Product Engineer Body - Exterior/Rear Closures

Zobility; Dearborn (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Zobility seeks a Design & Release Engineer to lead the design, development, validation, and release of automotive body and exterior components for assigned programs, including fixed glass, wipers, badges, spoilers, and roof rails.

In collaboration with Studio, Program Management, Manufacturing, and STA, you will drive continuous design improvement, apply GPDS, robustness engineering, and MS Office tools, and ensure compliance with ES, SDS, and regulatory requirements throughout the product

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Automotive/Product/Systems Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years in automotive body/exterior systems development.
• 5+ years preferred for senior-level responsibilities.
• Experience with CAD design and automotive component development.
• Experience with Teamcenter, Vismockup, AVBOM/FEDE BOM, and WERS.
• Experience with client production part approval processes and supplier collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Meet program cost, weight, quality, performance, and timing targets using the Waterfall process.
• Understand and apply GPDS to create engineering plans and deliver program requirements on time.
• Apply Robustness Engineering disciplines and Failure Mode Avoidance tools throughout the product development process.
• Develop ESOW and EC documents.
• Participate in sourcing reviews (SOBA, ED&T reviews, piece and tooling cost reviews, and CPA).
• Actively participate in Technical Design Reviews and cross-functional engineering meetings.
• Design, develop, validate, and release parts through AVBOM/FEDE BOM and WERS throughout the product lifecycle.
• Support Change Control Meetings and worldwide engineering change processes.
• Audit and maintain BOMs with correct part levels, usage, and engineering content for prototype builds and post-Job 1 production.
• Ensure engineering designs comply with WCR, ES, SDS, regulatory, manufacturing, and assembly requirements.
• Identify required validation, durability, and functional testing based on SDS and ES requirements using DVP/eFDVS.
• Define and verify engineering prototype requirements at the component level.
• Leverage AIMS root cause analysis to identify issues and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Apply Six Sigma, 8D, Lean, and other structured problem-solving methodologies as appropriate.
• Support parts implementation and engineering sign-off at assembly plants and assist with quality issues through all program milestones.
• Review PDL revisions and determine appropriate engineering actions when affected. Support VQRs, VRTs, and PVT activities as required.
• Collaborate with STA and provide technical assistance throughout the Supplier Engagement Process.
• Work closely with Studio, Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Suppliers, and other engineering organizations to resolve technical issues and achieve program objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement in product quality, cost, weight, performance, manufacturability, and assembly.
• Travel to component manufacturing facilities and vehicle assembly plants, domestic and international.

Skills

Product Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Design & Release

Systems Engineering

Project Management

CAD / CAD Design

Teamcenter

Vismockup

AVBOM / FEDE BOM

WERS

Body & Exterior Systems

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Master's Degree Preferred

Job description

• The D&R (Design & Release) Engineer is responsible for the design, development, validation, and release of automotive body and exterior systems and components, including but not limited to fixed glass, wipers and washer systems, leafscreens, badging, appliques, spoilers, running boards, roof rails, and other exterior components under their responsibility for assigned vehicle programs.
• The D&R Engineer will lead early development, system feasibility, and technical design activities in collaboration with Studio, Program Management, Manufacturing, Supplier Technical Assistance (STA), and other cross-functional engineering teams.
• The engineer is responsible for continuous design improvement focused on quality, cost, weight, performance, timing, manufacturability, and assembly.
• The D&R Engineer will design parts in compliance with Corporate, Local, and Global Regulatory Requirements while considering Worldwide Customer Requirements (WCR), Engineering Specifications (ES), Systems Design Specifications (SDS), Manufacturing requirements, and Assembly requirements.
• The engineer will support the complete product lifecycle from concept and sourcing through validation, prototype builds, launch, Job 1, and ongoing engineering changes.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for meeting program cost, weight, quality, performance, and timing targets using the Waterfall process.
• Understand and apply GPDS (Global Product Development System) to create engineering plans and deliver program requirements on time.
• Apply Robustness Engineering disciplines and Failure Mode Avoidance tools throughout the product development process.
• Develop Engineering Statements of Work (ESOW) and Engineering Concepts (EC).
• Participate in the sourcing process, including SOBA, ED&T reviews, piece and tooling cost reviews, and CPA.
• Actively participate in Technical Design Reviews and cross-functional engineering meetings.
• Design, develop, validate, and release parts through AVBOM/FEDE BOM and WERS throughout the product lifecycle.
• Support Change Control Meetings and worldwide engineering change processes.
• Audit and maintain BOMs with correct part levels, usage, and engineering content for prototype builds and post-Job 1 production.
• Ensure engineering designs comply with Worldwide Customer Requirements (WCR), Engineering Specifications (ES), Systems Design Specifications (SDS), regulatory requirements, manufacturing requirements, and assembly requirements.
• Identify required validation, durability, and functional testing based on SDS and ES requirements using DVP/eFDVS and applicable validation workbenches.
• Define and verify engineering prototype requirements at the component level.
• Leverage AIMS root cause analysis to identify issues and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Apply Six Sigma, 8D, Lean, and other structured problem-solving methodologies as appropriate.
• Support parts implementation and engineering sign-off at assembly plants and assist with quality issues through all program milestones.
• Review PDL revisions and determine appropriate engineering actions when affected. Support VQRs, VRTs, and PVT activities as required.
• Collaborate with STA and provide technical assistance throughout the Supplier Engagement Process.
• Work closely with Studio, Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Suppliers, and other engineering organizations to resolve technical issues and achieve program objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement in product quality, cost, weight, performance, manufacturability, and assembly.
• May require travel to component manufacturing facilities and vehicle assembly plants, both domestic and international.
• May require extended travel to support vehicle launches at Client assembly plants.
• Maintain compliance with applicable Corporate, Local, Global, and Regulatory requirements throughout the product lifecycle.
• Apply Client Performance+ principles and engineering best practices to deliver robust, high-quality products on schedule.

Skills Required:

• Product Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Design & Release Engineering, Systems Engineering, Project Management, CAD / CAD Design, Teamcenter, Vismockup, AVBOM / FEDE BOM, Worldwide Engineering Release System (WERS), Automotive Body and Exterior Systems

Skills Preferred:

• APQP, Analytical Skills, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Injection Molding / Injection Molded Part Design, Lean Manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma / Green Belt, 8D Problem Solving, Release Engineering, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Azure

Experience Required:

• 3+ years of experience in automotive body/exterior systems development in an engineering role; 5+ years preferred for senior-level responsibilities.
• Automotive Design & Release experience with body and/or Class A exterior components.
• Experience with CAD design and automotive component development.
• Experience with Teamcenter, Vismockup, AVBOM/FEDE BOM, and WERS.
• Experience designing and releasing parts through the automotive product development lifecycle.
• Experience with injection-molded part design preferred/required for applicable components.
• Experience with Client production part approval processes and Client systems preferred.
• Experience with validation, durability, functional testing, DVP, and engineering prototype development.
• Experience supporting manufacturing and assembly plant implementation, sign-off, and quality issue resolution.
• Experience working with suppliers and Supplier Technical Assistance (STA) through the Supplier Engagement Process.

Experience Preferred:

• Client Systems and Client Product Development experience.
• Experience with GPDS (Global Product Development System).
• Experience with Client Waterfall process and Robustness Engineering disciplines.
• Experience with Client Performance+ methodologies.
• Experience supporting vehicle launch at domestic and international assembly plants.
• Experience with VQR, VRT, PVT, PDL revisions, and engineering change control.
• Experience with AIMS root cause analysis and permanent corrective action implementation.
• Experience participating in sourcing activities including SOBA, ED&T reviews, piece and tooling cost reviews, and CPA

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Product Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Master's Degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline Preferred