Lead Design Engineer – Sensors

FORVIA HELLA; Northville (MI); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedules

Industry-leading health benefits

Annual bonuses

Flexible core hours

Job summary

FORVIA HELLA in Northville is on the lookout for a design engineer to join their sensors team. In this role, you will provide systems engineering actions and support for customer RFQs while collaborating with various teams to develop system architectures.

Candidates should have experience with automotive industry tools, be proficient in requirements management, and possess strong communication skills. The position offers a hybrid work schedule, competitive health benefits, and ample career development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with automotive industry tools and standards.
• Proficient in requirements management using UML/SysML.
• Experience with communication protocols in automotive.

Responsibilities

• Drive cross-functional collaboration to develop system architectures.
• Support new business development by meeting with customers.
• Prepare technical summaries and project timelines.

Skills

Automotive industry tools (e.g., DOORS Next Gen)

Requirements management and modeling (UML/SysML)

Communication protocols (CAN, LIN)

Strong verbal and written communication

Job description

Location Northville, USA

Forvia Hella is a listed international automotive supplier within the Forvia Group, specializing in high-performance lighting technology, vehicle electronics, and a broad service and product portfolio for spare parts, workshop businesses, and manufacturers of special vehicles. With roughly 36,500 employees at over 125 locations worldwide, the company generated adjusted sales of €8.1 billion in fiscal year 2024.

OUR TASKS

Forvia Hella is seeking its next great design engineer to join our growing sensors team. The primary function of this role is to provide systems engineering actions and RFQ customer support, working within a well-established group focused on future and current production generations.

ABOUT US

Forvia Hella, part of Forvia Group, is an internationally positioned automotive supplier. The company covers a broad service and product portfolio for spare parts and workshop businesses and manufactures of special‑purpose vehicles via its Lifecycle Solutions business group. With around 36,000 employees across more than 125 locations worldwide, Forvia Hella generated €4.4 billion in sales during the seven‑month short fiscal year 2022.

DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drive cross‑functional collaboration across hardware, mechanical, test, and software teams to develop system architectures, decompose requirements into subsystem specifications, and review proposed requirement changes.
• Support new business and TTM development by meeting with customers, presenting product solutions, eliciting requirements, and contributing to strategies that attract and secure new opportunities.
• Prepare complete RFI/RFQ responses by analyzing customer requirements and delivering technical summaries, project timelines, risk assessments, and validation plans.
• Serve as the lead technical liaison between customers and internal development teams, ensuring effective coordination of system‑level requirements, changes, and technical deliverables.
• Manage technical risks by owning the risk register, identifying critical issues, and defining mitigation and recovery plans.
• Monitor and control design and development activities, tracking milestones, deliverables, and work products throughout the product development lifecycle.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with automotive industry tools (e.g., DOORS Next Gen, IBM ELM, configuration management tools) and standards such as SPICE and V‑Model.
• Proficient in requirements management and modeling using UML/SysML or equivalent frameworks.
• Experience analyzing and evaluating communication protocols, including CAN, LIN, and other automotive interfaces.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with experience presenting technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Software embedded system knowledge or background is a plus.
• Skilled in evaluating, developing, and decomposing internal and external technical requirements.

WHY FORVIA HELLA?

• Hybrid work schedules and flexible core hours.
• Industry‑leading health benefits program.
• Lucrative PTO policy.
• Competitive 401(k) matching.
• Extensive career and training opportunities.
• Annual bonuses.
• On‑campus restaurant as well as employee water and coffee services.
• Team and company‑wide events.
• And much more!

FORVIA HELLA stands for the variety of all employees. Inclusion and diversity are firmly anchored in our company culture. We are continuously looking for new team players and welcome applications from all interested parties, regardless of their ethical and social background, age, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation or identity.