Entry Level Design Release Engineer – Exterior & Interior Lighting

Groupe SEGULA Technologies SA; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Groupe SEGULA Technologies SA seeks a Design Release Engineer for automotive lighting to lead design, integration, and production launch of exterior and interior lighting systems. You will own the product lifecycle, collaborate with Design Studio, Thermal/FEA, and Packaging teams, and guide Tier-1 suppliers through the APQP process to meet cost, mass, timing, and quality targets.

The role requires expertise in DFMEAs, GD&T, DVP&R, and robust root-cause analysis to resolve testing and production

Qualifications

• Experience overseeing automotive lighting product lifecycle from concept to SOP.
• Familiar with regulatory/standards compliance for automotive lighting.
• Strong problem-solving skills in root-cause analysis and quality improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, integration, and production launch of exterior and interior lighting systems.
• Manage Tier-1 supplier relationships through APQP, ensuring cost, mass, timing, and quality targets.
• Coordinate with Design Studio, Thermal/FEA, and Packaging to meet styling and functional constraints.
• Define and implement DFMEAs, GD&T requirements, and DVP&R documents.
• Investigate failures (8D, 5-Why) and address ingress/condensation and dimensional variations.

Skills

Lighting design

APQP process

DVP&R

DFMEA

GD&T

Root-cause analysis

Supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

ECUs

LED optics

Job description

The Design Release Engineer (DRE) – Automotive Lighting leads the engineering design, development, integration, and production launch of exterior (headlamps, taillamps, CHMSLs, side markers) and interior (ambient lighting, overhead consoles, accent lights) illumination systems.

Core Responsibilities

• Component Ownership: Manage the complete product lifecycle of lighting assemblies from initial concept through prototype builds to Start of Production (SOP).

• Technical & Optical Integration: Lead optical, thermal, electrical, and mechanical integration. Maintain compliance with Class-A styling surfaces while integrating LEDs, light pipes, lenses, reflectors, and electronic control units (ECUs).

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Design Studio to preserve styling intent, Thermal/FEA engineers to ensure heat dissipation and structural integrity, and Packaging teams to resolve spatial constraints.

• Supplier Management: Direct Tier-1 lighting suppliers through the APQP process, maintaining strict adherence to cost, mass, timing, and quality targets.

• Validation & Compliance: Execute the Design Verification Plan & Report (DVP&R). Ensure full compliance with global lighting regulations (FMVSS 108, ECE, GB standards).

• Quality & Problem Solving: Author DFMEAs, define GD&T requirements, and lead root-cause analysis (8D, 5-Why) for testing failures, seal leaks (ingress/condensation), and dimensional variations.