Product Engineer Materials

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!

In this position...

This position is responsible for the development and release of bulk materials, with a focus on 2K structural adhesives and foams, utilized in Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Battery Pack. The engineer provides dedicated technical ownership of 2K adhesive and foam material specifications, supplier testing and data review, new test method development, adhesive dispensing process support, and initiate EHS/toxicological approval requests, and directly supports Ford’s battery manufacturing plant. Additionally, the materials engineer works with the vehicle teams and core engineering to resolve material compatibility, warranty, production, and processing problems encountered during the life of a components or assembly. The emphasis is on teamwork with Ford Product Development (PD) and Battery Manufacturing Engineering (BME), material suppliers, dispensing equipment suppliers, purchasing, laboratory engineers, other materials engineers, EHS/Industrial Hygiene, and manufacturing plant personnel.

What you'll do...

• Demonstrate exemplary Ford OS behaviors – Excellence, Focus, and Collaboration

• Develop and manage materials engineering foundation documents and update for prevent recurrence:

• Material and Performance Specifications, Approved Source List and Ford Laboratory Test Methods, including 2K structural adhesive and foam material specifications

• Support development material FEDE requirements and Design Rules

• Ability to describe the operating environment in which the components/systems function.

• Ability to describe the compatibility of the basic materials within the Ford manufacturing and processing environment including Tier 1 suppliers.

• Review and signoff on engineering drawings and Bill of Materials (BOMs) in TeamCenter (TCe).

• Review and signoff on Design Verification/Product Validation (DV/PV) plans and part performance test reports.

• Provide root cause analysis, materials and process expertise to support resolution for manufacturing, and field issues by collaborating with Engineering, Supplier Technical Assistance (STA), Program Vehicle Team (PVT), Purchasing and Research. Initiate lab requests as required.

• Support manufacturing site assessments, process development and issue resolution.

• Collaborate with the core engineering functions to develop/update test methods for improved field correlation and prevent recurrence.

• Own the development, revision, and release of 2K structural adhesive and foam material specifications, keeping pace with new formulations and technologies, supplier changes, and program timing to avoid bottlenecks at launch gates (PPAP, DVP&R, sign-off).

• Work with suppliers to define and track testing per specification and timing plan; review supplier test data and results to identify non-conformances early and drive deviation and root-cause resolution.

• Develop, validate, and standardize new test methods for evolving adhesive and foam chemistries and battery-specific requirements (e.g., electrical insulation, thermal management, durable adhesion), correlating lab results to real-world performance to reduce warranty and field risk.

• Support adhesive dispensing process development and troubleshooting (bead geometry, flow rate, mix ratio, cure time) at supplier and plant level; serve as point of contact between material suppliers, dispensing equipment suppliers, PD, R&A, BME

• Partner with EHS and Industrial Hygiene to obtain toxicological (tox) numbers for new materials ahead of full approval for plant use, proactively managing review timelines to prevent delays to material approval or program launch.

• Support the Ford battery manufacturing plant (launch support, issue resolution, process assessments) to reduce the risk of costly retrofits or requalification after launch.

• Support material cost reduction initiatives.

• Support process innovations (collaborate with suppliers and Research).

• Approving and releasing new technology materials that lower cost, reduce weight, improve quality or contribute to Ford Motor Co. sustainability targets.

• Supporting CAE, virtual weight, and thermal modeling activities with qualified material data.

• Participating in Materials Engineering Department training events and committees.