Automotive Safety Investigation Engineer

Kia Corp.; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium medical insurance

Dental and vision coverage

401(k) plan matching 100% up to 6%

Paid time off

Lease and purchase programs

Holiday shutdown

Paid volunteer hours

Lifestyle amenities at Irvine campus

Job summary

Kia America, Inc. is seeking a Technical Analysis and Investigation Engineer in Irvine, CA. The role leads safety investigations, analyzes field data, and coordinates with Kia development, manufacturing, and external partners to assess and address potential safety issues.

The position emphasizes hands-on vehicle evaluations, data analysis, and collaboration across departments to ensure timely investigations and clear communication with NASO and other stakeholders.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Engineering/Automotive Technology or equivalent work experience required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support safety investigations of Kia vehicles.
• Inspect and document vehicles and components related to customer allegations and safety concerns.
• Provide technical analysis support to Customer Care and notify management of potential safety concerns.
• Interface with internal and external teams, agencies, and partners to support investigations.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Hands-on automotive knowledge

Team collaboration

Education

BS in Engineering/Automotive Technology

Tools

MS Teams

Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Python

Power BI

Job description

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Technical Analysis and Investigation Engineer

Company: Kia America, Inc.

Location:

Irvine, CA, US, 92606

At Kia, we’re creating award-winning products and redefining what value means in the automotive industry. It takes a special group of individuals to do what we do, and we do it together. Our culture is fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative. Our people thrive on thinking differently and challenging the status quo. We are creating something special here, a culture of learning and opportunity, where you can help Kia achieve big things and most importantly, feel passionate and connected to your work every day.

Kia provides team members with competitive benefits including premium paid medical, dental and vision coverage for you and your dependents, 401(k) plan matching of 100% up to 6% of the salary deferral, and paid time off. Kia also offers company lease and purchase programs, company-wide holiday shutdown, paid volunteer hours, and premium lifestyle amenities at our corporate campus in Irvine, California.

Status

Exempt

General Summary

Technical Analysis Engineers lead and support vehicle and component investigations for the Kia North America Safety Office’s goal to quickly detect and assess potential safety issues of Kia vehicles in the field. They review and investigate trends in potential safety issues across the North American market. They provide product analysis engineering support on a case-by-case basis for U.S. customer claims and lawsuits that allege vehicle potential safety issues.

They take ownership of emerging and escalated potential safety issues as assigned and perform vehicle and components evaluation as necessary while continuing to work with the assessment team to evaluate field data and related issues.

They work with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate multidisciplinary reviews, including hands-on inspections of vehicles, systems, and individual components across North America. They also analyze data from a variety of sources to support technical assessments and investigations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Priority One – 35%

• Lead and support safety investigation of Kia vehicles, assigned.
• Organize joint investigations with Kia development, manufacturing and affiliates, review available field and vehicle data, and coordinate next steps for assigned projects.

Priority Two – 25%

• Inspect and document vehicles and components related to customer allegations, field concerns, customer care, and potential safety matters.

Priority Three – 20%

• Provide technical analysis support to Kia Customer Care for customer claims and notify management of potential safety concerns.
• Assist with Kia product technical knowledge to support Kia investigation team, as required.

Priority Four – 10%

• Interface with internal and external teams, agencies, and partners to support investigations; maintain accurate records and provide timely status and investigation updates to management and other NASO teams, particularly to Data Analysis team.

Priority Five – 10%

• Engage in personal technical development and continuous improvement, including identifying trends and recurring concerns, and taking self-study and technical trainings.

Personally Performed Duties

• Support the Kia North America Safety Office (NASO) goal of providing safety to Kia customers through the early detection of potential safety issues, prompt and thorough investigation and assessment, and quick action.
• Identify, prioritize, investigate, and escalate issues according to established department processes.
• Conduct vehicle and component investigations in the field, at Kia, and at affiliate locations to evaluate real-world performance. Gather diagnostic information, review service records, and document vehicle conditions. Vehicles may be in post-crash, post-fire, and/or otherwise damaged condition.
• Maintain accurate investigation records and prepare and deliver findings and investigation status updates to NASO management.
• Support cross-functional teamscomprising of members from various internaland externalstakeholders todrive investigation strategies and technicaldirection andensuretimelysupport frominvolvedparties.
• Apply kinematics and dynamics analysis to assess vehicle performance in crashes and/or fire science methodology in NFPA 921 to assess damage from thermal events.
• Utilize investigation methodologies, forensic analysis techniques, and best practices for safety investigations. This may include driving new, used, and test vehicles, installing various components, and testing and validating the performance of any vehicle system, operation, or component.
• Provide technical assistance to internal business units and external stakeholders in support of claims, potential lawsuit claims defense, and trial preparation.
• Analyze available data to support Early Warning trend investigations and NHTSA inquiries.
• Review and assess NHTSA EWR trend investigations, complaints, and investigations, Kia field data analyses, QIRs, Field Reports, Techline and Customer Care cases, Warranty data, driving and event data, and stakeholder findings related to assigned safety investigations.

Qualifications/Education

BS degree in Engineering/Automotive Technology or equivalent work experience required.

Job Requirement

• Minimum 0-5 years of paid professional experience in automotive technical positions such as Automotive Engineering or in an equivalent engineering environment depending on relevant degree.
• Strong working knowledge of automobiles with the ability to perform hands-on vehicle system performance assessments.
• Experience in thermal events or crash investigations a plus.

Specialized Skills and Knowledge Required

• Hands-on automotive technical knowledge of body, chassis, powertrain, brakes, electrical, and safety systems as well as diagnostic tools.
• Preferred technical knowledge on electrical vehicles systems (EV, PHEV, HEV, etc.)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Good analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work and communicate clearly with members of various KUS departments and foreign entities including but not limited to other subsidiaries and government agencies.
• Advanced knowledge of standard PC software such as MS Teams, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Working knowledge of statistical and component life data analysis concepts.
• Working knowledge of Python, Power BI, or equivalent platforms a plus.
• Physical Requirements: Frequent sitting, seeing, hearing, talking, and typing (in office). Frequent walking, standing, handling, and working in tight spaces (when traveling). Occasional driving. Infrequent lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to travel up to 50% domestically and/or internationally, as required.
• Care for People
• Chase Excellence Every Day
• Dare to Push Boundaries
• Empower People to Act
• Move Further Together
  
  

Pay Range

$77,105.26 - $110,272

Pay will be based on several variables that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to, job-related skills, experience, relevant education or training, etc.

KUS provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, including pregnancy and childbirth and related medical conditions, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, legally protected physical disability or mental disability, legally protected medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, family care or medical leave status, protected veteran or military status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. KUScomplies with applicable law governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which KUS has offices. The KUSEEO policy applies to all areas of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, discipline, termination and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment.

Disclaimer: The above information on this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification and for this position. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.