Ford Motor Company

Design Perceived Quality Specialist

Ford Motor Company$99K — $166K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Quality, or Engineering
  • 7-8 years of studio engineering/design experience in Automotive OEM
  • Creative problem-solving skills
  • Deep understanding of automotive materials and manufacturing processes
  • Ability to deliver perceived quality excellence
  • Experience in surface development and execution
  • Collaborative mindset with a team player attitude

Responsibilities

  • Maintain and build Designs PQ assessment reference libraries
  • Improve interior and exterior perceived quality from a design perspective
  • Document and assess Design PQ for product excellence
  • Challenge outdated execution norms for best-in-class fit and finish
  • Share PQ assessments to prioritize design elements
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams for BIC PQ development
  • Assess and develop surface excellence with digital modelers
  • Build trust with Product Development stakeholders
  • Lead the Design PQ Discovery process

Benefits

  • Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage
  • Flexible family care days and paid parental leave
  • Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy reimbursement
  • Employee vehicle discount program including family members
  • Tuition assistance for continued education
  • Active employee resource groups
  • Generous paid holidays and paid time off for community service
  • Option to purchase additional vacation time
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Design Perceived Quality (DPQ) Specialist is responsible for driving Best-In-Class (BIC) interior and exterior fit, finish, and surface execution for Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Bridging the gap between creative design, engineering, and manufacturing, this role collaborates with designers and cross-functional partners to develop optimized surface execution and sections (understanding both "A" and "B" sides) while challenging traditional execution norms. Additionally, the role leads, from a Design perspective, competitive assessment initiatives to document and share Areas of Concern (AoC) and Areas of Excellence (AoE).

Responsibilities

What you'll do...
  • This position maintains and builds Designs PQ assessment reference libraries.
  • Responsible for Improving Interior and Exterior Perceived Quality from a Design POV for both Ford and Lincoln products.
  • Responsible for program assessment and documentation for Design PQ that achieve excellence in all Ford and Lincoln products.
  • Responsible for challenging execution norms and outdated sections to achieve BIC fit and finish, and PQ by TODAY'S NEW standards
  • Responsible for sharing PQ assessment documents w/design team and program to assist in prioritizing value of each element relative to customer perception
  • Works with design teams, design engineering, body engineering, craftsmanship, and manufacturing in the development of sections that enable BIC PQ
  • Collaborates with digital modelers to assess and develop surface excellence and perfection
  • Responsible for assessing 3D surface quality for highlights and execution
  • Responsible for building trust and maintaining positive working relationships with Product Development counterparts (DTO, Craftsmanship, etc.)
  • Leads the Design PQ Discovery process.
  • Responsible for photo documentation of current Global Ford products as well as Global Best-In-Class competitive vehicles and maintains an online reference library (SharePoint site) of both Areas of Excellence and Areas of Concern for specific programs


Qualifications

You'll have...
  • Bachelors degree in Industrial Design, Quality, and/or Engineering
  • 7-8 years of studio engineering and/or design experience in an Automotive OEM
  • Creative experience with knowledge of technical requirements for automotive design
  • Proficient at creative problem-solving.
  • Deep knowledge and understanding of automotive materials used in manufacturing
  • Deep knowledge of what it takes to deliver PQ excellence
  • Must be a great collaborator, works well with others, and has a team player mindset
  • Deep knowledge of surface development and execution with a keen eye for design
  • Deep understanding of materials and manufacturing to achieve BIC design PQ
  • Understands "B" side surface to achieve execution excellence on the "A" side surface
  • Must be a self-starter


Even better, you may have...
  • Experience with OEM's who are considered to have BIC PQ
  • ICEM and Alias CAD literate with ability to pull up assess 3D digital data
  • Computer skills and software knowledge of Microsoft Office
  • # years direct experience with design digital tools
  • Automotive Industrial Design and/or Engineering emphasis preferred
  • Experience working in or with creative cultures
  • Experience of managing multiple stakeholders across complex projects


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 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

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid

#DesignTeam #LI-SC3

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company manufactures or distributes automobiles in addition to offering financial services. The company sells to dealerships for retail sales, and for sale to fleet customers, including commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments. Ford’s vehicle portfolio includes automobiles, buses, tractors, and trucks. Retail financing includes retail installment sale contracts for new and used vehicles, and direct financing leases for new vehicles to retail customers, government entities, daily rental car companies, and fleet customers. Finance receivables in the non-consumer portfolio include products offered to automotive dealers. Ford’s environmental initiatives include compressed natural gas, flexible fuel vehicles, electric drive vehicles, Hydrogen, PC power management, and so on. Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903 and is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan.

Ford Motor Company Careers

Join the dynamic team at Ford Motor Company, a global leader in automotive innovation and manufacturing. At Ford, we are committed to driving human progress by providing outstanding vehicles and mobility solutions. This is an exciting time to become part of our inclusive team, where job opportunities abound and growth is not just a possibility, but a promise.

Work You’ll Do

At Ford Motor Company, you will collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry. Our professionals are at the forefront of automotive technology, leading projects that redefine transportation and sustainability. With a culture rooted in continuous improvement and respect for all, Ford offers a workplace where leadership, diversity training, and innovation are part of everyday life.

Join Our Market-Leading Team

Ford’s commitment to excellence is why we are a leader in the automotive sector. We offer a variety of career paths, from engineering to marketing, all designed to foster professional and personal growth. Our team benefits from Ford’s commitment to professional development and networking opportunities, ensuring that every team member can reach their full potential.

Innovative Work

Engage in work that makes a difference. Ford Motor Company is pioneering developments in electrification, autonomous vehicles, and smart mobility solutions. Our team of over 190,000 employees worldwide is dedicated to crafting experiences that improve the way the world moves.

Be Part of a Great Team

Working at Ford means more than just having a job; it means being part of a global family. Our culture promotes teamwork, integrity, and respect—values that underpin everything we do. We believe in nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment where every employee can thrive.

Future-Proof Your Career

Ford Motor Company is not just a great place to work; it’s a place to build a lasting career. Our employees enjoy competitive benefits, comprehensive health care, and retirement plans that rank among the best in the industry. We support career advancement through extensive training programs and hands-on experience in the latest automotive technologies.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a student interested in an internship, Ford has opportunities that will harness your skills and ignite your ambition. Our hiring process is straightforward and respectful, designed to match your skills and passions with the right position.

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Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Ready to start your journey with Ford? Prepare your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and become part of a company that’s building the future of transportation.

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Learn more about Ford Motor Company
Size
183,000 employees
Market Cap
$44.8 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$1.2 billion
Founded
1903
5 Year Trend
-2.1%
Revenue
$127.1 billion
NASDAQ

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