
Paint Quality Engineer
Ford · Dearborn, MI
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $65k–$109k
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Automotive
- Posted
- 28 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level quality role at Ford (automotive) in Dearborn, MI.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Lean, Root cause, Control plans, Painting / coating
- Base pay
- $65k–$109k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Michigan: typical posted base $78k–$149k. This one lists $65k–$109k.
Median of the low and high ends of 19 live postings that list pay, out of 57 quality engineer openings in Michigan, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Michigan plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 56 other live quality postings in Michigan.
- Base pay
- About 27% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 3+)
Typical $86k–$154k, from 18 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 70%
- FMEA 53%
- PPAP 49%
- SPC 46%
- ✓ Control plans 44%
- Six Sigma 40%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Painting / coating, Union environment, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at Ford
We found 9 people at this company and state: 7 in this kind of role, 2 leaders, plus 1 likely hiring manager. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Matt → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Ford in Dearborn
32 other open roles at this site · 9 people we found in quality roles at Ford.
- Manufacturing Engineer- Final Assembly · Manufacturing
- Manufacturing Quality Engineer · Quality
- Manufacturing Engineer-Body Shop · Manufacturing
- Powertrain Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing
- ADAS Verification and Validation Engineer · Quality
- Lean Strategist · Lean / CI · Specialist
Full description from FordAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
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....
Paint Quality On-Site Engineer provides dedicated technical support and guidance for paint appearance, durability, process stability, defect elimination, and quality system compliance within the Assembly Plant environment. Operating at the intersection of Plant Engineering, Quality Operations, and VME Operations, this role collaborates with Plant Variation Reduction Team (VRT) initiatives, ensures strict adherence to the Uniform Paint Process (UPP) standard, maintains rigorous execution of the Process Control Plan (PCP), drives ISO Audit Preparation Work, and leads comprehensive Internal / External Warranty Analysis across Paint Shop operations.
The engineer partners with plant teams, to support First Time Through (FTT) improvements, reduce top paint defects (dirt in paint, chip & scratch), and assist with ISO and Ford QOS audit readiness.
What you'll do....
- •Analyze warranty and quality data to identify recurring defects, failure trends, customer concerns, and opportunities to reduce warranty costs and repeat issues.
- •Support ISO and quality audits by ensuring processes, documentation, and records meet required quality standards and by driving corrective actions for audit findings.
- •Lead Variation Reduction Team (VRT) activities to identify process variation, conduct root-cause analysis, and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
- •Govern the Uniform Paint Process (UPP) by monitoring process performance, reducing paint defects and variation, and driving continuous process improvements.
- •Develop and maintain Process Control Plans (PCPs) that define critical process controls, inspection requirements, reaction plans, and quality standards.
- •Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, and Operations to solve complex quality issues, improve process capability, and prevent recurring defects.
You'll have....
- •Education & Experience: bachelor’s or associate degree in chemical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent practical experience and demonstrated technical qualification.
- •3 to 7+ years of hands-on experience in automotive assembly plant paint shop operations, OEM paint engineering, or Tier 1 paint/chemical supplier technical service.
- •Quality & Operational Excellence: Hands-on experience driving Quality Management System compliance, root-cause analysis (8D) and Lean manufacturing processes.
- •Paint Operations Knowledge: Strong experience with paint shop materials, chemicals, and automated spray booth equipment.
- •Automotive Paint Standards & ISO Compliance: Proficient in OEM paint process guidelines, standardized coating quality controls, and ISO regulatory compliance.
Even better, you may have....
- •Leadership: Strong cross-functional leadership skills to drive consensus among plant operations, UAW floor operators, maintenance, and Tier 1 chemical/paint suppliers.
- •Data-Driven Analysis: Ability to manipulate complex data sets to identify root causes and drive actionable engineering changes.
- •Communication: Excellent verbal and written technical communication skills for reporting to Plant Managers, VME Manufacturing Directors, and Global Paint Engineering leadership.
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 5 and ranges from $65,100-$109,300.,
This position is a salary grade 6 and ranges from $74,300-$124,500.,
This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $86,600-$144,900.,
This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $99,100-$166,200.
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
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.
