The New Model Program Engineer plays a critical role in the successful launch of new vehicle and powertrain programs across Ford’s North America manufacturing footprint. This position is responsible for driving launch execution across all phases of the program lifecycle, ensuring quality, timing, budget, and issue resolution targets are met.
This is a high-visibility individual contributor role partnering closely with cross?functional manufacturing, engineering, and leadership teams to deliver launch excellence.
What You’ll Do
Serve as a program governance gatekeeper, ensuring adherence to established launch processes and standards
Lead and manage pre?production build events, ensuring quality, readiness, and execution against program objectives
Oversee pre?production vehicle fleet management, including ordering, builds, testing, and disposition
Manage engineering and design change approvals, ensuring changes are validated ahead of prototype and build events
Lead build issue management, driving cross?functional issue resolution and timely closure
Co?chair launch meetings and proactively resolve part support and readiness issues
Execute launch budget elements within New Model Program control
Prepare and present weekly program status and risk assessments
Deliver clear, concise senior leadership communications on program status, risks, and mitigation plans
Support the integration of launch teams into manufacturing plants during ramp?up
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree
4+ years of experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project
2+ years of experience applying structured problem?solving and statistical thinking
1+ year of experience in vehicle or powertrain manufacturing, design, or program management, with exposure to launches or project management
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field
Program or project management experience
Manufacturing or plant?facing experience
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Highly detail?oriented, organized, and execution?focused
Experience supporting vehicle programs from development through production launch
Familiarity with Engineering Change Management and Issue Management processes
Why Join
This role offers the opportunity to work on high?impact vehicle and powertrain launches, collaborate with diverse teams across Ford’s manufacturing network, and contribute directly to successful production ramp?ups.
