Design Release Engineer - Safety Restraint Systems

Alten Technology USA; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA seeks a Design Release Engineer (DRE) for Safety Restraint Systems to design, develop and release components such as steering wheels, seat belts and airbags for Client vehicle programs. The role collaborates with suppliers and cross-functional teams to manage documentation and ensure program timing and compliance with FMVSS/ECE standards across pre-production to serial life.

The engineer will manage change notices, DVPR/DFMEA updates, and interface with purchasing, design

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering from ABET accredited university.
• Minimum of 1 year automotive engineering experience.
• Strong leadership, organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to solve problems and present effectively.

Responsibilities

• Design, development and release of restraint components (steering wheel, seat belts, airbags).
• Collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional teams to meet program timing.
• Write change notices and compliance reports, maintain DVPR, DFMEA.
• Monitor issues during development and serial life; support plants during production launches.
• Ensure compliance with FMVSS, ECE and other global certifications.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Presentation skills

Computer skills

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (ABET accredited)

Tools

NX

Teamcenter

Job description

Design Release Engineer - Safety Restraint Systems

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.

Job Description:

• The Restraint Design Release Engineer (DRE)is responsible for the design, development and release of one or more of the following components: the steering wheel, seat belts and/or airbags to support Client vehicle programs.
• Assignments include working with suppliers and other cross-functional areas to design, develop and release restraint components and systems.
• This will include writing change notices and compliance reports, overall management and updates to Client systems and core documentation (e.g., DVPR, DFMEA) to meet program timing and deliverables.
• The Engineer will follow, track, root cause and manage to resolution issues found during development and serial life (warranty).
• They will also provide the same support to the plants for build issues found during pre-production, production launch, and serial life builds.
• The Restraint DRE is expected to manage the development of the passive safety restraint requirements.
• The Restraints DRE with steering wheel responsibilities is expected to manage the development of the capacitive hands‑on detection and heating (electrical and performance) requirements.
• The chosen candidate will work with other Client engineering organizations to package and develop the complete restraint system.
• The Restraints DRE will interface with purchasing, product design office, manufacturing and supply base groups to achieve program objectives.
• The Restraint DRE is responsible for the review of testing, parts, data and best practices to meet program requirements, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), ECE and other global certifications.

Basic qualifications, experience, and knowledge

• Minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited (or equivalent) University
• Minimum of 1 years of automotive engineering experience
• Highly motivated and driven to achieve goals
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills
• Good communication, problem solving, computer and presentation skills

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with the design and release of airbag, seat belt, and/or steering wheel components
• Vehicle level restraint system experience
• FMVSS or Homologation testing and certification experience
• Experience with NX / Team Center CAD Software
• Familiar with PFMEA, DFMEA, DVP&R, FEA and CAE impact analysis tools
• Experience using proactive quality tools (Design for Six Sigma)
• Experience using reactive quality tools (Kepner-Tregoe / Shainin)

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.