Expert Design & Release Engineer - Body Welding & Joining

ALTEN Technology USA; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA seeks an Expert Design & Release Engineer for Body Welding & Joining to lead body welding standards across platforms. You will define joining methods, weld locations, and release roadmaps while coordinating with manufacturing, materials and CAE to ensure joint strength and manufacturability.

The role requires 8+ years in Body‑in‑White welding, strong NX/Teamcenter mastery, DFMEA and DVP&R experience, and proven leadership across complex launches.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in Body‑in‑White welding, joining or body structure engineering with multiple program launches.
• Expert‑level command of NX and Teamcenter; DFMEA, DVP&R and validation planning.
• KBE/template experience and in‑plant launch leadership desired.

Responsibilities

• Define design strategy, standards and release roadmap for body welding across vehicle programs.
• Set weld locations, gatekeeping, and sequence in NX/Teamcenter per joining standards.
• Guide cross‑functional teams on weld quality, cost, weight and feasibility.
• Lead supplier engagement and weld validation planning with DFSS/ Kepner‑Tregoe approaches.

Skills

NX

Teamcenter

DFMEA

DVP&R

KBE templates

Leadership

Welding expertise

GD&T

Education

ABET-accredited degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

NX (CAD/PLM)

Teamcenter PLM

DFMEA tooling

Job description

Expert Design & Release Engineer - Body Welding & Joining

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.

We use Greenhouse’s AI‑powered Talent Matching tool to compare your application against our job requirements.

As set forth in ALTEN Technology USA’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.