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Design and Release Engineer-Soft Trim Components

Ford Motor Company

Dearborn, MI · HybridJob$65–166K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$65–166K/yr
Location
Dearborn, MIHybrid
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Bachelor's degree

Job overview

The Design and Release Engineer is responsible for designing and releasing soft trim component applications across product development phases, from studio and design through validation and launch. The role develops and validates automotive components, manages cost, monitors supplier and interior-system development, and supports production quality and manufacturing issues. It also identifies design improvements to increase quality and optimize cost and weight.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Automotive Cockpit and Trim ApplicationsLaunchRoot Cause AnalysisCorrective Action ImplementationCADCATIATeamcenterDigital BuckGD&TRSS StudiesDFMEACAEMoldflowComplex SystemsInjection MoldingSecondary ToolingData CompilationOral CommunicationWritten CommunicationTeamworkInterior Instrument Panel SystemsConsole Systems

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering or Similar3+ Years Automotive Cockpit and Trim Experience3+ Years Launch and Root Cause Experience1 Year CAD ExperienceMaster's in Mechanical Engineering or Similar

Benefits

Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Parental Leave
Tuition Assistance
Paid Time Off

Full job 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 Development uses design thinking & user experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that delight our customers. We bring innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. We have opportunities around the world for you to contribute to advancements in autonomy, electrification, smart mobility technologies, and more!

In this position...

This role is responsible for the design and release of Soft Trim components applications for programs throughout all phases of the product development process including Studio, Design, Validation and Launch.

What you'll do...

Design, develop, validate, and release automotive systems, subsystems, and components for FSS/Build-To-Print Suppliers for assigned programs.

Manage Cost for future and current applications.

Monitor the development of Interior Systems for Ford vehicles according to company-specific benchmarks.

Design parts in order to comply with Corporate and Local requirements for parts validation, considering the WCR (Worldwide Customers Requirements), ES (Engineering Specifications) and SDS (Systems Design specifications) as well as the Manufacturing and Assembly requirements.

Translate customer, regulatory, and product requirements into engineering targets.

Monitor suppliers and analyze customer feedback through Ford's systems.

Responsible for parts incorporation at the Assembly Plant.

Support suppliers and assembly departments with current production quality and manufacturing issues.

The D&R is also responsible of looking for design improvements to increase quality and cost / weight optimization.

You'll have...

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar degree.

3+ years of experience in automotive cockpit and trim applications.

3+ years of experience in launch, root cause analysis for design/manufacturing issues, and quick implementation of corrective actions.

1 year of CAD.

Even better, you may have...

Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar degree.

Experience in the use of Design Tools (CATIA/Teamcenter/Digital Buck/GD&T/RSS Studies/DFMEA).

Proficient in the use Analytical Tools (CAE/Moldflow).

Experience with Complex Systems, Injection Molding, and Secondary Tooling.

Ability to compile data in the form of a decision matrix, report summary, etc. to be presented to Program and Interior Management Team.

Strong oral and written communication skills Team oriented.

Self-driven, highly motivated, and accepting to new challenges.

Demonstrated delivery of results.

Experience designing and developing Interior Instrument Panel Systems, Consoles Systems, or related components desired.

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 childcare 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

  • Generous vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day

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: https://fordcareers.co/GSR (https://urldefense.com/v3/\_\_https:/fordcareers.co/GSR\_\_;!!N\_LtwI-RPugbI9wg0dJn!GloCVD6JnFNIMTkD881mq9PJuvJpIxP9xrmuOKHuO2I08zx4x0cT8wz9-\_\_h1ppWLHRlNpZvub1o-3E\_$) .

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.

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#LI-DW1

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How this job compares

Set against the 2,657 open Design Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 7, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$65–166K/yr
  • Michigan median$87–149K/yr37 salary ranges
  • US median$110–160K/yr1,693 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $116K, is close to the Michigan median midpoint ($116K) — in the middle half of Design Engineer salary ranges in Michigan.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 76 open Design Engineer jobs in Michigan and 2,657 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Michigan
Experience
This posting asks for at least 3 years of experience; Design Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (2,180 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 1,811 of the 2,657 open Design Engineer jobs (68%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 7, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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