Product Development Engineer
US$65,000 – US$166,000 / yr base salary
Posted 29 Sep 2026
Advertised as “Product Development Engineer – Transmission Systems”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Expected experience
- 4+ yrs
- Management level
- People management
- Employment
- Hybrid
- Visa sponsorship
- Not offered
| Base salary | US$65,000 – US$166,000 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyAutomotive Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering (or related)
Study levelBachelor's
Field of studyAutomotive Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering (or related)
Study levelMaster's
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!
In this position...
The Front Wheel Drive Transmission Systems team is seeking a Product Development Engineer to lead quality improvement and cost optimization initiatives for advanced hybrid and automatic transmission systems. This role provides the opportunity to work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and service teams to identify, investigate, and resolve complex vehicle and transmission issues that directly impact customer satisfaction and business performance.
Responsibilities
What you'll do…
Lead cross-functional quality improvement, warranty reduction, and cost optimization initiatives for front-wheel-drive hybrid and automatic transmission systems.
Analyze early-life and long-term field performance trends and develop quality improvement actions.
Develop repair cost reduction strategies while maintaining customer satisfaction and product quality.
Lead component and system cost optimization initiatives while maintaining quality and customer satisfaction.
Develop and implement initiatives to reduce field repair frequency and improve product reliability.
Lead root-cause investigations and implement corrective actions that improve quality performance, reduce warranty spend, and lower product lifecycle costs.
Proactively identify emerging product concerns through data analysis, field investigations, and cross-functional collaboration.
Develop business cases, risk assessments, and implementation plans for high-priority quality and cost initiatives.
Provide warranty data analysis and field performance insights to support product development, quality, and service engineering activities.
Maintain project documentation including technical reports, 8D corrective action reports, and management summary materials.
Present project status, technical findings, and recommendations to engineering leadership and management teams.
This position follows a hybrid work model, requiring onsite presence four days per week (Monday through Thursday) in Livonia, Michigan.