Exterior Lighting Engineer - Automotive

Global Connect Technologies; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Connect Technologies in Irvine, CA seeks a Senior Lighting Design Release Engineer to lead the design, development, and release of automotive exterior lighting systems. CATIA V6 expertise and collaboration with Tier-1 suppliers are essential.

The role requires 10+ years in automotive lighting design, 3+ years as Lighting Design Release Engineer, and a strong grasp of Class-A surfaces, manufacturing processes, and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 10+ years of automotive lighting design experience.
• Minimum 3 years as Lighting Design Release Engineer (Lighting DRE).
• Strong knowledge of exterior lighting systems (headlamps, tail lamps, center light panel, corner lamp).
• Proficiency with CATIA V6 for component and assembly design.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and release of exterior lighting systems (headlamps, tail lamps, center light panels, corner lamps).
• Collaborate with Styling for feasibility studies, Class-A surface reviews, and craftsmanship targets.
• Design lighting components using CATIA V6 and ensure manufacturability.
• Assess manufacturing feasibility and ensure targets for quality, cost, weight, and performance.
• Work with Tier-1 suppliers to optimize design, materials, tooling, and processes.
• Interpret CAE/simulation results and incorporate improvements into designs.
• Create, release, and maintain components and subsystems through product lifecycle.
• Support prototype builds, testing, validation, and engineering changes.
• Ensure compliance with automotive standards and customer specs.
• Participate in design reviews and provide cross-functional guidance.

Skills

Lighting design

Product development

Cross-functional collaboration

Feasibility analysis

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CATIA V6

Job description

Job Opportunity - Exterior Lighting Engineer

Location : Irvine, CA

Duration : Full Time

Job Summar

yWe are seeking an experienced Senior Lighting Design Release Engineer (Lighting DRE) to lead the design, development, and release of automotive exterior lighting systems. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in lighting design, product development, supplier collaboration, and CATIA V6, with a strong understanding of automotive manufacturing and design feasibility

Key Responsibilitie

• sLead the design, development, and release of automotive exterior lighting systems including headlamps, tail lamps, center light panels, and corner lamps
• .Work closely with the Styling team to conduct feasibility studies, review Class-A surfaces, and establish craftsmanship targets
• .Design and develop lighting components and assemblies using CATIA V6
• .Evaluate manufacturing feasibility and ensure designs meet quality, cost, weight, and performance targets
• .Collaborate with Tier-1 suppliers to optimize component design, material selection, tooling, joining methods, molding processes, and overall product cost
• .Interpret CAE/simulation results and incorporate recommendations into component designs
• .Create, release, and maintain component and subsystem designs throughout the product development lifecycle
• .Support prototype builds, testing, validation, and engineering change activities
• .Ensure compliance with automotive standards, regulatory requirements, and customer specifications
• .Participate in design reviews and provide technical guidance to cross-functional teams

Required Qualification

• sBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline
• .10+ years of experience in automotive product design with a focus on lighting systems
• .Minimum 3 years of experience as a Lighting Design Release Engineer (Lighting DRE)
• .Strong knowledge of automotive exterior lighting systems and components, including
• :Head Lamp
• sTail Lamp
• sCenter Light Panel
• sCorner Lamp
• sProficiency in CATIA V6 for component and assembly design
• .Experience working with Class-A surfaces and styling feasibility studies
• .Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tooling, injection molding, and product development
• .Experience collaborating with Tier-1 suppliers throughout the design and release process
• .Ability to interpret CAE/simulation results and implement design improvements
• .Excellent communication, problem-solving, and project coordination skills

Preferred Qualification

• sExperience with automotive product development processes and Design Release Engineering
• .Knowledge of DFMEA, GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and APQP
• .Familiarity with PLM systems and engineering change management
• .Experience supporting prototype builds, validation testing, and production launch activities