Forward Deployment Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

As a Material Planning & Logistics (MP&L) Forward Model Process Engineer, you will be the strategic backbone of our launch resilience, driving the standardization and reliability of Ford's next-generation in-plant logistics. In this specialized role, you will not work in isolation; instead, you will directly support and partner with our base department specialists-Material Flow Engineers, Packaging Engineers, and Automation Engineers-to ensure designs are robust, standardized, and risk-mitigated.
 

Your primary ownership will be to design and enhance the deployment procedures, lead critical Process Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (PFMEAs) across all three domains, and architect robust backup/contingency procedures. You will ensure that when automation, packaging, or material flow systems experience disruptions, our manufacturing plants have validated, seamless fallback procedures to protect plant operations.

You'll have...

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain/Logistics, or a related technical field.
• 1 to 3 years of experience in an advanced manufacturing, automotive, or heavy industry logistics environment.
• Strong foundational knowledge of PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) methodologies and risk assessment tools.
• Experience collaborating with or supporting specialized engineering teams (such as packaging design, facility layout/material flow, or robotics/automation).
• Exceptional technical writing skills with a proven track record of developing clear, highly structured engineering standards, SOPs, or contingency plans.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to facilitate workshops, drive consensus, and bridge technical gaps between engineering and plant operations.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally to support plant launch, benchmarking, and validation activities.

Even better, you may have...

• Advanced degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Supply Chain/Logistics.
• Experience in Business Continuity Planning (BCP) or disaster recovery planning within a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Deep understanding of automation failure modes (e.g., PLC controls issues, industrial network drops, AMR fleet management software failures) and manual recovery protocols.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma methodologies, and formal change management processes.
• Experience utilizing AI-powered tools to integrate in problem solving and solution generation.
• Knowledge of Ford-specific software systems and standards, including GSPAS/APT, WERS, FEDE, and Ford MOS (Manufacturing Operating System) standards.

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 the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage

Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare 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 6 and ranges from $72,480-121,440.  

This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $84,480-141,360.  

This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $96,720-162,120.

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

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 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.

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid    

#LI-CA1 

What you'll do...

• Base Engineering Support & Integration: Partner closely with base Material Flow, Packaging, and Automation Engineers during the forward model phase to review Plan for Every Part (PFEP), 3D Layout & Flow Simulation, Automation Process Application ensuring they align with global MP&L standards. 
• Process & Procedure Enhancement: Own the continuous improvement and authoring of MP&L deployment procedures. Translate complex engineering designs into standardized operating procedures (SOPs), Bill of Process (BoP) guidelines, and standard work instructions for plant floor execution.
• Process Integrity & Risk Assessment:  Lead and facilitate comprehensive Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) for new model program material flow and packaging. Identify critical points of failure across automated systems (AMRs/AGVs/ASRS's), packaging constraints, and material handling bottlenecks.
• Backup & Contingency Procedure Development: For all critical risks and potential disruptions identified in operations, establish, document, and validate backup procedures.  Ensure the plant can seamlessly transition to alternative or manual workflows while maintaining safety, quality, and service levels without interruptions.
• Simultaneous Engineering & Risk Mitigation: Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, and Plant Operations to ensure risk-mitigation strategies and backup procedures are integrated into early facility designs and budget planning.
• Launch Validation & Training: Lead the physical "dry running" and stress-testing of both primary and backup procedures during pre-production launch phases. Train plant logistics personnel on fallback procedures to ensure operational readiness before Start of Production (SOP).