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Closures Systems Launch Engineer

Ford · Allen Park, MI

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Level
Engineer
Team
Manufacturing
Base pay
$133k–$251k
Experience asked
3+ years
Industry
Automotive
Posted
4 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level manufacturing role at Ford (automotive) in Allen Park, MI. In Mechanical Engineering or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

They ask for
3+ years
Tools it names
GD&T, Stamping, Casting, CATIA / NX
Base pay
$133k–$251k
Day to day
some off-shift / weekend coverage

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

How this role compares

Against 62 other live manufacturing postings in Michigan.

Base pay
About 62% above similar roles

Typical $74k–$162k, from 22 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
Less than usual (3+ vs 4+)

Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ New product launch 63%
  • Tooling 59%
  • Lean 43%
  • FMEA 37%
  • Root cause 37%
  • Team leadership 30%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for Stamping, Casting, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 3+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone on the team first.

At a glance

Off-shift / weekend coverageTraining program

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. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Ford

    We found 12 people at this company and state: 9 on the team, 3 leaders, plus 2 likely hiring managers. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓

  2. 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 Rob → (free)
  3. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • What does a normal week look like on your team?
    • Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
    • How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
    • How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 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. 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 · 12 people we found on the manufacturing team.

All 8 roles at Ford →
Full description from FordAs posted on their careers site.Show

requirements

related to door retention and closure systems.

  • ✓Craftsmanship: Strong understanding of GD&T and how mechanism tolerances impact vehicle-level gaps, flushes, and user perceived quality.
  • ✓Hands-on Approach: Experience in physical prototyping and a "boots-on-the-ground" mentality during production build events.

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 $132,800-$250,800.

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/LL6

Visa sponsorship is 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.

Show full description ↓

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.

Product Creation and Industrialization (PC&I) brings together Ford’s vehicle, electric, digital and design teams with our global manufacturing system. Working as one end-to-end organization, we turn ideas into high-quality vehicles, software and experiences across gas, hybrid and electric, designed around what customers need.

In this position...

The Staff Closures Systems Engineer will be a key member responsible for the design, development, and integration of closure mechanisms for Advanced EV development programs. This role spans the entire product lifecycle, from supporting early concept development and studio feasibility to leading production-level engineering and launch. You will focus on the complex world of moving parts—including door, hood, and tailgate latches, hinges, struts, and handles—ensuring these systems integrate seamlessly with sheet metal structures and meet all functional, safety, and aesthetic requirements.

What you'll do...

  • •Lead the mechanical development and integration of closure systems, including door latches, hinges, hood/tailgate hardware, struts, and exterior handles.
  • •Act as a primary individual contributor for production-level engineering, ensuring all components meet rigorous performance and durability standards for vehicle launch.
  • •Support early-stage concept development, working closely with Studio Design to ensure "Class A" surfaces are compatible with mechanism kinematics and packaging requirements.
  • •Integrate complex mechanisms into sheet metal environments, providing technical expertise on reinforcements, attachment strategies, and material selection.
  • •Interpret and utilize CAE simulation results (kinematics, strength, and crash) to optimize designs and resolve integration issues before physical prototyping.
  • •Own the CAD and BOM for closure systems, delivering high-quality surface development, datum strategies, and comprehensive GD&T.
  • •Collaborate with cross-functional teams within engineering, manufacturing, and purchasing to ensure system manufacturing, assembly feasibility, and serviceability. Support vehicle development milestones and prototype/production build events
  • •Manage supplier technical execution to ensure components meet Ford’s stringent quality and functional specifications.

You'll have...

  • •B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
  • •3+ years of experience owning components through a full production vehicle development cycle and launch.
  • •5+ years of experience in automotive closures or mechanism engineering.
  • •5+ years of experience utilizing CAD collaboratively (3DX or CATIA preferred; NX, ICEMSURF, or Alias considered).
  • •Demonstrated experience in the design and release of moving mechanical systems (latches, hinges, or actuators).

Even better, you may have...

  • •Expert Mechanical Fundamentals: Deep understanding of mechanism kinematics, linkages, and electromechanical integration (e.g., e-latches and powered closures).
  • •Materials & Manufacturing: Strong knowledge of sheet metal stamping, casting, and materials science to facilitate seamless integration of hardware into the vehicle body.
  • •CAE Literacy: Ability to leverage CAE tools to drive design decisions regarding mechanism stiffness, timing, and structural integrity.
  • •Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with global safety standards and FMVSS

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