Autonomous Vehicle development opportunities at F.

BoxheadTim wrote: Do you happen to know how strict they are regarding the degree requirements for really experienced software engineers?

Since it's one of the easy filters, very. But the longer a position is held open, the more likely the requirements will change. It may not be fair, but it is an easy filter.

I know the position in my section requires a Masters. But if it stays open for a long time, I'm sure that will drop to Bachelors.

But once in, the degree requirements pretty much go away. Experience outweighs everything else.

That is actually an intimidating list.

500-600 openings is big to look through, especially if you don't know the name of what you are looking for (even things like 'manager' or 'director' or 'analyst' aren't really that descriptive since they are used so differently at different places.

It would be cool if I could sort by degree held, years of experience needed, etc. Just saying.

Now, back to the list!

In reply to Robbie:

Start with the area first- like Product Development is 371 of those listed. That should help.

Could also try one of the social media sites- I've never used one, so don't know of which one works the best (or even works)

Too bad I didn't get to this earlier. I just made a decision. Announcements soon.

Man that's a big list of job openings. I even toned it down to "entry level" and "product development" as that's what I want to do now that I graduated college. Still, all the jobs ask for 3+ months or 1+ years of automotive design experience. How are recent college grads getting that, and how strict are those requirements?

Throwing my resume and cover letter into the ring. Hopefully I'm not stuck as a shop assistant for too much longer.

In reply to MINIzguy:

When you get to the opening page- tell it you are a Student(instead of Experienced Professional). There are positions specifically for recent grads. While the list appears to be much shorter, the amount of new graduate hires is quite high- even in research- there are 18 openings for upcoming grads.

However, you needed to apply between last Sept and Feb for the main Product Development .. The upcoming season for students is in a few months.

Looks like someone is making a pretty big investment in AV's!

Everyone is.

Keith Tanner wrote: Look through that list, you'll be amazed at what's in there. There's even a listing for something that sounds a little tiny bit creepy: Ford Identity Resolution Manager

I actually qualify for this!

Sadly, I am not willing to move.

Also, I support AV hitting the market ASAP. The less careless drivers on the road the better. It is the eventual legislation that makes self driving illegal that I am not ok with.

alfadriver wrote: In reply to MINIzguy: When you get to the opening page- tell it you are a Student(instead of Experienced Professional). There are positions specifically for recent grads. While the list appears to be much shorter, the amount of new graduate hires is quite high- even in research- there are 18 openings for upcoming grads. However, you needed to apply between last Sept and Feb for the main Product Development .. The upcoming season for students is in a few months.

Ooh I see that tab now.

Couldn't apply for many co-op programs as I went to school out in St. Louis, where no manufacture resides. I'm also the "wrong" engineering major, as I'm biomedical when most people are looking for electrical and mechanical. I'll wait for September to roll around and start applying again. I wanted this summer to focus on autocross anyway!

alfadriver wrote:

BoxheadTim wrote: Do you happen to know how strict they are regarding the degree requirements for really experienced software engineers?

Since it's one of the easy filters, very. But the longer a position is held open, the more likely the requirements will change. It may not be fair, but it is an easy filter. I know the position in my section requires a Masters. But if it stays open for a long time, I'm sure that will drop to Bachelors. But once in, the degree requirements pretty much go away. Experience outweighs everything else.

That's good to know, even if that rules me out completely as I flunked out of university in Germany just before the halfway point of a seven-ish year degree. Guess I'll just have to keep on writing financial trading software then .

Mind you, I've been thinking about going back to school but the prospect of starting an expensive four-year degree at 48 with the associated student loan burden doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

In reply to BoxheadTim:

For people like you- the option of having school paid for via Ford is still happening. So, in theory, you could get a job that does fit your background, and then go get that full bachelor's degree. Or Masters, or even PhD. And it would be paid for.

Whether it's worth doing at 48 while working full time is up to you.

Bumping my own thread.

Found out today that quite a few of the job applicants to my department's openings require visas.

Why are there so few US citizens who are applying and qualified???

If you are going to college, and want a good solid job, there are SO many really good opportunities in Engineering.

Please.

I haven't seen the requirements for these jobs in particular but I have looked at a few similar ones...and this is still a rather specialized field, not many people are going to tick all the boxes, and you're competing with Silicon Valley (and Tesla in particular) for the few who do. Up until a couple years ago, most people were probably thinking the same thing I did when I considered getting a robotics-oriented education, "too specialized, won't find work."

In reply to GameboyRMH:

I'd say it's just the opposite, an engineering degree qualifies you to do almost anything. Not that there wouldn't be retraining, but a bachelors in ME, EE, CE etc. is a nice door opener for a number of different industries outside of engineering, particularly for getting in the door when the company puts up a degree requirement as a screener.

If you can handle the technical work and have decent communications and business skills, you're unstoppable.

alfadriver wrote: Bumping my own thread. Found out today that quite a few of the job applicants to my department's openings require visas. Why are there so few US citizens who are applying and qualified??? If you are going to college, and want a good solid job, there are SO many really good opportunities in Engineering. Please.

As a former automotive engineer, I jumped ship for the higher pay in the petroleum industry. Couldn't say what the other reasons for so few applicants might be, but that was mine.

GameboyRMH is right about tech though, I know a lot of my co-workers at the time were getting 30- 50% raises to go to tesla, but this was pre- model s release and their stock was on a tear. I don't know what things are like there these days

In reply to Flynlow:

Thing about Tesla and the raise- cost of living. But few ever factor that in.

Petroleum, I get- unless you moved to silicon valley...

GameboyRMH wrote: I haven't seen the requirements for these jobs in particular but I have looked at a few similar ones...and this is still a rather specialized field, not many people are going to tick all the boxes, and you're competing with Silicon Valley (and Tesla in particular) for the few who do. Up until a couple years ago, most people were probably thinking the same thing I did when I considered getting a robotics-oriented education, "too specialized, won't find work."

Well, the idea of Tesla sounds good, but it seems few ever really factor in everything, as I mentioned.

But still- I don't get why there's such a shortage of people. We have hundreds of entry positions every year, and for the work I do- it's jack of all trades.

alfadriver wrote: In reply to Flynlow: Thing about Tesla and the raise- cost of living. But few ever factor that in. Petroleum, I get- unless you moved to silicon valley...

Didn't make sense to me either, that's why I didn't go :). Getting paid 130% of your salary to live in a place that costs 200%+ of the Midwest is a bad long term bet. You're right, few people, even engineers, look at the big picture.

On the other hand, lots got stock options (which seemed like, and might still be, a big bonus every year), and greater control over their area of development vs. being at a bigger corporate OEM . Hard to say which was the motivator...lots of bureaucracy at big companies.

I will say, I think ford is head and shoulders above the other domestics these days, both in final product, and company culture and practices. Their turnaround since ~2008 is very impressive, and I hope the new engineering grads are aware of that and looking at what you guys have to offer.

In reply to alfadriver:

I haven't started looking yet but I'm pretty close to being fed up with life as a tier-1 supplier. What's out there for a tech specialist with 20+ years in chassis controls applications?

In reply to AngryCorvair:

Good question- but if they are anything like this building, very good. Just not sure how to search for chassis controls...

alfadriver wrote: But still- I don't get why there's such a shortage of people. We have hundreds of entry positions every year, and for the work I do- it's jack of all trades.

Because Michigan?

Like you said, many don't take into account the whole picture. Or they do, but their preference for a larger, younger, active, tech, etc. city outweighs their desire to do whatever it is Ford has them doing in Mi. Its one of the biggest reasons my company struggles to attract talent in NC. Its a fantastic place to live IMO (I moved down from the DC area), but not everyone shares that opinion. Others are willing to deal with a higher cost of living, traffic, etc. to get what they want in a job, nightlife, etc.

I know I'd want a BIG pay bump to take a job up there.

Also, what is Tesla paying vs. Ford for the same position?

^That. Even if there were Tech Writing positions up there, I really have no desire to live much further north than I already do (Tulsa, OK) unless I was on the West Coast.

Michigan and the rust belt cities/states, I just have no interest in living there. I don't want to deal with a "real" winter.

alfadriver wrote: In reply to BoxheadTim: For people like you- the option of having school paid for via Ford is still happening. So, in theory, you could get a job that does fit your background, and then go get that full bachelor's degree. Or Masters, or even PhD. And it would be paid for. Whether it's worth doing at 48 while working full time is up to you.

That is interesting, I didn't realise that there were still companies out there that did that. I've worked on economics studies at the Open University in the UK (which is an official state university, but it's all remote/online) while working full-time for an investment bank so I know what that's like.

So how would one go and find those opportunities because everything that does fit my background tends to require a degree in the first place?

Oh, and I don't need visa sponsorship .

In reply to ProDarwin:

Other than the cold (which I think is over rated, especially since we recently moved from Zone 4 to Zone 6 at the USDA), what's so bad about Michigan?

Heck, for the heat, I'd hate living much farther south. We have much less heat issues than most places in the country (thank you very much Canada).

Every area has their environmental issues- I'd really not want to live in Tornado Alley- there's way, way, way more damage done there than anyplace in Michigan. And Florida? No thanks. I'd melt.

Plus lakes.