Lighting Engineer - Exterior Lighting

In this position...

The Ford Exterior Lighting Engineer role is intended for an experienced automotive lighting Design & Release engineer who can independently lead exterior lighting systems from early concept through production launch. The role requires deep working knowledge of lamp design, CAD/package development, requirements cascade, supplier execution, validation planning, tooling readiness, production release, and launch issue resolution. This engineer will lead cross-functional execution with lighting suppliers, optics, studio, software, electrical, purchasing, manufacturing, supplier technical assistance, and quality teams while balancing performance, craftsmanship, cost, weight, timing, and regulatory compliance.

Our ideal candidate is an experienced, hands-on exterior lighting engineer who can quickly contribute with limited ramp-up time. This candidate should be comfortable developing preliminary CAD concepts, assessing design feasibility, driving supplier design convergence, identifying risks early, and making sound engineering decisions across mechanical, optical, electrical, software, manufacturing, validation, and quality interfaces. The candidate must demonstrate strong ownership, technical judgment, communication, and program leadership skills.

This role is intended for an experienced engineer who can contribute quickly in a Design & Release environment. The right candidate will bring practical exterior lighting experience, strong technical ownership, and the ability to work effectively with suppliers and cross-functional teams.

Product Development Engineer: Exterior Lighting 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!

What you'll do...

• Systems Engineering for Exterior Lighting

• Generate and execute technical solutions for Exterior Lighting components to support new vehicle programs

• Perform complex engineering evaluation analysis

• Translate vehicle, regulatory, appearance, optical, electrical, software, manufacturing, and quality requirements into robust exterior lighting component designs

• Develop preliminary CAD design proposals, package studies, section reviews, design-in-context assessments, and conceptual CAD models to support early design development.

• Work cross-functionally to implement cost savings, product improvements, and to support prototype and production build activities+

• Lead supplier technical execution, including design reviews, CAD/data reviews, tooling readiness, issue resolution, cost/weight tradeoffs, and launch support

• Balance attributes such as cost, weight, complexity, and timing

• Production release of Exterior Lighting systems, subsystems, components, and features

• Drive validation readiness and evidence of compliance through DFMEA, DVP&R, inspection/testing review, functional assessments, and corrective action closure

• Core requirement and technology development

• Communicate information to and from internal and external organizations

• Lead team meetings (suppliers, designers, engineers, manufacturing, supplier quality, etc.)

• Travel as required (including international)

What you'll do...

• Systems Engineering for Exterior Lighting

• Generate and execute technical solutions for Exterior Lighting components to support new vehicle programs

• Perform complex engineering evaluation analysis

• Translate vehicle, regulatory, appearance, optical, electrical, software, manufacturing, and quality requirements into robust exterior lighting component designs

• Develop preliminary CAD design proposals, package studies, section reviews, design-in-context assessments, and conceptual CAD models to support early design development.

• Work cross-functionally to implement cost savings, product improvements, and to support prototype and production build activities+

• Lead supplier technical execution, including design reviews, CAD/data reviews, tooling readiness, issue resolution, cost/weight tradeoffs, and launch support

• Balance attributes such as cost, weight, complexity, and timing

• Production release of Exterior Lighting systems, subsystems, components, and features

• Drive validation readiness and evidence of compliance through DFMEA, DVP&R, inspection/testing review, functional assessments, and corrective action closure

• Core requirement and technology development

• Communicate information to and from internal and external organizations

• Lead team meetings (suppliers, designers, engineers, manufacturing, supplier quality, etc.)

• Travel as required (including international)