Job DescriptionIn this position...
Ford Energy is growing our Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) portfolio, and we're looking for a BESS Module Design & Release (DR) Engineer to own the technical design and release of our BESS battery modules. This role's primary focus is design and release: ensuring module-level hardware (cell integration, module enclosure, thermal management, electrical interconnects, and module-level safety features) meets performance, safety, quality, and reliability targets from concept through production release.
In addition to core DR responsibilities, this engineer will support Total Value Management (TVM) activities and partner closely with Purchasing on component sourcing and procurement strategy for module hardware. You'll work hand-in-hand with our battery partners and internal design, test, quality, and manufacturing teams, with the opportunity for scope to expand across unit, rack, and container levels as our product line matures.
ResponsibilitiesWhat you'll do...
- Module Design & Release (Primary Focus)
- Own design and release (DR) responsibilities for BESS battery modules, including cell integration, module enclosure, thermal management, electrical interconnects, busbars, and module-level safety features (e.g., venting, fusing, sensing).
- Develop and maintain subsystem technical specifications (SSTS), component technical specifications (CTS), bills of material (BOMs), and bills of design (BODs) for module-level hardware.
- Lead or support DFMEA, DVPR, and design reviews to ensure module designs meet safety, performance, durability, and manufacturability requirements before release.
- Drive root cause analysis and corrective action for design issues identified during testing, build events, or field operation, closing the loop with battery partners and internal design teams.
- Ensure module designs comply with applicable standards, including UL 1973, UL 9540/9540A, IEC 62619, and Ford Energy internal design specifications.
- Consume and act on DV/PV test results and reports delivered by the DV/PV Testing team, incorporating findings into design updates, engineering changes, and release decisions.
- Total Value Management (TVM) Support
- Support Total Value Management activities for battery modules, balancing function, cost, quality, and timing to identify value engineering / value analysis (VE/VA) opportunities.
- Provide engineering input into should-cost models and design benchmarking to help identify cost-down opportunities without compromising safety or performance.
- Support development and presentation of cost-benefit trade studies to program leadership as needed, tracking value-added design actions through implementation.
- Procurement & Sourcing Support
- Support Purchasing in the procurement and sourcing of module-level hardware, providing technical requirements, specifications, and evaluation criteria for supplier and component selection.
- Partner with Purchasing on supplier technical assessments, quoting activities, and sourcing decisions, ensuring selected components and suppliers meet design, quality, and program timing requirements.
- Support supplier onboarding and technical qualification activities in coordination with Purchasing and Quality.
- Cross-Functional & Supplier Collaboration
- Serve as the primary technical interface between Ford's internal design team and battery cell/module supply partners for module design and release.
- Collaborate with Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, and the DV/PV Testing team to ensure module designs are release-ready and aligned with program timing.
- Coordinate engineering changes, manage documentation through Ford's PLM systems, and support supplier technical reviews and design maturity milestones (e.g., DVPR sign-off, PPAP).
QualificationsYou'll have...
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 3+ years of experience in design & release engineering or product engineering, ideally within BESS, automotive, or other complex electro-mechanical/battery systems.
- Working knowledge of battery energy storage safety and performance standards (e.g., UL 1973, UL 9540/9540A, IEC 62619) and/or Ford Energy internal design and test specifications.
- Experience developing or supporting DFMEA, DVPR, BOM/BOD, and design release documentation.
- Experience partnering with Purchasing or supply chain teams on sourcing, supplier evaluation, or procurement of engineered components.
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience working directly with external suppliers or battery partners.
- Proficiency with CAD and PLM tools (e.g., NX, Teamcenter, CATIA, or similar).
Even better, you may have...
- Experience with battery module-level design: cell-to-module integration, thermal management, busbar/interconnect design, or module-level venting and safety features.
- Exposure to should-cost modeling or formal Value Engineering/Value Analysis (VE/VA) training.
- Familiarity with UL 1973 and UL 9540A module-level thermal runaway and propagation testing, and how to translate results into design action.
- Experience with Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), design of experiments (DOE), or other robust design methodologies.
- Prior experience supporting BESS or energy storage programs from concept through production launch.
- Advanced degree in engineering or related technical field.
- Location & Travel
- This position is based in Dearborn, Michigan. Periodic domestic and international travel expected to support supplier sites, global partner coordination as needed.
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 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
Company: As Ford establishes a wholly owned subsidiary focused on Battery Energy Storage Systems, this role will initially be employed by Ford and is expected to transition to the subsidiary within one year.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.
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