Design Release Engineer - Exterior Launch

Goken America; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Goken America seeks a highly motivated Exterior Launch Support Engineer to provide onsite launch and production support at an automotive manufacturing plant for upcoming vehicle programs. This hands-on mechanical engineering role focuses on exterior systems, quality, and manufacturing readiness in a fast-paced environment.

The successful candidate will lead cross-functional teams, perform root-cause investigations, and ensure design guidelines are updated for future launches, with travel as

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 5+ years Exterior systems experience required.
• Experience supporting production launch of Exterior systems.
• Knowledge of DFMEA and GD&T.
• Demonstrated hands-on troubleshooting and problem-solving capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Design, release and launch Exterior vehicle system components from concept to production.
• Provide onsite engineering support for Exterior systems during launches at the plant.
• Review production data to catch issues early and push fixes upstream.
• Lead root cause investigations using 5-why, Ishikawa, fault tree analysis, and FMEA.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, supplier quality, product engineering and programs teams to resolve issues.
• Update design guidelines and manufacturing or inspection processes for future revisions.
• Support containment, corrective actions, and validation at plant and supplier sites.
• Monitor field, plant, and supplier concerns to identify trends and risks.
• Travel as required.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Skills

Mechanical systems

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Manufacturing readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

DFMEA

GD&T

Job description

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio (USA) with Engineering Centers in Pune, India and Yokohama, Japan, Goken is a global Engineering Services and Product Development company founded in 2004. We partner with OEMs and suppliers across the mobility space, as well as clients in non-mobility industries, to deliver innovative solutions and accelerate product development.

At Goken, we embrace our motto of “Time to Innovate” by pushing boundaries, cultivating entrepreneurial thinking, and empowering individuals who thrive on tackling challenges, embrace fresh ideas, and are driven to create solutions that shape the future. This mindset fuels our mission and empowers our teams to solve complex problems, deliver measurable value, and move our clients and industries forward.

Our Vision is to empower associates to drive innovation and lead meaningful change wherever it’s needed, ensuring we stay ahead of the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. Our Mission is to build trust that fosters greatness in our people, excellence in our clients, and positive impact in the communities we serve.

Goken offers a competitive compensation structure and benefits that support professional growth and personal well-being. We also foster a culture built on high performance, collaboration, continuous improvement, and ongoing professional development.

Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated Exterior Launch Support Engineer to provide onsite launch and production support at an automotive manufacturing plant for upcoming vehicle programs. This role is ideal for a hands‑on mechanical engineer who enjoys solving complex problems in a fast‑paced production environment and is passionate about driving product quality, manufacturing readiness, and successful program launches.

Responsibilities

• Design, release and launch the Exterior vehicle system components and assemblies from concept to production
• Provide onsite engineering support for Exterior systems components during vehicle and component launches at manufacturing plant.
• Proactively review and analyze production data to catch emerging issues early, and push fixes upstream into the design and validation process before they become widespread field problems.
• Lead systematic root cause investigations of field and production issues using methods such as 5‑why, fishbone/Ishikawa, fault tree analysis, and FMEA, working closely with failure analysts to identify true failure mechanisms rather than symptoms.
• Work cross‑functionally with manufacturing, quality, supplier quality, product engineering, and program teams to resolve issues quickly and effectively.
• Update design guidelines, specifications, and manufacturing or inspection processes so that lessons learned are engineered into future revisions, not just patched in the field.
• Support containment activities, corrective action implementation, and validation of solutions at plant and supplier sites.
• Monitor field, plant, and supplier concerns to identify trends and proactively address risks.
• Travel as required
• Perform other duties as needed

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering plus 5 years Exterior systems experience.
• Education with the following specialties preferred: Mechanical, Mechanical Technology, Aerospace, Automotive, Manufacturing.
• Experience supporting production launch of Exterior systems.
• Strong mechanical systems background with the ability to understand system interactions and component functionality.
• Demonstrated hands‑on troubleshooting and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Experience performing structured root cause investigations and corrective action development.
• Ability to work effectively in manufacturing and plant environments.
• Knowledge and working experience with DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effect Analysis) and GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing)
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Goken is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and engaging workplace across all global locations. We value diversity and provide equal opportunities for career growth and professional development, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.