Thermal Systems Engineer

Ford Ford · Auto · Long Beach, CA +1 · PD Operations and Quality

Ford is seeking a Thermal Systems Engineer to design, develop, and integrate fluid-based thermal management loops for electric passenger vehicles, focusing on the coolant subsystem. The role involves defining performance specifications, selecting components, developing and calibrating plant models, conducting thermal and fluidic analysis, and collaborating with other engineering teams.

What you'd actually do

  1. You will lead the design, development, and integration of fluid-based thermal management loops.
  2. Lead the architecture, design, and development of coolant subsystems that interact with HV battery, drive unit, power electronics, refrigeration, and HVAC components.
  3. Define detailed thermal and hydraulic performance specifications for individual components (e.g., pumps, valves, heat exchangers, fans, hoses, degas bottles, etc.) within the coolant subsystem.
  4. Work with application engineers to evaluate and select appropriate components based on performance requirements, cost, packaging constraints, and reliability targets.
  5. Develop, calibrate, and maintain high-fidelity plant models that accurately simulate thermal and hydraulic behavior of the subsystem's components.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
  • 3+ years of experience in thermal system design or component engineering.
  • Strong understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics principles.
  • Experience with physical system modeling and simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, GT-SUITE, etc.).
  • Proficiency in Python or similar programming languages for model development.

Nice to have

  • Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
  • Experience with EV thermal management systems.
  • Familiarity with vehicle communication protocols (CAN, LIN) for controlling smart pumps and valves.
  • Strong collaborative skills to work across hardware and software teams in a fast-paced EV development environment.