Product Development Engineer

We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Acoustics Test & Automation Engineer to join our Automotive Software Engineering team. In this role, you will bridge the gap between physical acoustics and software automation. You will be responsible for validating the acoustic performance of our cutting-edge automotive software, testing audio processing algorithms, and ensuring high-fidelity sound and voice performance within the vehicle cabin.

The ideal candidate will possess a unique blend of hardware laboratory expertise, a deep understanding of acoustic fundamentals, and strong software development skills in C++ or Python to design and build automated, autonomous acoustic test frameworks.

• Acoustics Measurement & Validation: Perform hands-on acoustic measurements directly interfacing with our automotive software and infotainment platforms.
• Tuning & Supplier Alignment: Lead the vehicle tuning process in collaboration with either external suppliers or our in-house tuning team to optimize in-cabin sound, voice clarity, and audio quality.
• Process Compliance: Execute and document results of OEM-specific engineering test procedures ensuring software performance, acoustic metrics, and system integration fully meet company standards.
• Lab Equipment Operation: Set up, calibrate, and operate standard electronics lab equipment including Digital Storage Oscilloscopes (DSOs), Signal Generators, and audio analyzers.
• Acoustic Test Hardware Management: Utilize specialized acoustic hardware, including Test Head Mannequins (HATS - Head and Torso Simulators), calibrated voice microphones, and speaker arrays, to simulate realistic in-cabin acoustic environments.
• Autonomous Test Framework Development: Design, build, and maintain an autonomous acoustic test framework using C++, Python and other scripting programing languages to automatically verify that audio processing algorithms are executing accurately and to monitor for any signal or timing drift.
• Acoustic Analysis: Analyze and interpret key acoustic definitions and parameters, including Frequency Response, Thresholds, Sound Pressure Level (SPL), Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), Echo and Doubletalk performance (TCLw), speech quality metrics, loudness levels. 
• System Integration: Validate hardware-software interaction across voice microphones, speakers, and Electronic Control Units (ECUs) associated with vehicle audio features.
• Collaboration & Debugging: Work closely with software developers, DSP engineers, and systems teams to debug issues, isolate software regressions, and root-cause acoustic anomalies.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Acoustics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Core Technical Competencies:
  • Solid foundational knowledge of core acoustic definitions and metrics, specifically Frequency Response, Thresholds, and Sound Pressure Level (SPL).
  • Strong programming proficiency in writing, documenting, and maintaining clean, structured, and scalable code in C++ or Python to support test automation and data analysis.
• Hands-on Lab Experience:
  • Direct experience operating in an audio or electronics engineering lab environment using equipment such as Digital Storage Oscilloscopes (DSOs), Signal Generators, Amplifiers, Audio Analyzers, Speakers, and Voice Microphones.
  • Practical expertise setting up, calibrating, and operating physical acoustic measurement hardware, specifically Head and Torso Simulators (HATS) / Test Head Mannequins.
• Audio Testing & Integration:
  • Hands-on experience with voice microphone and speaker validation, including a clear understanding of how these hardware components interface with Automotive ECU functions.
  • Proven capability or a strong conceptual foundation in designing and building automated/autonomous acoustic test setups configured to monitor signal accuracy and prevent performance drift over time.
• Tuning & Industry Standards:
  • Experience participating in or leading vehicle audio/acoustic tuning processes.
  • Practical exposure to vehicle acoustic performance testing and key industry standards, specifically ITU-T P.1100, P.1110, and P.1120, as applied to hands-free telephony (Bluetooth HFP, Apple CarPlay) and voice recognition systems (e.g., in-vehicle digital assistants, Siri, and Enhanced Siri).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Automotive Communication & Infrastructure:
  • Familiarity with automotive communication networks and bus protocols (e.g., CAN, LIN, Automotive Ethernet, A2B) and Familiarity with mobile and voice data networks 4G/5G, VoLTE for telephone use cases, 
  • Conceptual understanding of Voice Activity Detection (VAD) and Wake Word Engine.
  • Understanding of vehicle system integration, vehicle diagnostics tools, and ECU flashing procedures.
• Advanced Acoustic Tools:

  • Hands-on experience with specialized commercial acoustic measurement software and hardware suites (e.g., SoundCheck, HEAD acoustics, APx500).

    
    

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 a salary grade 7 and ranges from $99,600-$146,600., This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $115,000-$162,900.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here:

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.

This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid

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