Sterling Axle Chem Lab Engineering Specialist

Ford Motor Company

Sterling Axle Chem Lab Engineering Specialist is a critical dual-function role responsible for leading the plant’s contamination control strategy and managing the daily operations of the Chemical Laboratory. This individual acts as the primary subject matter expert for the Contamination Quality Operating System (QOS), ensuring all production areas meet rigorous Engineering Specifications (ES) through advanced analytical testing and data-driven insights. The successful candidate will blend technical expertise in materials analysis. You will be responsible for driving continuous improvement in contamination controls, managing laboratory budgets, and ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and throughput.

What you will do ...

Technical Leadership & Contamination Control

QOS Ownership: Champion the Contamination Quality Operating System within the plant, proactively identifying and driving continuous improvement opportunities. Analytical Testing: Perform and oversee complex analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), Automatic Optical Microscopes (AOM), and Microscope Particle Counters. Contamination Identification: Utilize technology to identify sources of non-metallic contamination and support root-cause investigations. System Monitoring: Gage R&R and calibration knowledge of lab equipment. Track coolant system, washer health systems, and POU contamination checks and drive QOS around them. Data Management: Maintain precise records and monitor data trend charts to identify variations, communicate results and reaction plans to the plant team when failures occur.

Quality, Audits & Investigation

Compliance: Schedule and conduct internal contamination and Engineering Specification (ES) audits; support external third-party environmental and quality audits. Problem Solving: Support Internal Quality meetings, warranty investigations, and customer issue resolutions pertaining to contamination analysis. Reporting: Present technical data and analytical findings in a clear, concise manner to plant leadership.

Laboratory Operations & Supervisory Duties

Personnel Management: Oversee third party fluid management team that resides in plant. Accountability: Hold team members accountable for following standardized processes regarding Safety and Quality. Asset Management: Ensure all lab equipment is maintained, calibrated, and operational. Manage preventative maintenance, repairs, and spare parts inventory. Financial & Workplace Standards: Maintain strict 5S standards and workplace organization. This lab is under transformation from traditional to lean, candidate will lead that transformation to a lean manufacturing model area standard.

What you'll have ...

Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related Engineering discipline. Technical

Experience

• Proven experience operating laboratory analytical equipment, specifically Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) and Optical Microscopes.

• Manufacturing Knowledge: Experience working within a manufacturing or industrial laboratory environment with a focus on quality systems.

• Even better, you may have...

• Leadership: Prior experience supervising hourly personnel, ideally within a unionized (UAW) environment.

• Specialized

Skills

• Proficiency with FTIR analysis and PAMAS particle counting systems.
• Audit

Experience

• Familiarity with ISO standards and conducting internal/external quality audits.

• Analytical Mindset: Strong ability to interpret complex data trends and perform root-cause analysis for technical failures.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for presenting technical findings to non-technical leadership.

• 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 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 7 and ranges from $84,480-141,360.

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

• 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.

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• Change the world with your ideas.

• Speak up. We’re listening. At Ford, we believe the right ideas, and the people behind them, can move an entire industry. Here, you'll work with teams who value your voice, push bold ideas forward, and leave a mark that lasts.

• Support designed to go the distance.

• From day one, Ford invests in you with medical benefits built to help you plan for what’s next. You’ll also get support for you and your family that meets you at every step, so you can move forward with confidence.

• Ford gives me the space to innovate, to lead, and to serve — all while staying true to who I am as an engineer, educator, and parent. It’s not just a career; it’s a community that drives change.