Jobs · Information Technology · California

Senior Chassis Design Engineer

Ford Motor Company · Long Beach, CA · 2 days ago
HybridInformation Technology$135k–$227k/yrFull-time

About the role

As a Senior Chassis Engineer, you will drive the design, development, and execution of novel chassis components and sub-systems—including brakes, steering, wheels, tires, and suspension platforms. You will bridge first-principles engineering with advanced manufacturing techniques to optimize driving dynamics, efficiency, structural mass, and cost. Working across concept development, physical/virtual validation, and full-vehicle testing, you will play a central role in delivering best-in-class vehicle attributes for our next-generation vehicle portfolio.

Responsibilities

  • Advanced Concept Design & System Engineering: Design and develop novel chassis concepts (brakes, steering, suspension, wheels, and tires) that balance driving dynamics, vehicle mass, cost, efficiency, manufacturability, and serviceability.
  • Requirements Definition & Attribute Optimization: Challenge legacy design requirements and define data-driven, first-principles specifications for system sizing, functional performance, and safety attributes. Align system performance targets with regulatory standards, customer requirements, and vehicle dynamics.
  • Feasibility, Analysis & Cross-Functional Validation: Evaluate and validate the manufacturing, assembly, and service feasibility of proposed designs in close collaboration with manufacturing, service, and launch teams. Utilize advanced engineering analysis tools to simulate, stress-test, and iterate design proposals prior to physical build.
  • Prototyping, Testing & Vehicle Dynamics Evaluation: Lead the design, build, and validation testing at the components, sub-systems, and full-vehicle level. Conduct both subjective and objective evaluations of braking, steering, ride, and handling attributes across production vehicles, prototype test mules, and driver-in-the-loop simulators. Analyze test data to troubleshoot root causes, iterate designs, and refine vehicle performance attributes.

Requirements

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
  • Experience: 3+ years of automotive engineering experience (or related mobility sector), with exposure to electric vehicle (EV) platforms preferred.
  • Technical Mastery: Solid foundation in core engineering principles (statics, dynamics, materials, thermal) and their practical application to complex vehicle systems and manufacturing processes.
  • CAD Capability: Strong proficiency in 3D CAD modeling (3DEXPERIENCE preferred).
  • Communication & Collaboration: Excellent written and verbal technical communication skills, with a track record of effective cross-functional partnership.

Qualifications

  • Electromechanical Design: Experience designing, prototyping, and validating electromechanical chassis systems.
  • Full Lifecycle Experience: Demonstrated history of bringing chassis systems from initial concept through design freeze, validation, and full-volume production delivery.
  • Vehicle Dynamics Expertise: Deep knowledge of chassis architectures, kinematics, elastokinematics, and vehicle dynamics fundamentals.
  • Design for Manufacturing & GD&T: Advanced understanding of manufacturing and assembly processes (castings, forgings, stampings, extrusions) and technical drawing practices (GD&T per ASME standards).
  • Tools & Process: Proficiency with agile project tracking and technical documentation tools (e.g., Atlassian JIRA, Confluence).

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
  • Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments
  • 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

Pay

This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $135,420–$226,980.

Schedule

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.

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