STA Technical Specialist - Machining

We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

The Ford Purchasing team adds critical value to the entire organization. You’ll help us source the highest quality parts and services from around the globe while ensuring optimal cost and on-time delivery. You’ll also contribute to establishing a robust supply chain so that we can continually produce the vehicles our customers want.

In this position...

The Machining Technical Specialist provides technical leadership and hands-on support to help suppliers and internal teams assess, develop, and improve machining processes. This role evaluates new and changing manufacturing processes, supports the investigation and resolution of current and emerging quality issues, and strengthens technical capability through team training and development.

Working across the Global Supplier Technical Assistance organization and with suppliers and relevant internal stakeholders, the specialist helps identify process risks, determine root causes, and drive sustainable corrective and preventive actions. The role requires substantial travel to supplier and manufacturing sites, with travel levels varying according to business priorities.

What you will do...

• Assess new, modified, and existing machining processes for capability, process control, product quality, and risk.
• Provide on-site technical support for machining-related quality concerns, including containment, investigation, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and verification of effectiveness.
• Support resolution of current and emerging issues involving machining operations, equipment, tooling, workholding, cutting tools, process parameters, inspection, and operator methods.
• Evaluate manufacturing readiness and process robustness during supplier assessments, launches, changes, and recovery activities.
• Identify process weaknesses and recommend practical improvements to reduce variation, defects, downtime, and recurrence of quality issues.
• Review relevant process documentation and objective evidence, such as process flows, control plans, work instructions, capability data, inspection results, and corrective-action records.
• Coach suppliers and internal teams in machining fundamentals, process assessment, structured problem solving, and effective corrective-action practices.
• Develop and deliver training, technical guidance, and knowledge-sharing materials to build machining capability across the STA organization.
• Communicate assessment findings, risks, and recommendations clearly to technical and leadership audiences.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to align on priorities, escalation needs, and resolution plans.
• Document assessments, findings, actions, and lessons learned in accordance with applicable organizational processes.
• Travel to supplier and manufacturing locations—approximately 50–75% of the time—to conduct assessments, support issue resolution, and deliver training.

The Machining Technical Specialist’s responsibilities include:

• Acting as the corporate technical lead for machining.
• Leading manufacturing-risk assessments and supporting the industrialization of new technologies through the GTDS process.
• Collaborating with industry experts to develop global manufacturing standards and assessments.
• Driving prevention of recurrence by creating and maintaining Ford manufacturing-process standards that capture lessons learned, best practices, and technical innovations.
• Conducting manufacturing-process assessments based on a priority model.
• Staying current with manufacturing technology developments by benchmarking processes, methods, and equipment.
• Leading technical problem-solving for significant quality issues, including Stop Ships and Field Actions, as well as production-supply and warranty concerns under the Balanced Single Agenda for Quality.
• Providing technical training, mentoring, and consulting.
• Developing training materials for special manufacturing processes and advanced new technologies.
• Working with Product Development to provide design-for-manufacturing feasibility input.

You'll have...

Minimum

• Bachelor's Degree or 10 years of experience and or relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated experience in machining or manufacturing engineering, supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or a related technical field.
• Strong working knowledge of machining processes, such as turning, milling, drilling, grinding, or other relevant operations.
• Experience assessing manufacturing processes and identifying sources of process variation or product defects.
• Proven ability to use structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis methods and to verify corrective-action effectiveness.
• Ability to interpret engineering requirements, process documentation, inspection results, and manufacturing data.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, including the ability to explain technical issues to varied audiences.
• Ability to work effectively with suppliers and cross-functional teams in a collaborative, results-focused manner.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 50–75%, including occasional international travel as required.

Even better, you may have...

Preferred

• Experience supporting supplier technical assistance, supplier quality, or supplier manufacturing development.
• Experience with machining process capability, statistical methods, measurement systems, and process-control practices.
• Familiarity with CNC equipment, tooling and workholding systems, cutting-tool selection, and machining parameter development.
• Experience with product launches, process changes, manufacturing readiness reviews, or supplier recovery activities.
• Experience delivering technical training, mentoring engineers, or developing team capability.
• Relevant technical degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent practical experience.

Core Competencies

• Technical judgment and practical problem solving
• Process and quality risk assessment
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Supplier engagement and collaboration
• Coaching, mentoring, and knowledge sharing
• Adaptability and sound prioritization
• Follow-through and accountability
• Cultural awareness when working across regions and teams

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 leadership level 6 and ranges from $115,500-$218,100.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6

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. 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.
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