PD Engineer – Auto Transmission Shifter Systems

Jobtailor; Dearborn (MO); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Dearborn, MO is seeking an experienced automotive engineer to own the end-to-end design, packaging, integration, and release of electronic and mechanical shifter commodities. You will define requirements, manage CAD and CAN interfaces, and collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure safety, reliability, and cost-efficiency.

The role requires 2+ years of automotive engineering experience, strong problem-solving skills, and proficiency with CATIA, JIRA, AIMS, and WERS.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required.
• 2+ years automotive engineering from early development through launch.
• Knowledge of vehicle systems, interfaces, and mass production processes.
• Experience with CATIA, DFMEA, DVP&R, and P-Diagram.
• Ability to interpret 2D/3D CAD drawings and schematics.
• Experience managing supplier deliverables and hardware/software specs.
• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving (8D, 5-Whys).
• Proficiency with JIRA, AIMS, FEDE, and WERS.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration.
• Eligible to work in the United States.
• Preferred: Master’s degree, Six Sigma belts, and related automotive experience.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end design, packaging, integration, and release of electronic/mechanical shifter commodities.
• Define appearance and functional requirements, design rules, and system specifications.
• Manage commodities pre- and post-launch for quality and cost-efficiency.
• Collaborate with design teams to optimize performance and safety requirements.
• Interface with vehicle-level electrical engineers to define requirements and review schematics.
• Manage CAD data interfaces, CAN messaging databases, and vehicle-software interfaces.
• Lead sound quality and tactile craftsmanship for user interface.
• Engage suppliers and lead alignment meetings with Supplier Quality Engineers.
• Oversee supplier- and vehicle-level hardware/software testing and quality documentation.
• Collaborate globally with Design Studio, HMI/Ergonomics, Manufacturing, and Electrical Architecture teams.
• Drive issue resolution using JIRA and AIMS; maintain open issues list.
• Support program milestones and physical builds with hardware, software, and change notices.

Skills

Automotive engineering

Analytical skills

Strong communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Program management

Structured problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Master’s degree in Engineering

Six Sigma Green Belt

Six Sigma Black Belt

Tools

CATIA

JIRA

AIMS

WERS

FEDE

DVP&R

P-Diagram

MS Office

Job description

• Own the end-to-end design, packaging, integration, and release of electronic and/or mechanical automatic transmission shifter commodities
• Define appearance and functional requirements, design rules, system-level specifications, and dimensional stack-ups
• Manage commodities before and after launch to support quality, manufacturing feasibility, and Total Value Management cost-efficiency initiatives
• Partner with design teams to optimize component performance, reliability, and durability for governmental safety requirements
• Interface with vehicle-level electrical systems engineers to define requirements, review schematics, and ensure module compatibility
• Manage CAD data interfaces, CAN messaging databases, and vehicle-device software interfaces
• Lead sound quality delivery and tactile craftsmanship for the user interface
• Manage the supplier base and lead supplier engagement and alignment meetings with Supplier Quality Engineers
• Manage supplier- and vehicle-level hardware and software testing and related quality documentation
• Collaborate globally with Design Studio, HMI/Ergonomics, Manufacturing, Feature Owners, and Electrical Architecture teams
• Drive issue resolution using JIRA and AIMS and maintain prioritized open-issues lists
• Support program milestones and physical builds with hardware, software, change notices, and alerts

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, or related)
• 2+ years of automotive engineering experience spanning early development through launch
• General knowledge of vehicle systems, electronic/mechanical interfaces, and material properties/mass production processes
• Practical experience with CATIA, DFMEA, DVP&R, and P-diagram
• Ability to interpret 2D/3D CAD drawings and schematics
• Experience interpreting hardware/software specifications and managing supplier deliverables
• Demonstrated analytical skills with structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8Ds and 5-Whys
• Proficiency in program management and release systems such as FEDE, JIRA, AIMS, and WERS
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong communication, organization, cross-functional collaboration, and program management skills
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification, electronic module design and release experience, switch and shifter experience, automotive PPAP knowledge, component testing experience, EMC knowledge, automotive software and CAN messaging knowledge, and AI tools knowledge are listed as additional or preferred qualifications

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in automotive engineering with a focus on electronic and mechanical interfaces, program management, and supplier engagement. Proficient in CAD systems and quality management methodologies to ensure compliance with safety and performance standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Automotive Engineering Experience
• CATIA Proficiency
• Program Management Skills
• Supplier Engagement Management
• DFMEA Knowledge

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Automotive Engineering
• 2D/3D CAD Interpretation
• DFMEA
• DVP&R
• P-Diagram
• Analytical Skills
• Structured Problem-Solving
• Component Testing
• EMC Knowledge
• Automotive PPAP Knowledge

Soft Skills

• Strong Communication
• Organization Skills
• Cross-Functional Collaboration

Certifications & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering
• Master’s Degree in Engineering
• Six Sigma Green Belt
• Six Sigma Black Belt

Industry Keywords

• Electronic Module Design
• Automatic Transmission Shifter
• Vehicle Systems
• Material Properties
• Mass Production Processes
• Governmental Safety Requirements
• Vehicle-Device Software Interfaces
• Supplier Quality Engineers
• HMI/Ergonomics
• Total Value Management

Tools & Technologies

• JIRA
• AIMS
• FEDE
• WERS
• Microsoft Office Suite