Research Engineer – Sensor Technologies

In this position…

The Sensing Technologies and Algorithms team is multidimensional team of experts tasked with conducting applied research in the domains of interior and exterior sensing systems, technologies, capabilities, architectures, and features. This role requires taking the lead in exploring new sensor hardware, performing data analysis, developing sensing algorithms, proposing test plans, evaluating sensor performance, delivering proof-of-concept demonstrations, and implementation readiness process. 

What you'll do…

The ideal candidate will have expertise in the fundamentals of one or more sensing technologies as well as experience developing algorithms with data-driven evaluation techniques. The candidate will have a proven track record of developing and progressing a structured research portfolio to take sensing technologies from ideas to proven concepts and application readiness.

• Grow and maintain expertise in state-of-the-art camera, radar, or UWB hardware advancements.
• Identify opportunities for innovating automotive sensing suites to improve quality and reduce costs.
• Develop sensing solutions for interior sensing features such as Child Presence Detection, Driver State Monitoring, and Cabin Monitoring as well as exterior sensing features such as Proximity Detection, 360° surround view, and automated driving. 
• Collaborate with cross functional teams including strategy and planning, application/product engineers, and others in defining data needs, validation of solutions against real-world application benchmarks, quality and robustness checks and continuous improvement.
• Through self-learning and deep research identify novel sensing solutions that can apply to new problem statements with atypical feature constraints. 
• Publish internally and externally to engage in knowledge dissemination through teaching, mentoring, and seminars as well as through any Ford learning and development programs. 
• Develop a research portfolio for progressing external research with leading universities.

You will have…

• Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Robotics
• 3+ years of demonstrated hands-on experience in developing and implementing camera, radar, or Ultra-wideband (UWB) hardware
• 1+ years of hands-on experience in developing signal processing, data analysis, or computer vision solutions.
• 1+ years of product development and system integration.

Even better, you may have…

• PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Robotics 
• Experience with designing and testing internal sensor hardware components such as camera components or UWB antennas.
• Experience with pairing sensors with embedded or low-power compute hardware such as SOCs or FPGAs
• Experience in AI/ML techniques for object detection and tracking, scene understating, multi-modal perception, and sensor fusion.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, innovative thinking, and ability to identify, propose and lead new research projects that have a clear near or far value add.
• Passionate about staying abreast of large-scale challenges and disruptive changes in sensing technologies and their real time realizations for quickly establishing applicability to Ford engineering problems to create/contribute to the Ford’s strategic and leadership vision.

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 7-8. For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR-HTHD

Visa sponsorship is 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 committed to a culturally diverse workforce. 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.

#LI-Hybrid