Design Release Engineer - Exterior Trim

Stellantis; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Company vehicle lease program

Paid time off

Job summary

Stellantis in Auburn Hills, MI is seeking a Design and Release Engineer to drive development from concept to full production for exterior lighting. You will manage timelines, develop objectives, and lead design efforts using CATIA/NX resources, releasing component geometry and validating with CAE and physical tests.

Expectation includes on-site support for pilot builds and launches, root-cause analysis, and warranty-related cost reduction initiatives, all within regulatory lighting standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in automotive exterior lighting or related systems.
• Experience with design release engineering processes.
• Working knowledge of lighting components (LEDs, optics, housings, electronics, wiring interfaces).
• Familiarity with CAD tools (CATIA, NX, or similar).
• Strong understanding of GD&T and tolerance stack-ups.
• Experience with automotive validation processes (DV/PV testing).
• Working Knowledge of regulatory lighting standards (FMVSS 108, ECE, etc.).
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop components/systems from initial design concept through full volume production.
• Establish and manage development timeline for life of project.
• Develop functional objectives, build objectives, DVPR, and DFMEA for components.
• Lead design, while leveraging external or internal CAD resources.
• Release completed component geometry using Teamcenter/NX; validate virtually and physically.
• Manage internal documentation for system releases.
• Plan and oversee tool construction and production of assemblies.
• Provide on-site support for vehicle pilot builds and production launch.
• Identify root cause and implement corrective action for issues in assembly, fit/finish, and performance.
• Analyze warranty data and identify cost reduction opportunities; contribute to safety reports.

Skills

Communication

Problem-solving

DV/PV testing

GD&T

Lighting standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

CATIA

NX

Job description

The Design and Release Engineer will be responsible for developing components/systems from initial design concept through full volume production. The Design and Release Engineer will provide feasibility input for development of designs from Product Design Office (PDO) concepts, sketch, and clay models.

• Establish and manage development timeline for life of project.
• Develop functional objectives, build objectives, DVPR, and DFMEA for components.
• Lead design, while leveraging external design source and/or internal CAD design resource.
• Responsible for the release of completed component geometry using Teamcenter/NX CAD tools. Validate virtual designs using CAE resources and perform physical validation via component, system, and vehicle level testing.
• Manage internal documentation for release of systems.
• Plan and oversee tool construction and production of assemblies.
• On‑site support for vehicle pilot builds and production launch at assembly plant.
• Responsible for root cause analysis and determination of corrective action for issues with assembly, fit/finish, and functional performance.
• Analyze and remediate warranty, identify cost reduction opportunities on production of systems, candidate will also be responsible for safety compliance report documents.

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in automotive exterior lighting or related systems
• Experience with design release engineering processes
• Working knowledge of lighting components (LEDs, optics, housings, electronics, wiring interfaces)
• Familiarity with CAD tools (CATIA, NX, or similar)
• Strong understanding of GD&T and tolerance stack-ups
• Experience with automotive validation processes (DV/PV testing)
• Working Knowledge of regulatory lighting standards (FMVSS 108, ECE, etc.)
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills

Our Benefits — Designed With You In Mind

Comprehensive Health & Well-being Coverage

From your very first day, you'll have access to medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage — ensuring you and your family stay healthy and protected.

Generous Paid Time Off

We believe in work-life balance. That's why we offer: 17+ paid holidays, including shut-down from December 24th through New Years Day every year. Vacation, float & wellbeing days, sick time and fully paid parental leave when your family needs you most.

Competitive Retirement Savings Plans

We Help You Plan For The Future With

• An employer match on contributions to your 401k, Roth, and Catch‑Up plans
• An employer contribution, even if you don't contribute

Income Protection & Insurance Options

Benefit from included and optional disability, life, and other insurance programs — because your peace of mind matters.

Company Vehicle Lease Program

Eligible employees and their immediate families can enjoy company vehicle lease options with included insurance, maintenance, and unlimited mileage. Plus, take advantage of exclusive discounts on Stellantis products.

Family Building Benefit

We proudly support all paths to parenthood- including fertility and infertility treatments, adoption services, and gestational surrogacy.

Support for Your Growth and Giving Back

We believe in investing in your future and your passions:

• Tuition reimbursement
• Student loan refinancing programs
• 18 paid volunteer hours each year to make a difference in your community

And so much more!

When you join us, you're not just building a career — you're joining a company that supports you, inside and outside of work.

At Stellantis, we assess candidates based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We welcome applications from all people without regard to sex, age, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any characteristic protected by law. We believe that diverse teams reflect our identity as a global company, enabling us to better address the evolving needs of our customers and care for our future.

EOE / Disability / Veteran