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.
Racing is where our story began.
In 1901, Henry Ford climbed into a car he built himself—"Sweepstakes"—and beat America's most famous driver. He wasn't a racer, but he had to win. He did. Ford Motor Company was born from that victory.
That fighting spirit lives on in Ford Racing today. We're the engineers, strategists, and competitors who bring Ford's track-tested edge into every vehicle we build. Every track, every stage, every proving ground—that's where we prove ourselves.
The result: one of the world's most iconic brands, legendary nameplates, and a team unmatched in the industry.
Our mantra: Race to win, engineer to lead.
If you're a competitor, innovator, or performance obsessive, Ford Racing is where you belong. Help us write the next chapter.
In this position...
- You are a Body Vehicle Exterior Leader as a subject matter expert set to deliver the most cutting edge design and push the limits of innovation at Ford Racing to deliver our current & the next generation vehicles our customers love!
- You are expected to be a flexible leader who can balance multiple activities in rapidly changing environment to guide your team through the full engineering development cycle from Pre-program through Launch on an excited new program for Ford Racing!
- You and your team own the development, authorship, sign-off and maintenance of all foundational engineering decisions from a Body Exterior perspective
- You will be building a team to deliver high-quality, low-investment solutions leaning on and working with technical experts in the company to bring new technologies for this exciting new product for Ford Motor Company and Ford Racing to support future architectures.
What you will do...
- Own development, sign-off, and maintenance of foundational Body Exterior engineering decisions
- Build, guide, and mentor a team of engineers/SMEs to drive speed and innovation
- Collaborate cross-functionally with design/studio teams to ideate new solutions
- Lead innovative design development using CAE tools and competitive benchmarking
- Partner with CAE teams to refine simulation and correlation methods
- Optimize designs through analytical/physical assessment, ensuring regulatory compliance
- Develop and implement novel construction techniques through to production feasibility
- Create design verification plans and test methods
- Liaise with Vehicle Architecture, Advanced Engineering, Manufacturing, and Suppliers
- Present concepts and program status to senior management
- Lead Body Exterior system integration and QCWFT program delivery
- Manage FSS and other resources to deliver programs
- Lead design of key systems (hood, fenders, bumper fascias, grilles, vents, splitters, spoilers, ducts, belly pan/diffusers)
- Ensure conformance to Ford Racing DNA and all regulatory requirements
You'll have:
- B.S. in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
- 10+ years as a Body Exterior Design & Release Engineer (or similar), including 6+ years specific to Body Exterior/Ornamentation (stamping, exterior panels, grilles, etc.)
- Expert knowledge of products/supply base (stampings, assembly, extrusions, castings, joining, regulatory) and BIW attribute delivery (Safety, Durability, Corrosion, NVH, TASE, BIW Requirements)
- Experience across all program phases (Pre-Program through Launch), including one major (scale 4-6) program
- Working knowledge of Design, Analysis, Verification, Quality, Manufacturing, and Assembly methods, plus engineering tools (FEDE, CAE/CATIA, TCE, 3DX)
- Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and mentoring/coaching skills
- Self-starter able to work effectively with minimal oversight
Even Better, You May Have...
- M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or related field
- Experience presenting at technical conferences/publishing technical papers
Patents, invention disclosures, trade secrets, or technical publications - Advanced Technology (GTDS) experience, especially mixed material systems
- Experience with GPDS/GTDS processes, timing, and delivery requirements
- Experience writing DFMEAs, SCCAFs, engineering specs, requirements, or design rules
- Multiple automotive launches
You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!
As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
- 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.
This position is leadership level 6 and ranges from $115,500-$218,100.
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.
Internal applicants: moving into this role may result in an adjustment to your current compensation based on the posted pay range for this role, taking into consideration your qualifications and other relevant factors.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.
This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid
#FR1 #LI-DH1
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
- 10+ years of experience as a Body Exterior Design and Release Engineer or similar
- 6+ years of experience specific to Body Exterior or Ornamentation, including stampings, exterior panels, and grilles
- Expert knowledge of stampings, assembly, extrusions, castings, joining, regulatory requirements, and BIW attribute delivery
- Experience across all program phases from pre-program through launch
- Experience with at least one major scale 4–6 program
- Working knowledge of design, analysis, verification, quality, manufacturing, and assembly methods
- Experience with FEDE, CAE/CATIA, TCE, and 3DX engineering tools
- Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, mentoring, and coaching skills
- Ability to work effectively with minimal oversight
- Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field
- Experience presenting at technical conferences or publishing technical papers
- Patents, invention disclosures, trade secrets, or technical publications
- Advanced Technology or GTDS experience, especially mixed-material systems
- Experience with GPDS and GTDS processes, timing, and delivery requirements
- Experience writing DFMEAs, SCCAFs, engineering specifications, requirements, or design rules
- Multiple automotive launches
Ford Motor Company Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Ford Motor Company and has not been reviewed or approved by Ford Motor Company.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision coverage start on day one with options that include zero-premium plans, free mental health support, and wellness resources. For represented hourly employees, health plans are described as low-cost with strong coverage value.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with company match and additional company contributions is available from day one, alongside life and disability coverage. Pension eligibility in certain situations and financial-planning support reinforce long‑term security.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave, fertility, surrogacy, and adoption benefits, plus a ramp‑up program for returning parents, reflect a family‑focused package. Flexible Family Care days and generous time‑off options help address short‑term caregiving and personal needs.
Ford Motor Company Insights
What We Do
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.
