and ensure manufacturing process feasibility
Lead OK to tool process with BTP supplier including approving steel purchase, OK to rough cut, and OK to finish steps.
Conduct test facility correlation study between Ford test facility (DV) to BTP supplier facility (PV) to ensure proper validation of the structure per core ES at both locations.
Develop component and assembly GD&T for in-house designs and sign-off program prints for BTP structural parts.
Support prototype development process with program teams on BTP parts.
Manage the data collection and capability analysis for Significant/Critical Characteristics (SC/CC), calculating Ppk to ensure pre-production and production capability requirements are met.
Lead demonstrable process optimization trials and Design of Experiments (DOE) to confirm manufacturing processes are optimized.
Develop comprehensive APQP plans, conduct OK-To-Build and OK-To-Ship reviews, and oversee Gauge R&R trials, including the review and sign-off of gauge and check fixture designs.
Lead root cause analysis and problem resolution (8D, JIRA) for dimensional, processing, and manufacturing quality issues during launch, DV/PV testing, and production.
Lead System-Level Integration: Direct the system-level development and integration of advanced active suspension systems, including ECU development, sensor integration, and electronically controlled dampers.
Technical Specification & Design Control: Define system design guidelines, perform rigorous specification reviews, and author system-level Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) covering signal I/O, control modes, and hardware/software interfaces.
Chassis Technology Roadmap Alignment: Guide the development of next-generation chassis technologies, including active dampers, air springs, and electronic roll control systems, ensuring alignment with future vehicle architecture glidepaths.

Requirements

What you’ll need

BS-Engineering required
10+ years of experience in automotive suspension engineering
6+ years of experience with design specific suspension components and commodities.
Extensive component engineering design and release experience in suspension structural components (stampings, castings, forgings), including specific experience on launch.
Deep understanding of Build-to-Print Supplier (BTPS) deliverables and the proven ability to execute manufacturing, tooling feasibility, and PPAP requirements in-house.
Extensive experience creating and managing DFMEA, PFMEA, SCCAF, Control Plans, and drawings with advanced GD&T.
Experience with CAE tools, manufacturing simulation software, and process optimization methodologies (DOE).
Strong analytical, math, and problem-solving skills to lead root cause analysis for complex manufacturing and dimensional issues.
Understanding of GPDS deliverables and basic Ford engineering tools including Teamcenter, WERS, and buck environments.
Required leadership skills - quality-focused as #1 priority, innovative, excellent communicator, strong organizational skills, highly motivated self-starter.
Ability to handle complex tasks and challenging situations under compressed timing.
Experience communicating with senior leaders, design and release, manufacturing, and tooling suppliers.
Outstanding planning, organizational, and project management skills with proper follow-up to accomplish multiple objectives.
Strong One Ford Leadership Behaviors with a demonstrated ability to drive and deliver results.
Ability to build strong effective relationships with cross-functional teams (Foundation Chassis, Design and Release, Vehicle Operations, Testing Centers, and Suppliers).

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

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

suspension engineeringdesign for manufacturing (DFM)design for assembly (DFA)design failure mode and effects analysis (DFMEA)process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA)geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)manufacturing simulationdesign of experiments (DOE)component engineeringbuild-to-print supplier (BTPS)

Soft Skills

leadershipcommunicationorganizational skillsproblem-solvinganalytical skillsinnovationself-starterplanningrelationship buildingproject management

Certifications

BS in Engineering