Fabrication & Aero Technician

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 Creation and Industrialization (PC&I) brings together Ford’s vehicle, electric, digital and design teams with our global manufacturing system. Working as one end-to-end organization, we turn ideas into high-quality vehicles, software and experiences across gas, hybrid and electric, designed around what customers need.

In this position...
The Aerodynamics Fabrication Technician will report to the Prototype Operations Manager and will support Advanced EV (ADVEV) development teams in two primary capacities:

Work at the direction of the Lead Aerodynamics Prototype Technician to support the Experimental Aerodynamics team in wind tunnel testing of new vehicle models. You will support test article build and wind tunnel test technical support. Test articles are typically full-scale vehicle models consisting of a steel frame fitted with fabricated, machined and 3D printed components representing the exterior surfaces of the vehicle. Components are a combination of wood, high density foam, 3D printed plastics, composite layups, and various fabricated parts and brackets. Each model is fully instrumented to capture air pressure and other data. Test articles may also be prototype vehicles outfitted and adapted for wind tunnel testing.

Work at the direction of the Prototype Operations Manager to support teams beyond Experimental Aerodynamics with the development and testing of next generation electric vehicles. Utilize our in-house fabrication space, tools, and equipment to fabricate prototype parts, test articles, and test equipment. When required the Prototype Technician will also manage outsourcing of prototype production, whether internally within Ford or externally to approved vendors.

What you'll do...

• Adhere to safety procedures and training to ensure a healthy and safe work environment.
• Collaborate freely, honestly, and easily with an extended team to accomplish work objectives.
• Be open to changing priorities and flexible to changing assignments.
• Demonstrate a high level of responsibility and self-sufficiency as you manage your assignments.
• Use shop equipment to construct prototype parts, test articles, and test equipment. This includes manual lathes, manual mills, CNC mills, CNC routers, CNC water jet, CNC laser, sheet metal break and shear, iron worker, TIG/MIG welders, thermo-former, 3D printers, bandsaws, general woodworking equipment, spray finishing equipment, soldering and electronics assembly tools, vehicle lifts and garage equipment, and myriad hand tools.
• Fabricate and prepare parts for full-scale wind tunnel models.
• Perform basic automotive setup tasks such as alignments and part changes.
• Assemble and debug test equipment, hardware, and instrumentation systems. Design and build test fixtures and assembly tools.
• Help transport test articles, tools, and supplies to and from test locations.
• Work with vendors to support prototyping and testing efforts.
• Lift a minimum of 50 lbs.

You'll have...

• An eagerness to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where you are part of a high-performing team.
• Solid work ethic and innate sense of urgency.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to self-manage work assignments and deliver to deadlines.
• 5+ years of fabrication and hardware prototyping experience.
• Experience in mechanical prototyping, and machining.
• Experience with shop/lab equipment installation and maintenance.
• Basic literacy with CAD programs. (able to navigate an assembly, view parts, take measurements).
• Familiarity prepping CAD models for 3D printing and operating 3D printers, or ability to learn.

Even better, you may have...

• Hands-on experience building and launching automotive products and vehicle prototyping.
• Strong background in welding and general fabrication.
• Competent as a manual and CNC prototype / job shop machinist.
• Experience with CAM software and programming (Master Cam, Fusion 360, etc.).
• Competency using Autodesk Fusion 360 and Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE.
• Competency using Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW or other vector art drawing program.
• Experience in machine repair and calibration.
• Experience in professional model making.
• Experience in auto restoration.
• Experience in automotive body work and finish application.
• Experience in automotive service and repair.
• Experience in auto racing.
• Experience in auto restoration and custom car fabrication.
• Experience in aircraft construction (metal, wood, composite).
• Experience in woodworking.
• Experience with composite layup and construction.
• Experience in sheet metal work.
• Experience in mechanical design.
• Experience in DC electronics design/fabrication and mechatronics.
• Skill in soldering and electronic harness assembly.
• A system approach to design and development with the desire and curiosity to strive for exceptional delivery execution and continuous improvement.
• Associate’s degree or professional certification in a technical field.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent experience.

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
• 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
• Generous vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day

This position is a salary grade 6 and ranges from $74,300-$124,500.,

This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $86,600-$144,900.

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. #LI-Hybrid

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