STA Technical Specialist - Machining

At Ford Motor Company, 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.

The Machining Technical Specialist provides technical leadership and hands-on support to help suppliers and internal teams assess, develop, and improve machining processes.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Qualifications

• 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.

• 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.

Benefits

• 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.