Product Development Engineer – Testing Electrical Distribution System (edf)

Ford Ford · Auto · Dearborn, MI +1 · PD Operations and Quality

Product Development Engineer at Ford focused on testing and validation of Electrical Distribution Systems (EDS), including coaxial cable performance, durability cycling, and vibration testing. The role involves test planning, cross-functional collaboration, test setup design, execution, analysis, and reporting to support product sign-off.

What you'd actually do

  1. Define test scope for EDS harnesses, coax cables, connectors, and camera-related circuits. Develop detailed durability test plans (cycling, thermal, vibration) with clear quality metrics and pass/fail criteria.
  2. Partner with Netcom, ADAS, EDS D&R, and suppliers to review and validate coax routing, packaging, shielding effectiveness, and interface compatibility for advanced camera systems.
  3. Review and approve fixture and CAD designs to ensure accurate replication of vehicle conditions (bend radius, routing, stress points). Manage test requests (ELMS) and coordinate setups with Body Lab and Metrology.
  4. Verify incoming parts and oversee harness/coax installation on fixtures under correct routing and strain conditions. Validate continuity and high-speed signal paths using Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) test equipment.
  5. Own the execution of durability cycling tests for in-house programs, ensuring full data traceability, consistency, and repeatability. Lead root cause analysis for any fixture or harness-related issues.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
  • 2+ years of experience in electrical system testing, harness validation, or physical durability testing environments.
  • Strong understanding of vehicle electrical systems, wiring harnesses, and connectors.
  • Demonstrated ability to perform root cause analysis and manage engineering deviations.

Nice to have

  • Experience with coaxial cable performance, RF shielding, and high-speed data validation.
  • Hands-on experience using Vector Network Analyzers (VNA) or other signal integrity test equipment.
  • Familiarity with environmental chamber testing, vibration tables, and mechanical cycling fixtures.
  • Knowledge of Ford engineering systems and tools (such as FEDE, RQT, and ELMS).
  • Experience reviewing CAD designs (e.g., CATIA) for routing, packaging, and bend radius assessments.