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Body Interior Engineer, Design & Release, Ford

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Ford Motor Company

Aug 17

Applications are closed

  • Job
    Full-time
    Senior Level
  • Chelmsford

Requirements

  • Education is important to us; ideally, you’ll have a degree in Mechanical Engineering, but if that’s not the case and you have extensive experience/skills you feel are relevant and beneficial to the role, we are open to discussing your suitability.
  • A minimum of 5 years relevant experience in (at least one of) the following disciplines: Instrument Panels, Cockpits, Consoles, Door Trims, Soft Trim and Hard Trim
  • Evidence of being a self-starter and motivated to manage your own workload, investigating and managing complex situations through to conclusion.
  • To be an innovative conceptual thinker and problem solver.
  • An understanding of resins and design parameters therein.
  • To represent Body Interior in the vehicle programme team.
  • To be a great communicator to peers and management alike, considering language barriers where necessary.
  • Experience of working with a Design Studio, craftsmanship team and understanding customer use / perception.
  • Experience of managing engineering deliverables.
  • Knowledge of manufacturing processes for interior products to the level enabling the engineer to consider alternative methods.

Responsibilities

  • - Own the technical design; Cad output sits elsewhere, but the D&R is expected to work closely with the designer to ensure it is purposeful and meets cost, aesthetics and functional requirements. The engineer will have ultimate design responsibility so will need to interrogate Cad data in either Vis Mockup or Catia V5, and navigate around TCE.
  • - Develop and share a clear understanding of the wants and needs of the vehicle programme to ensure the optimal blend of hardware components, systems and features are engineered to meet and exceed their expectations.
  • - Define conceptual requirements of a product by benchmarking and understanding different manufacturing techniques / materials.
  • - Lead interaction and output from the Design Studio, demonstrating that the K-Loop phase and beyond delivers optimum appearance within the cost and feasibility framework.
  • - Understand the product’s relationship with neighbouring systems, potential failure modes and containment actions (FMA, FMEA, SCCAF, P-Diagrams, Boundary Diagrams & quality history).
  • - Carry out design work with an innovative approach, challenging specs and rules to exceed customer expectations.
  • - Lead detailed feasibility and cost study comparisons to find the optimum overall module solution which also provides scalability for future requirements.
  • - Lead and co-ordinate with Vehicle Architecture, Manufacturing and Engineering, the packaging strategy for the Interior. Support ACT and System Selection workstreams where appropriate.
  • - Support Launch activities whilst leading industrialising of your products through to PSW with the best product achievable.
  • - Support TVM and Quality initiatives. Lead may become a priority on some commodities.
  • - Track key open items and develops action plans in collaboration with Body Interior engineering functional areas and x-functional teams.
  • - Actively support program sourcing strategies in line with Purchasing, Finance and Program timing needs. Run & maintain a PFEP (timing plan) plus full Bill of Materials including feature coding. Become familiar with your suppliers and alternative suppliers. Lead To4/5 meetings.
  • - Manage supplier delivery of entire program from generating RFQ packs, through supplier selection to management of their APQP through to PSW of all parts.
  • - Support the Finance and weight work streams and understands cost targeting & estimating, able to develop delivery/ recovery plans, considering tough choices, within Program budgets & constraints. Maintain suitable tracking documents.
  • - Support Body Interior engineering & Program local and global meetings and own any metrics which demonstrate the development status or your parts including open issues and recovery workplans.
  • - Lead x-functional issue resolution and represent Body Interior engineering at key meetings including close interaction with our Core team for alignment to rules and requirements.
  • - Present Body Interior engineering status both internally and externally when required. Own the status inputs for your parts.
  • - Lead detailed attribute reviews around CFD/CAE/Moldflow/VR and physical properties to maximise customer experience. Arbitrate costs and attribute trade-offs to drive direction. It is not expected that the engineer should use analytical tools, just understand when to use them, how to interpret results and how to refine the product.
  • - Develop and share a clear understanding of the wants and needs of the programme to ensure the optimal blend of components, systems and functions are engineered to meet and exceed their expectations. Assist functional delivery through correct decision making and escalation.

FAQs

What is the primary responsibility of a Body Interior Engineer at Ford?

The primary responsibility is to design, develop, and industrialize vehicle interior components, ensuring they meet cost, function, and aesthetic requirements throughout the program lifecycle.

What qualifications are preferred for this role?

Ideally, a degree in Mechanical Engineering is preferred, but extensive relevant experience and skills will also be considered.

How many years of experience are required for this position?

A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in disciplines such as Instrument Panels, Cockpits, Consoles, Door Trims, Soft Trim, and Hard Trim is required.

What is the work environment like in the Body Interior engineering department?

The environment is creative and collaborative, with a strong influence over vehicle aesthetics and customer experience, and direct interaction with the Design team.

Are there specific skills needed beyond engineering knowledge?

Yes, the role requires strong conceptual thinking, problem-solving abilities, excellent communication skills, and an understanding of manufacturing processes for interior products.

Will I be involved in supplier management in this role?

Yes, the Body Interior Engineer will manage supplier delivery, including generating RFQ packs, supplier selection, and overseeing their APQP process through to PSW.

What tools and software should I be familiar with for this role?

Familiarity with CAD data interrogation in Vis Mockup or Catia V5 and navigating TCE is expected, although actual CAD output is managed elsewhere.

Is experience with Design Studios necessary for this role?

Yes, experience working with a Design Studio to understand customer perceptions and craftsmanship is essential.

How does this role contribute to the customer experience?

The engineer's work on vehicle interiors directly impacts the aesthetic appeal and functional use of the vehicle, contributing significantly to overall customer satisfaction.

Will I be required to lead meetings or present my work?

Yes, the successful applicant will present Body Interior engineering status internally and externally, and represent the engineering team at key meetings.

Is the role limited to commercial vehicles only?

No, while Dunton is known as the "Home of the Transit," the team’s responsibilities extend beyond just commercial vehicles.

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Ford Motor Company

Automotive
Industry
10,001+
Employees
1903
Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

We don't just make history -- we make the future. Ford put the world on wheels over a century ago, and our teams are re-inventing icons and creating groundbreaking connected and electric vehicles for the next century. We believe in serving our customers, our communities, and the world. If you do, too, come move the world and make the future with us. Ford is a global company with shared ideals and a deep sense of family. From our earliest days as a pioneer of modern transportation, we have sought to make the world a better place – one that benefits lives, communities and the planet. We are here to provide the means for every person to move and pursue their dreams, serving as a bridge between personal freedom and the future of mobility. In that pursuit, our 186,000 employees around the world help to set the pace of innovation every day.

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