Synthesis of ferromagnetic thin films and engineering of their magnetic properties by Fe ion implantation in polycrystalline Pd

•Polycrystalline ferromagnetic films created by Fe ion implantation in 60 nm Pd.•Magnetic moments up to 4.8 Bohr magnetons per implanted Fe atom.•New model for net magnetic moment reproduces data with explainable deviations.•Fe concentration depth profile connected to magnetization.•Prediction and engineering of magnetic properties on nanometer scale is enabled.