Design & Release Engineer (DRE) - Interior Trim Plastics

ALTEN Technology USA; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA is seeking a Design & Release Engineer (DRE) for Interior Trim Plastics to lead the design, development, and integration of cockpit trim components for Client vehicles. You will guide material selection, tooling, and launches from concept through production, ensure packaging and interfaces meet system requirements, and drive PPAP and regulatory compliance across the vehicle lifecycle.

The role requires 5+ years in automotive cockpit systems, a related engineering degree, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Automotive Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of automotive cockpit system engineering experience.
• Experience with FMVSS, IIHS, and other regulatory compliance.
• Experience with PLM release processes and engineering changes.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and communicate effectively.
• Strong collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and integration of cockpit trim components from concept to launch.
• Define material selection, tooling reviews, and component launch.
• Ensure FMVSS/regulatory compliance and PPAP documentation.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams across design, manufacturing, safety, and vehicle integration.
• Support prototype builds and launch readiness.
• Lead design reviews at milestones.

Skills

Cockpit system engineering

FMVSS compliance

PLM release process

Design for injection molding

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Automotive Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

PLM software

CAD / 3D modeling

Job description

Design & Release Engineer (DRE) - Interior Trim Plastics

We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life—from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.

As part of the global ALTEN Group—57,000+ engineers in 30 countries, we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.

When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you’ll collaborate on some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Experienced DRE - Interior Trim Plastics to join our growing team.
• This role will be responsible for leading the design, development, and integration of cockpit trim components including IP doors, bins, and finish trim for Client vehicles, ensuring that cockpit trim target performance and features, as well as FMVSS requirements, are met.
• The individual will be responsible for understanding the vehicle’s technical specifications and performance targets.
• Utilizing the APQP process and supporting documentation, this position will ensure Client quality, performance, and regulatory objectives are achieved and sustained throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
• Lead design, development, material selection and launch of cockpit system components (bins, trims, glove box, IP door panels and more)
• Ensure packaging compatibility, interface alignment, and system level functionality.
• Lead product development, material selection, tooling reviews and launch of new components from concept to launch
• Conduct supplier and internal technical reviews to ensure packaging and design issues are addressed/resolved.
• Work with affected teams to ensure that plastic trim components (like removable trim covers, bin doors, bins more) are properly accommodated by the Cockpit system.
• Ensure compatibility with interfacing systems and components, including attaching hardware and joint design.
• Define and integrate critical characteristics (CC/SC) with adjacent systems.
• Deliver products to meet quality and reliability requirements and arrive on time for program milestones, with all necessary PPAP documentation
• Lead Design and Component Integration reviews for each component / system at required milestones.
• Engage with Accessories, Body, Restraints, Design, Manufacturing, Safety, Vehicle Integration (NVH, Vehicle Dynamics), and Vehicle Evaluation and Verification to deliver robust IP Trim Plastics to production that meet vehicle level performance and component requirements.
• Ensure validation of the cockpit systems, reviewing test loads, set ups, reports, and results for both internal and external testing.
• Support prototype builds, DV/PV and launch readiness

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field is required.
• Master's degree is preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in automotive Cockpit System engineering.
• Applications-specific experience in at least 3 of the following areas / components:
• Cockpit complete FMVSS, IIHS and other 3rd party rating validation.
• Cockpit and trim plastic design.
• Interior trim plastic materials and injection molding
• Experience working within a PLM and releasing components and processing engineering changes.
• Functional experience with all NHTSA / FMVSS, CARB, EPA, FCC, or other regulatory requirements.
• Ability to lead teams and meetings through technical tradeoffs and optimized solutions with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.
• Highly adaptable and proactive, excelling in fast-paced start-up and new model launch environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or pregnancy.

Compliance Notice: Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Drug Screening Requirement: As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug-free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in ALTEN Technology USA’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.