Power Liftgate Systems - Design Release Engineer

ALTEN Technology USA; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA is seeking a Design Release Engineer for Power Liftgate Systems to own end-to-end engineering from concept to vehicle launch, balancing mechanical packaging with electromechanical integration.

You will manage components such as actuators, latching mechanisms, control modules, and wiring, collaborating across styling, BIW, electrical architecture, and supplier teams to deliver on time and within cost targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant mechanical/electrical/mechatronics field.
• 3+ years in automotive product development design and release.
• Experience with electromechanical systems and body-electronics integration preferred.
• Strong GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis skills.
• Experience with CNs/ECRs and BOM management; change control skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead cradle-to-grave product engineering for liftgate components.
• Interface with NX/CATIA resources and Teamcenter for releases.
• Execute DFMEA and DVP&R testing at multiple levels.
• Collaborate with styling, BIW, electrical, and assembly teams.
• Oversee supplier engineering and design reviews to meet timing and cost.
• Root-cause issues using structured problem-solving methodologies.

Skills

GD&T

Tolerance analysis

Electromechanical systems

Supplier collaboration

Project tracking

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics

Tools

NX

CATIA

Teamcenter

Job description

Power Liftgate Systems - Design Release Engineer

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.

The Design Release Engineer (DRE) for Power Liftgate Systems is responsible for the end-to-end engineering, design, development, validation, and production release of automated liftgate and tailgate systems. This role requires a balance of mechanical packaging and electromechanical integration, managing components like electric struts/actuators, latching mechanisms, control modules, pinch sensors, and wire routings. The engineer acts as the technical owner from initial concept sketches through full vehicle launch.

Key Responsibilities

• Component Ownership: Lead the complete "cradle-to-grave" product engineering process for power liftgate components and sub-systems, ensuring they meet vehicle packaging and styling constraints.
• CAD & Architecture: Interface with internal or supplier CAD resources using NX / CATIA and manage product release structures within Teamcenter.
• Quality & Validation: Author and execute Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and Design Verification Plan & Report (DVP&R) testing at the component, system, and full-vehicle level.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the Product Design Office (styling), body-in-white (BIW), interior trim, electrical architecture, and assembly plants to ensure flawless system integration.
• Supplier Management: Oversee tier-1 supplier engineering and manufacturing activities, leading design reviews and ensuring hardware delivers on time and within cost targets.
• Issue Resolution: Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., Shainin Red X, Kepner-Tregoe, DFSS) to root-cause assembly plant, prototype build, and field warranty failures.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• Experience:
• 3+ years of experience in automotive product development design and release.
• Direct experience with electromechanical systems, closures, moving mechanisms, or body-electronics integration preferred.
• Technical Skills:
• Deep understanding of GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) and tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Familiarity with typical automotive manufacturing processes (plastics injection molding, stamping, electronics assembly).
• Proficiency in change management documentation (CNs/ECRs) and managing a Bill of Materials (BOM).
• Soft Skills: Excellent interpersonal, project tracking, and conflict management skills needed to drive alignment across global engineering sites.

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.

Note: Selecting "no" will not eliminate you from consideration for this role.