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.
In this position...
The Materials, Process, Structures & Safety organization within Ford Research & Advanced Engineering is seeking an employee to work in the Advanced Joining Research Department. The team delivers novel mechanical, thermal, and chemical joining solutions to reduce cost, improve quality, and enable Ford vehicle architectures and powertrains. The department comprises a multidisciplinary team of mechanical and materials engineers, adhesive and welding specialists, computer scientists, and laboratory technicians.
When new joining processes are developed, robust execution in design is critical. Implementing new joining technologies or changing from one joining technology to another requires accurate reliable models to predict the joint behavior in-vehicle. Models are critical to enable design efficiency (right joining technology in the right location) and reduce design verification iterations (testing and timing). This position will develop models and simulation of performance for joints to support analytical sign-off of components and vehicles.
Responsibilities
What you'll do...
Develop fundamental CAE models of automotive joints produced via novel mechanical, thermal, and chemical joining processes to enable robust simulation of component and full-vehicle attributes.
Design experiments, conduct joining trials and correlation experiments, characterize mechanical and metallurgical properties of joints and materials, and perform statistical analyses to develop and optimize joining performance models and determine key inputs.
Conduct sensitivity analyses to determine impact of imperfections on joint attributes.
Work cross-functionally with other materials simulation experts to integrate material cards and models into safety CAE for different joining technologies.
Pursue a balanced portfolio of long-term research and shorter-term development.
Conduct gap analyses and evaluate business case for new models.
Collaborate with stakeholders in Product Development, suppliers and IT to develop and implement advanced joining models and make improvements.
Benchmark competitor models and simulations for joining performance.
Develop test methods; support engineering specification and design guideline development.
Identify and implement novel process improvements and protect intellectual property.
Document findings via oral presentations and written technical reports.
QualificationsYou'll have...
B.S. in Materials Science / Mechanical Engineering / Welding Engineering / Computer Science or in a related discipline
3+ years of CAE modeling or joining simulation experience
Experience in mechanical, thermal or chemical joining technologies
Demonstrated capability in data analysis and documentation of results
Self-starter with ability to handle complex assignments
Exemplary written and oral communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills and capability to excel on cross-functional teams
Passion for innovation
Even better, you may have...
M.S. or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Computer Science, or a related physical science field of study
5+ years' experience in finite element methods, connection modeling and joining of metals
Demonstrated capability in research or advanced development, including gap analyses and literature reviews, experimental scoping and design, joining modeling and simulation, analysis and documentation of results
Experience with automotive body construction methods
Experience in mechanical testing and metallurgical sample preparation and analysis
Proficiency with statistical analysis packages
Plant and/or laboratory experience
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 $86,600-$144,900.
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.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR
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
#LI-RR1
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Welding Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline
- At least 3 years of CAE modeling or joining simulation experience
- Experience with mechanical, thermal, or chemical joining technologies
- Demonstrated capability in data analysis and documentation of results
- Ability to handle complex assignments independently
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work on cross-functional teams
- Passion for innovation
- Master’s or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Computer Science, or a related physical science field
- At least 5 years of experience in finite element methods, connection modeling, and joining of metals
- Research or advanced development experience, including gap analyses, literature reviews, experimental design, joining modeling, simulation, and documentation
- Experience with automotive body construction methods
- Experience in mechanical testing and metallurgical sample preparation and analysis
- Proficiency with statistical analysis packages
- Plant or laboratory experience
- Legal authorization to work in the United States without visa sponsorship
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.
