Forward Model Quality - Body Exterior Engineer

About the role

At Ford, you’ll work on ideas that matter, alongside passionate people who want to make a global impact. Together, we’re shaping the next era of transportation—grounded in purpose, driven by progress. Make your move.

Job Type

Full time

Work Type

Hybrid

Responsibilities

• Extract and analyze quality/warranty databases (Quality.Ai, J.D. Power, QNPS/CX.AI, Datacubes) alongside market trends (benchmarking, social media, web forums) to identify design opportunities.
• Analyze current model High Time in Service (HTIS) Exterior warranty trends (R/1000) and field service actions to author robust "lessons learned" portfolios, closing the quality feedback loop for forward model planning.
• Develop and maintain Exterior functional warranty and IQS roadmaps and deliver Quality Framework assessments at early milestones to secure program budgets and protect performance targets.
• Partner with the Design Studio and Design Technical Office (DTO) to review exterior surfaces (using Teamcenter, TCVis Mockup, 3DX) to incorporate execution enablers that meet customer satisfaction and warranty mitigation goals.
• Drive program compliance on Exterior Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) requirements, leveraging technical expertise and input from Exterior and Structural Systems Engineering Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).
• Act as the quality and warranty representative on vehicle program teams, driving functional delivery while supporting Program Feasibility Reviews, AAFs, VPATs, CPE DFs, and PEHF PATs.
• Assess perceived quality and determine customer/warranty impact (PP/100 or R/1000) for Meets Customer Expectation / Fails Customer Expectation (MCE/FCE) issues, as well as evaluating Total Value Management (TVM) cost-reduction proposals to protect product integrity.
• Lead collaborative efforts with the Forward Model Failure Mode Avoidance (FMA) Team and engineering functions to develop robust FMA plans targeting new technology and chronic warranty issues.
• Lead warranty-focused, cross-functional problem-solving efforts for developmental failures, launch issues, or early field concerns.
• Conduct targeted audits throughout the GPDS process to assess deliverable quality, identify systemic gaps, and coordinate with Product Development (PD) to implement Prevent Recurrence Actions (PRAs).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a similar/related technical degree.
• 3+ years of automotive industry experience with a specialized focus in at least one of the following areas: Body Exterior component engineering (D&R, Quality, or Manufacturing)
• Automotive Quality/Warranty data analysis with experience navigating quality databases and translating data into engineering actions.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a track record of driving cross-functional resolution.
• A proactive work ethic, positive attitude, and passion for improving product quality.
• Ability to autonomously communicate, present, and defend technical quality data to cross-functional teams (Engineering, Assembly Plants, Studio, and Program Management).
• Willingness to occasionally travel to vehicle assembly plants as needed.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of experience in an automotive engineering discipline.
• Body Exterior Design and Release (D&R) experience.
• Global Product Development System (GPDS) knowledge.
• Familiarity with Ford Quality Systems and methodologies (FMA, Global 8D, DMAIC, etc.).
• Experience in the design Studio and familiarity with the Studio process.