Suspension Foundation Engineering Supervisor

Ford • Dearborn, MI

10d • Onsite

About The Position

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!
The global suspension foundation team is made up of both suspension Technical Experts (LL6) and subject matter experts (GSR Levels). As supervisor, this position manages the subject matter experts. This position reports to a Global Suspension Manager and is matrix reporting to the Suspension and Steering Technical Leader. The foundation team is responsible for all global foundation core documents at the component, end item, and system levels including all core requirements, design rules, test methods, SCCAFs, FMA documentation, and Technical Design Review documents. The foundation engineering supervisor ensures consistent application of core documents and processes directing the subject matter experts while partnered with the applicable Technical Experts. The subject matter experts report to this supervisor and are matrix reporting to the applicable Technical Expert.
This position demands dynamic leadership, deep technical problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and strong communication skills to ensure solid foundation document and process support of our global Design and Release teams.
In this position...
FMA documentation such as P-Diagram, DFMEA, RCL, SCCAF’s.
Requirements, Design Rules, Engineering Specifications.
Guide Files.
MBSE models.
Generic Commodity Timing Plans (PDP’s).
Commodity Business Plans.
Technical Design Review master documents by commodity.
Lead the weekly Foundation Design Review and document decisions and approvals.
Lead the weekly suspension Prevent Recurrence process.
Lead the monthly suspension CAE Prevent Recurrence process.
High Time in Service Strategy.
Quality Leadership – Reliability and Confidence Strategy, Demonstration, and Documentation.
Assist with developing and validating new tools and processes to improve engineering efficiency and quality product.
Assist in resolving product issues – validation, launch, and field – and developing emergency, interim, and permanent corrective actions.

Requirements

• BS-Engineering required
• 5+ years of automotive chassis or suspension engineering experience.
• Extensive system and component engineering design & release experience, knowledge of various chassis architecture performance characteristics, and experience with vehicle, system, and component durability validation methods, architecture creation, and vehicle manufacturing.
• Strong Leadership and ability to lead a diverse global team with expert level knowledge.
• Strong communication skills at all levels of the company.
• Knowledge of engineering tools & processes incl. FMEA quality process & documents, DVP&R, GD&T, DVA, and CATIA/Teamcenter.
• Knowledge of engineering GPDS deliverables.
• Project management skills.
• Strong problem solving and interpersonal skills.
• Motivated self-starter, ability to manage/prioritize multiple assignments.
• Ability to build strong effective relationships with cross functional teams (Foundation Chassis, Design and Release, Vehicle Operations, Testing Centers, and Suppliers).

Nice To Haves

• MS-Engineering preferred.
• Leadership in a technical role.
• Experience with suspension design and release.
• Experience owning generic foundation documents, processes, and tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and grow AI capabilities that improve engineering efficiency in a manner that is consistent across the suspension commodities, and in a manner that can be trusted to have been verified as correct and complete.
• Assist in managing foundation initiatives consistently across commodities and Tech Clubs.
• Utilize the Foundation Team JIRA to track and manage unique open items within each Suspension Tech Club.
• Support the SME’s and TE’s in program Technical Design Review completion allowing the Campaign Prevent Specialist to summarize issues and recommend or withhold Chief Engineer Attestation.
• Lead organization of the “Suspension University” – a “department” of the “UNSE University”.
• Common organization of suspension training material by commodity.
• Organization of training material for the May and October UNSE training weeks.
• Creation, roll-out, and growth of a virtual AI Expert for each commodity and process within the Suspension University.
• Refresh and maintenance of the Suspension Technical Maturity Model for foundation and application engineers – mapping training methods within the Suspension University to skills required in the Suspension TMM.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager