Product Development Engineer – Exterior Underbody Structure Architecture

Ford Motor Company

Ford vehicle engineer developing exterior underbody structural architectures. Delivering robust, manufacturable designs across major vehicle programs.

Posted 9/3/2026full-timeDearborn • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $86,600 - $166,200 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in Underbody Structure Design and Product Development, with a strong focus on quality, cost, and performance metrics. Proficient in CAD management and cross-functional collaboration to drive engineering solutions and deliver on program milestones.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Underbody Structure DesignCAD ManagementProduct DevelopmentFMEA Action Item DefinitionCross-Functional Collaboration

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Product DefinitionMass Attribute AnalysisDesign Maturity TrackingTechnical AnalysisProgram ExperienceData-Driven RecommendationsSupplier Data IntegrationDesign ImprovementsArchitecture Design ExecutionKPI Alignment

Soft Skills

Problem-SolvingEffective CollaborationInfluencing Technical DecisionsCommunication Skills

Tools & Technologies

Catia V53DXTeamcenter

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Industry Keywords

Structures Product DevelopmentEngineering Work ProductsQuality HistoryFunctional PerformanceSafety TargetsNVH TargetsSupply-Base Quality

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Assembly

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop and deliver engineering work products supporting robust exterior system design solutions
Lead alignment of Underbody Structure KPIs, including Quality, Cost, Weight, and Functional Performance, for major programs before Strategic Confirmation
Derive efficient underbody structure system design solutions aligned to program scope, technology readiness, capability, and cost and TFLE targets
Create fundamental underbody structure system design definitions aligned with performance targets and manufacturing feasibility
Analyze interactions between interfacing components and systems
Use customer data, quality history, prior issues, and reliability and robustness methods to define FMEA action items
Mature underbody structure designs from surrogate or concept designs
Deliver architecture design recommendations with defined fixed and variable parameters for on-time program milestones
Collaborate with Flexible Vehicle Architecture, Design Technical Operations, Manufacturing, suppliers, and cross-functional partners
Communicate architectural issues, trade-offs, risks, and recommendations to supervisors, management, and cross-functional partners
Develop business cases for system selection supporting program and corporate EBIT
Support end-to-end underbody structure architecture development through technical analysis, target alignment, issue resolution, and design maturity tracking
Present technical work to cross-functional teams, engineering teammates, and executive leadership
Collaborate with structures core engineering on lessons learned through tech clubs and other forums
Define architecture design executions meeting or exceeding Safety, NVH, stiffness, and supply-base quality targets
Integrate Structural Systems TVM actions into forward-model designs
Support Team-of-Four forums for design system selection, target derivation and alignment, and supplier sourcing plans

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a related field
5 years of experience in Structures Product Development
Thorough knowledge of early product definition
Proven skill deciphering deliverables for Underbody Structures commodities
Launch delivery experience on at least one major program
Experience managing product release CAD and BOM structures, including assembly positioning and mass attribute analysis
Experience facilitating supplier data integration
Experience developing CAD studies to support and drive design improvements
Catia V5 or 3DX or Teamcenter experience
Demonstrated problem-solving skills, including business plan comparisons for different solutions
Ability to collaborate effectively as part of an engineering team
Ability to influence technical decisions through data-driven recommendations
Ability to travel occasionally to Ford and supplier assembly plants
Ability to travel occasionally to global Ford engineering locations
Program experience from inception (PS) through final design judgement (FDJ) required
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

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
Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
Fertility treatments
Vehicle discount program for employees and family members
Management leases
Tuition assistance
Established and active employee resource groups
Paid time off for individual and team community service
Generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
Paid time off
Option to purchase additional vacation time