Thermal Systems Engineer at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI

Thermal Systems Engineer

Location: Dearborn, MI, United States

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.

In this position...
As an R&A Thermal Systems Research Engineer, you will pioneer next-generation thermal system components and architectures — engineering energy-efficient, robust, compact, and cost-effective solutions that power the future of mobility. You'll drive innovation across both traditional ICE platforms (Gas, Diesel) and cutting-edge electrified vehicles (xEV, BEV, Fuel Cell), pushing the boundaries of thermal management and vehicle energy performance to shape what drives tomorrow.

What you'll do....

• Lead cutting-edge technology programs to conceptualize, design, develop, validate, and deliver next-generation thermal management systems and components across Ford and Lincoln's full vehicle portfolio — spanning ICE (Gas & Diesel), xEV, BEV, and Fuel Cell platforms.

  • Champion systems engineering rigor by applying advanced problem-solving methodologies (Boundary Diagrams, P-Diagrams, DFMEA, RCL, RDM) to drive design development, cascade requirements, and shape project scope.
  • Partner with and lead cross-functional teams to define requirements and design verification plans that ensure robust, high-performing systems.
  • Own and drive advanced research workstreams end-to-end — from design conceptualization through supplier engagement, simulation, and testing — to deliver breakthrough technology and validate robustness.
  • Translate simulation, bench, and vehicle test data into actionable insights, driving design optimization and performance improvements.
  • Serve as a technical leader and connector across Ford's Research, Product Development, Manufacturing, and Planning organizations to accelerate the launch of new thermal technologies into production vehicles.
  • Define and communicate technical requirements to suppliers, guiding design development and validation of emerging technologies.
  • Engage directly with suppliers to evaluate and advance new thermal systems and component designs.
  • Direct CAD designers to develop innovative technology designs and assess vehicle packaging feasibility.
  • Own systems engineering documentation and serve as the key communicator of engineering assumptions across cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Lead high-visibility GTDS project execution and gateway reviews, presenting technical strategy and progress to senior management.
• Propose and lead collaborative research projects with leading universities to develop new thermal system design concepts and next-generation technologies.

You'll have...

• 5+ years of hands-on design, development, and systems engineering experience in Thermal Systems for ICE (Gas and Diesel) and Electrified Vehicles, with a demonstrated track record of delivering innovative, production-ready solutions.

• Advanced degrees in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering — MS required, PhD strongly preferred — reflecting deep technical expertise and research-driven problem-solving capability.

• Deep technical mastery of thermal system and component design, including coolant and refrigerant subsystems — with a forward-looking perspective on current capabilities, limitations, and emerging technology needs.

Even better, you may have...

• Demonstrated success leading large, complex project teams and cross-functional groups, consistently delivering ambitious project goals on time and exceeding expectations.

• Broad technical fluency across the full propulsion spectrum — ICE (Gas and Diesel) and all electrified architectures — with a strong grasp of vehicle attribute trade-offs to drive optimal system-level design decisions.

• Proven experience developing controls and calibration strategies for vehicle thermal and energy management systems, translating complex system behavior into robust, real-world performance.
• Strong command of thermal system simulation, vehicle testing, and validation methodologies, bridging analytical modeling with real-world performance data.
• Technical proficiency with industry-leading tools, including ATI Vision, MATLAB, LabVIEW, and other commercial thermal simulation platforms, for data processing and simulation.
• Working knowledge of TeamCenter for component visualization and design review.
• Familiarity with Ford Research QOS (GTDS) process, ensuring alignment with gateway milestones and organizational quality standards.
• Exceptional ability to distill complex technical information into clear, compelling updates for management and executive stakeholders.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and modern AI-enabled tools, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency in data processing, documentation, and presentation development.

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 $99,600-$166,600.,

This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $115,000-$192,900.

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:

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.


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At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career and help us define tomorrow’s transportation.