Design Release Engineer

Seeking a Design and Release Engineer to lead the design, development, validation, release, launch, and production support of vehicle handles, locks, and mechanisms.

The engineer will have component responsibility for handles, latches, locks, strikers, hinges, door checks, and manual or powered mechanisms used in side doors, hoods, frunks, tailgates, liftgates, decklids, and other simulated closures.

This position will work closely with suppliers and cross-functional Ford teams to ensure components meet regulatory, functional, quality, cost, weight, timing, manufacturing, and vehicle-level requirements. The engineer will also manage CAD and BOM releases, support product validation, lead technical design reviews, resolve quality issues, and support vehicle launches at supplier and Ford manufacturing locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead HLM system and component design and development
• Deliver regulatory, functional, design rule, and program requirements
• Manage HLM suppliers against cost, weight, quality, performance, and timing targets
• Develop program plans using the Global Product Development System
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, supplier, and plant teams
• Evaluate vehicle-level interfaces for HLM components
• Create and present technical presentations for peer and management reviews
• Perform or review dimensional stack-ups, GD&T layouts, CAE results, dynamic calculations, and simulations
• Participate in Technical Design Reviews
• Release and update parts in FEDEBOM and WERS
• Review and approve CAD within Teamcenter
• Manage product-release CAD and BOM structures
• Support assembly positioning and mass attribute analysis
• Facilitate supplier data integration
• Develop CAD studies supporting design improvements
• Document and present evidence of compliance with design rules and requirements
• Develop DFMEAs, SCCAFs, Boundary Diagrams, P-Diagrams, and DVP&Rs
• Lead design reviews using Failure Mode Avoidance
• Develop Engineering Statements of Work and Engineering Concepts
• Participate in sourcing activities, including SOBA, ED&T, piece-cost, and tooling-cost reviews
• Identify validation, durability, and functional testing requirements
• Lead root-cause analysis using 8D, A3-8D, and 3x5Why methods
• Implement and validate permanent corrective actions
• Apply Six Sigma principles to quality and engineering issues
• Define and verify engineering prototype requirements
• Support parts implementation and sign-off at assembly plants
• Address quality issues throughout program milestones
• Support supplier readiness and Phased PPAP
• Lead HLM system launch activities at supplier and Ford manufacturing plants

• Design Release Engineering
• Release Engineering
• CATIA
• CAD Design
• Teamcenter
• GD&T
• Tolerance stack-ups
• Change Management
• Mechanical Engineering
• Product Design
• Product Development
• Product Engineering
• Production Release
• Engineering Management
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Root Cause Analysis
• PPAP
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Excel
• Word
• PowerPoint
• Outlook
• Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft Azure SharePoint
• Desktop applications

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• Two or more years of engineering experience in the design, development, or launch of automotive mechanisms
• Relevant internships and coursework may be included in the required experience
• Experience with one or more of the following:
• Automotive latching systems
• Side-door latching
• Tailgate or liftgate latches
• Automotive product engineering
• Design release engineering
• Body closure systems
• Seat mechanisms
• Seat structures
• Farming mechanism product design
• Oil-drilling mechanism product design
• Airplane landing-gear mechanisms
• Heavy-construction mechanisms
• Capability with CAD applications such as CATIA, 3DX, or Teamcenter
• Familiarity with CAE tools and software
• Experience managing CAD and BOM structures
• Experience managing assembly positioning and mass attribute analysis
• Ability to facilitate supplier data integration
• Experience developing CAD studies to support design improvements
• Ability to manage multiple engineering issues effectively
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and prioritize workload
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft Azure SharePoint
• Ability to work onsite five days per week

Preferred Experience

• Design and release of latching mechanisms
• Vehicle closure systems
• Seat mechanisms or seat structures
• Software literacy
• Mechatronics
• Statistical analysis
• A3-8D or 8D problem-solving
• 5Why corrective-action methods
• DFMEA
• PFMEA
• SCCAF
• Phased PPAP
• Materials and manufacturing technologies
• GD&T and dimensional requirements
• CAE analysis
• WERS
• FEDEBOM
• Teamcenter
• VisMockup
• Change Control
• Systems Engineering
• System Design
• Technical Analysis
• Quality Assurance Concepts and Standards
• Project Management
• Product Management
• Team Building
• Strategic Thinking
• Six Sigma Green Belt
• Six Sigma Methodology
• Ability to work in a fluid product-development environment
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Education

Required: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field

Preferred: Master’s Degree