Job Title: Design and Release Engineer
Location: Dearborn, MI-Onsite
Travel: Some domestic and international travel may be required, including extended vehicle launch support.
Job Type: Full Time, Contract
Expected hours per week: 40
Schedule: 8:00am-4:00pm
Pay: $42.00-$44.00/hr
Job Description:
We are seeking an experienced Design & Release (D&R) Engineer to support the development and launch of automotive body and exterior systems. This engineer will own assigned components throughout the complete product lifecycle, from early concept and design through validation, production launch, and ongoing engineering changes.
Components may include fixed glass, wiper and washer systems, badging, appliques, spoilers, running boards, roof rails, leafscreens, and other exterior vehicle components.
The ideal candidate will have hands-on automotive product development experience, strong supplier and cross-functional coordination skills, and experience with engineering release, validation, BOM management, and vehicle launch activities.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop, validate, and release automotive body and exterior components.
- Own assigned components from concept and sourcing through prototype, validation, launch, Job 1, and production.
- Manage engineering releases and BOMs using systems such as WERS, Teamcenter, Vismockup, and AVBOM/FEDE BOM.
- Develop engineering requirements, specifications, Statements of Work, and technical concepts.
- Review CAD designs for packaging, performance, manufacturability, assembly, quality, cost, and weight.
- Develop and execute DVP/DVP&R validation plans, including durability and functional testing.
- Support engineering prototype builds and component-level testing.
- Work closely with Studio, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Program Management, suppliers, and STA.
- Lead technical design reviews and support engineering change-control activities.
- Troubleshoot product and manufacturing issues using 8D, Six Sigma, root-cause analysis, and other structured problem-solving methods.
- Support assembly-plant implementation, engineering sign-off, production launches, and quality issue resolution.
- Drive continuous improvements in product quality, cost, weight, performance, manufacturability, and assembly.
- Support suppliers and manufacturing facilities as needed, including travel during critical vehicle-launch periods.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Product Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 3+ years of automotive body/exterior product development experience.
- Automotive Design & Release Engineering experience with body and/or Class A exterior components.
- Experience working with automotive CAD and component development.
- Experience managing parts throughout the automotive product development lifecycle.
- Experience with engineering release and product lifecycle systems such as:
- Teamcenter
- Vismockup
- WERS
- AVBOM / FEDE BOM
- Experience with DVP/DVP&R, validation, durability testing, functional testing, and prototype development.
- Experience supporting suppliers, manufacturing operations, assembly plants, and vehicle launches.
- Strong technical problem-solving and cross-functional communication skills.
- Ability to work fully onsite from day one.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of automotive Design & Release or Product Engineering experience.
- Previous product development or systems experience.
- Experience with GPDS, WERS, AIMS, Waterfall, and Robustness Engineering.
- Experience designing injection-molded/Class A exterior components.
- Knowledge of APQP and production part approval processes.
- Experience with 8D, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Green Belt methodologies.
- Experience supporting Job 1 and vehicle production launches.
- Experience working directly with Tier 1 suppliers and Supplier Technical Assistance teams.
- Master’s degree in Engineering or a related discipline.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an automotive D&R/Product Engineer who has personally owned body or exterior components from concept through production. They should be comfortable reviewing designs, managing engineering releases, coordinating suppliers, developing validation plans, troubleshooting issues, and supporting parts at the assembly plant.
Candidates with direct D&R experience and familiarity with WERS, Teamcenter, Vismockup, AVBOM/FEDE BOM, DVP&R, and vehicle launch activities will be especially strong fits.
Key Skills
- Automotive Design & Release Engineering
- Body / Exterior Component Development
- CAD & Injection-Molded Component Design
- Teamcenter / Vismockup
- WERS / AVBOM / FEDE BOM
- DVP / DVP&R & Validation
- Engineering Change Management
- Supplier Management / STA
- APQP
- 8D / Six Sigma / Root-Cause Analysis
- Vehicle Launch & Assembly Plant Support
- Project Management
Important: This position is fully onsite from day one. Remote-only candidates cannot be considered. Candidates relocating to the area should be prepared to relocate at their own expense.
Benefits: 80 hours paid time off, and medical insurance contributions, dental vision and our 401k retirement savings plan.
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