Ford Racing - Suspension and Chassis Controls Engineer
Ford · Allen Park, MI
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $65k–$109k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 1+ years
- Industry
- Automotive
- Posted
- Yesterday
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Ford (automotive) in Allen Park, MI. If you're a competitor, innovator, or performance obsessive, Ford Racing is where you belong.
- They ask for
- 1+ years · degree required
- Base pay
- $65k–$109k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
How this role compares
Against 56 other live controls postings in Michigan.
- Base pay
- About 24% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (1+ vs 5+)
Typical $85k–$143k, from 16 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Automation 77%
- Robotics 65%
- PLC 61%
- New product launch 32%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 30%
- AutoCAD 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention 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 Controls team at Ford
We found 9 people at this company and state: 7 on the team, 2 leaders. 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 Mike → (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?
- 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 Allen Park
7 other open roles at this site · 9 people we found on the controls team.
- Ford Racing Powertrain Quality Engineer · Quality
- Closures Systems Launch Engineer · Manufacturing
- Autonomous Robotics Launch Engineer · Controls
- Licensing & Automation Engineer-Client Productivity Applications: · Controls
- Manufacturing Engineer- New Model Launch · Manufacturing
- Six Sigma Black Belt Ford Racing · Lean / CI · Black Belt
Full description from FordAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What you'll do…
- ◆Designing and implementing the chassis controls on the vehicle dynamics module (VDM) controlling Ford Racing’s off-road semi-active suspensions.
- ◆Specification, design, implementation, and testing of low-level and high-level software for semi-active suspension controls
- ◆Identify reusable strategies from current Ford in-house controls to accelerate new Ford Racing algorithm development
- ◆Develop software strategies that utilize a mix of Ford and Ford Racing in-house resources as well as outside resources
- ◆Develop embedded software from low-level hardware drivers to application layer components
- ◆Design and specify interfaces between application software and firmware
- ◆Expand Ford Racing Simulink models to control new semi-active suspension hardware (Stabilizer Bars, new damper technology)
- ◆Work with/resolve ambiguity in requirements/specifications/designs
- ◆Create elegant, efficient real-time software components and interfaces
- ◆Develop software component testing methodologies and implementations to ensure maturity/stability/release readiness
- ◆Develop SIL/HIL testing methods for Ford Racing modules including using hardware debuggers
- ◆Familiar with ISO26262-compliant software
- ◆Instrument and profile software to identify opportunities for optimization on the submodule and system level
- ◆Develop comprehensive test plans and perform thorough testing to validate firmware functionality, stability, and performance under normal, extreme, and faulted conditions
- ◆Hands-on hardware bring-up, system debugging, and code optimization
You'll have...
- ◆Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering; equivalent experience demonstrating exceptional ability may also qualify.
- ◆1+ years of relevant experience in embedded design and/or controls.
- ◆High proficiency in Embedded C/C++ programming.
- ◆High proficiency with MATLAB and Simulink modeling.
- ◆Proficiency in embedded systems and microcontrollers.
- ◆Knowledge of electrical engineering fundamentals, including circuit analysis and design.
- ◆Highly collaborative mindset and strong communication skills.
- ◆Experience with JIRA/Confluence or a similar system for tracking inputs and results.
Even better, you may have...
- ◆Working knowledge of semi-active damper technology, including solenoid controls, internal bypass dampers, and CCD dampers.
- ◆Working knowledge of mechatronic chassis devices, such as steering and brake controls.
- ◆Experience in early prototype development.
- ◆Experience with in-vehicle software integration and testing.
- ◆Experience with Embedded Coder code generation.
- ◆Experience with Vector AUTOSAR integration.
- ◆Experience in powertrain controls or chassis controls.
- ◆Experience with Ford Networked Vehicle (FNV) architecture.
- ◆Experience with Ford and Vector diagnostic software, including DET, CANalyzer, and CANape.
- ◆Experience with fundamental PCB hardware components and their analysis tools.
- ◆Fluency in software fundamentals, including software design and maintainability.
- ◆Hands-on experience in hardware bring-up, system debugging, and code optimization.
- ◆Working knowledge of the Ford Platform Software Release process.
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
- ◆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
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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...
We’re looking for an experienced and talented individual to join Ford Racing to serve as a controls engineer who will deliver semi-active suspension and chassis controls across multiple programs.
As we expand our global Ford Racing team, we are seeking an engineer that can help shape our growth, our people and our products. This role will be focused on managing embedded controls work Pre-PS through OPD for all Ford Racing Applications. Applicants will also interface with teams including powertrain, chassis and architecture engineers, and digital performance feature owners, allowing for numerous opportunities to expand technical knowledge in a wide area of automotive technologies, systems, and components.