Expert Design & Release Engineer - Body Welding & Joining

Altentechnologyusa; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA is seeking a Design and Release Engineer (DRE) – Body Welding & Joining to act as the technical authority for welding processes and joining methods across vehicle programs. You will set the strategy for weld definitions in NX/Teamcenter and drive DFMEA, DVP&R guidelines while coordinating with manufacturing, materials and CAE teams.

You will also lead supplier engagement, validate welds, and own cost/weight/quality targets, mentoring engineers and guiding cross-platform

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Materials or Welding/Manufacturing Engineering, ABET-accredited; master’s a plus.
• 8+ years of Body-in-White welding, joining or body structure engineering with multiple program launches.
• Expert-level NX and Teamcenter, DFMEA, DVP&R and validation planning; KBE/template experience and in-plant launch leadership.
• Deep expertise in resistance spot, laser and MIG welding, structural adhesives, GD&T.
• Proven leadership, mentoring and influencing skills with senior management and suppliers; DFSS Green/Black Belt preferred.
• Ability to coordinate meetings across North American work hours with local engineering teams and PDO.

Responsibilities

• Act as the technical authority for body welding and joining processes: define design strategy, standards and release roadmap across vehicle programs and platforms.
• Set strategy for weld and joint definition (weld locations, flange design, access and sequence) in NX and Teamcenter.
• Set strategy for joint performance, weld quality and process feasibility with manufacturing engineering, materials and CAE.
• Drive cross-functional alignment on packaging and interface strategy with body shop manufacturing engineering, materials, CAE and body structure teams.
• Define core DFMEA, DVP&R and functional-objective standards, review and approve documentation across the team, drive reuse and standardization.
• Set CAD, template (KBE) and release best practices, ensure geometry quality and CAD milestone compliance across the commodity.
• Lead supplier engagement and weld validation planning, guiding approaches to destructive and non-destructive testing.
• Own commodity-level cost, weight and quality targets; mentor engineers and represent the area to senior management.

Skills

NX and Teamcenter

DFMEA

DVP&R

KBE/template

welding processes

problem solving

leadership

Education

ABET-accredited Mechanical/Materials/Welding Eng degree

Tools

NX

Teamcenter

KBE/template

Job description

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 Summary:

• The Design and Release Engineer (DRE) – Body Welding & Joining is the technical authority for body welding and joining processes (resistance spot welding, MIG and laser welding, structural adhesives, flow-drill screws and self-piercing rivets).
• At Expert Level, the engineer sets design standards, leads the most complex cross-platform and launch issues, and mentors the engineering team.
• The position defines joining methods, weld locations and specifications on the Body-in-White, and partners with body shop manufacturing engineering, materials and CAE to ensure joint strength, weld quality and plant feasibility.
• The role works to achieve program objectives for cost, timing, weight and quality.

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Act as the technical authority for body welding and joining processes (resistance spot welding, MIG and laser welding, structural adhesives, flow-drill screws and self-piercing rivets): define the design strategy, standards and release roadmap across vehicle programs and platforms.
• Set the strategy for and govern weld and joint definition (weld locations, flange design, access and sequence) in NX and Teamcenter, in line with joining standards across programs.
• Set the strategy for and govern joint performance, weld quality and process feasibility with manufacturing engineering, materials and CAE, including multi-material joining and structural adhesives across programs.
• Drive cross-functional alignment on packaging and interface strategy with body shop manufacturing engineering, materials, CAE and body structure teams, Architecture/Vehicle Concepts and PDO, and arbitrate conflicting requirements at program and platform level.
• Define core DFMEA, DVP&R and functional-objective standards, review and approve documentation across the team, and drive reuse and standardization.
• Set CAD, template (KBE) and release best practices, and ensure geometry quality, change management and CAD milestone compliance across the commodity.
• Lead strategic supplier engagement and escalated launch or field issues, and guide the approach to weld validation (destructive and non-destructive testing) and build support using structured problem solving (e.g., DFSS, Shainin, Kepner-Tregoe).
• Own commodity-level cost, weight and quality targets, mentor and develop engineers, capture cross-platform lessons learned, and represent the area to senior management.

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Materials or Welding/Manufacturing Engineering, or an equivalent discipline from an ABET-accredited (or equivalent) program. A Master’s degree in Engineering or Business is a plus.
• 8+ years of experience in Body-in-White welding, joining or body structure engineering, with multiple program launches and recognized technical leadership.
• Expert-level command of NX and Teamcenter, DFMEA, DVP&R and validation planning; KBE/template experience and in-plant launch leadership desired.
• Deep expertise in resistance spot, laser and MIG welding, structural adhesives, mechanical fastening, weld and joining standards and GD&T, recognized as a reference inside and outside the team.
• Proven leadership, mentoring and influencing skills with senior management and suppliers; ability to reach consensus on complex issues. DFSS Green/Black Belt and reactive problem-solving certification preferred.
• Ability to support meetings throughout North American work hours and to work closely with local engineering teams, Architecture/Vehicle Concepts, program science teams and PDO.

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.