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.
Ford’s Electric Vehicles, Digital and Design (EVDD) team is charged with delivering the company’s vision of a fully electric transportation future. EVDD is customer-obsessed, entrepreneurial, and data-driven and is dedicated to delivering industry-leading customer experience for electric vehicle buyers and owners. You’ll join an agile team of doers pioneering our EV future by working collaboratively, staying focused on only what matters, and delivering excellence day in and day out. Join us to make positive change by helping build a better world where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.
In this position...
We are seeking a hands-on Thermal Test Engineer to manage our state-of-the-art thermal lab, design specialized test fixtures, and lead all physical testing activities from component characterization to full vehicle validation for our EV thermal management systems. This role generates the empirical data that underpins all design and control decisions.
What you'll do...
• Lab Management: Work with other thermal test engineers and technicians to manage and maintain the thermal test lab facilities, including equipment calibration, scheduling, and ensuring a safe and efficient testing environment.
• Test Fixture Design: Collaborate with Design Engineers to design, procure, and validate specialized test fixtures for component, subsystem, and system-level thermal testing.
• Component & Subsystem Characterization: Plan and execute characterization tests for individual thermal components (pumps, valves, heat exchangers, compressors, etc.) and integrated subsystems (coolant loops, refrigeration circuits, HVAC modules). Provide empirical data to System Engineers for plant model validation.
• Full Vehicle Validation: Lead and execute comprehensive full vehicle thermal validation tests in environmental chambers, climatic wind tunnels, and on test tracks, simulating various real-world and extreme operating conditions.
• Data Acquisition & Analysis: Select, install, and calibrate appropriate instrumentation (thermocouples, pressure transducers, flow meters) and manage high-volume data acquisition systems. Analyze test data to assess performance, identify anomalies, and support root cause analysis.
• Test Automation: Develop and implement automated testing protocols for long-term durability and reliability cycles. Partner with systems and controls engineers to integrate robust safety loops and external monitoring, ensuring autonomous tests operate safely and fail gracefully under anomalous conditions.
• Reporting: Prepare detailed test plans, procedures, and reports summarizing test results, findings, and recommendations for various engineering teams.
• Troubleshooting: Provide critical empirical data and test expertise to support troubleshooting efforts across all thermal engineering disciplines.