Design & Release Engineer - Lighting

Stellantis NV; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Health & Well-being

Generous Paid Time Off

Competitive Retirement Savings Plans

Income Protection & Insurance Options

Company Vehicle Lease Program

Family Building Benefit

Growth & Giving Back

And so much more!

Job summary

Stellantis NV seeks a Design Release Engineer to lead exterior lighting development from concept to production launch. You will own design releases in PLM systems and coordinate across Styling, Electrical, Manufacturing, and Suppliers while ensuring compliance with FMVSS, ECE, and SAE standards.

You will drive DFMEA, DVP&R, and engineering validation activities, support prototypes and testing, and manage issues from fit to optics and sealing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• 5+ years in automotive exterior lighting or related systems.
• Experience with design release processes and PLM systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end engineering delivery of exterior lighting systems from concept through production launch.
• Own design release of components in PLM systems (e.g., Teamcenter, Windchill).
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including Styling, Packaging, Electrical, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Suppliers.
• Ensure designs meet regulatory requirements (FMVSS, ECE, SAE).
• Manage supplier development activities including design reviews and issue resolution.
• Drive DFMEA, DVP&R, and engineering validation activities.
• Support prototyping builds, testing, and launch readiness.
• Identify and resolve engineering issues (fit, function, durability, optics, etc.).
• Track and meet program milestones, cost targets, and quality metrics.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions for field or launch issues.
• Lead change management and engineering change requests (ECR/ECN).

Skills

Exterior lighting systems

Design release

Cross-functional teamwork

Regulatory compliance

GD&T

CAD tools (CATIA/NX)

DV/PV testing

FMVSS/ECE knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

CATIA

NX

Job description

Seeking a highly motivated Design Release Engineer (DRE) to lead the development, validation, and release of exterior lighting systems including headlamps, tail lamps, fog lamps, and signaling devices. The DRE will serve as the primary technical point of contact responsible for delivering lighting components that meet performance, cost, quality, and timing targets throughout the vehicle development lifecycle.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the end-to-end engineering delivery of exterior lighting systems from concept through production launch
• Own design release of components in PLM systems (e.g., Teamcenter, Windchill)
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including Styling, Packaging, Electrical, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Suppliers
• Ensure designs meet regulatory requirements (FMVSS, ECE, SAE, etc.)
• Manage supplier development activities, including design reviews, technical discussions, and issue resolution
• Drive DFMEA, DVP&R, and engineering validation activities
• Support prototyping builds, testing, and launch readiness
• Identify and resolve engineering issues (fit, function, durability, optics, thermal, sealing, etc.)
• Track and meet program milestones, cost targets, and quality metrics
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions for field or launch issues
• Lead change management and engineering change requests (ECR/ECN)

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Minimum of 5 years 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.