Senior Engineer IV - Tech. Lead Complexity Optimization

Daimler Trucks North America LLC; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Daimler Truck North America is seeking a Technical Lead to drive complexity optimization across its product portfolio. You will lead technical evaluations, develop proposals, and partner with Engineering and other functions to simplify designs while preserving customer value and vehicle capability.

In this hybrid role based in Portland, OR, you will mentor teams, present findings to executives, and help shape strategic cost-saving initiatives with significant impact through 2030.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, industrial engineering, or a related technical field and 12+ years of engineering experience in an industrial, automotive, or commercial vehicle OEM environment, is required
• Broad system level understanding of vehicle architectures, systems, and product lifecycles
• Demonstrated experience influencing technical direction and decision-making across multiple programs or platforms
• Strong understanding of product development processes, engineering governance, and cross-functional interfaces
• Proven ability to evaluate technical, financial, and operational tradeoffs without owning detailed design execution
• Experience working in highly matrixed organizations with indirect authority
• Strong facilitation and communication skills, capable of guiding technical discussions and presenting complex topics to senior leadership
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, enterprise-wide initiatives
• An attached resume is required

Responsibilities

• Serve as DTNA's technical lead for complexity optimization, driving identification, development, and evaluation of opportunities and proposing sound technical and financial options
• Guide Engineering teams in identifying opportunities to simplify product and part portfolios while preserving value and capability
• Facilitate technical workshops and sessions to identify opportunities and mature proposals toward decision readiness
• Collaborate across Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Quality, Service, Sales, Marketing, Product Strategy, and other functions to build alignment
• Identify and shape high-impact complexity optimization opportunities delivering business value across product portfolio and operations
• Present recommendations, tradeoffs, risks, and investment cases to Engineering and executive leadership
• Partner with Engineering leadership to prioritize opportunities and secure resources for approved proposals
• Serve as technical advisor and thought leader for complexity optimization, establishing methods and mentoring teams
• Mentor and influence engineering leaders to embed a complexity optimization mindset across DTNA's culture

Skills

12+ years engineering exp

Broad vehicle architectures

Technical direction influence

Facilitation & communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or related field

Job description

Tasks

Inside the Role

Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) is advancing Product Complexity Optimization as a strategic imperative to simplify its product and part portfolio, improve operational efficiency, strengthen long-term competitiveness, and support the company's strategic ambition to be the undisputed market leader.
The Technical Lead role serves as the primary technical leader and advisor for enterprise-wide complexity optimization across DTNA's product portfolio. It drives technical idea generation, proposal development, and evaluation activities required to identify and advance meaningful complexity optimization opportunities.
Working across Engineering and DTNA's key business functions, this position enables teams to challenge existing requirements, designs, standards, portfolio decisions, and manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for simplification. Success requires deep engineering expertise, broad vehicle knowledge, and a strong understanding of customer applications and business needs. The goal is to reduce unnecessary complexity without compromising customer value, product functionality, or vehicle capability. With high visibility across the Engineering organization, the role partners closely with Engineering leadership to prioritize and advance complexity optimization proposals.
The role is a critical enabler of DTNA's Complexity Optimization strategy, supporting the delivery of up to $250 million in sustainable cost savings and operational efficiency gains by 2030.

Posting Information

We provide a scheduled posting end date to assist our candidates with their application planning. While this date reflects our latest plans, it is subject to change, and postings may be extended or removed earlier than expected.

We Take Care of Our Team

Job Description

What You Drive at DTNA

• Serve as DTNA's technical lead for complexity optimization, driving the identification, development, and evaluation of technical complexity optimization opportunities and developing technically and financially sound proposals.
• Guide Engineering teams in identifying opportunities to simplify DTNA's product portfolio, part portfolio, and manufacturing processes while preserving customer value, product functionality, and vehicle capability.
• Facilitate technical workshops and working sessions that identify optimization opportunities, challenge assumptions, and mature proposals toward decision readiness.
• Collaborate across Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Quality, Service, Sales, Marketing, Product Strategy, and other functions to build alignment and advance proposals.
• Identify and shape high-impact complexity optimization opportunities that deliver significant business value across DTNA's product portfolio and operations.
• Present complexity optimization recommendations, tradeoffs, risks, and investment cases to Engineering and executive leadership.
• Partner closely with Engineering leadership to prioritize opportunities and secure the resources needed to advance approved complexity optimization proposals.
• Serve as DTNA's technical advisor and thought leader for complexity optimization by establishing methods and best practices, mentoring teams, and influencing technical decision‑making across the organization.
• Mentor and influence engineering leaders and teams to embed a complexity optimization mindset across DTNA's engineering culture

Knowledge You Should Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, industrial engineering, or a related technical field and 12+ years of engineering experience in an industrial, automotive, or commercial vehicle OEM environment, is required
• Broad system level understanding of vehicle architectures, systems, and product lifecycles
• Demonstrated experience influencing technical direction and decision‑making across multiple programs or platforms
• Strong understanding of product development processes, engineering governance, and cross‑functional interfaces
• Proven ability to evaluate technical, financial, and operational tradeoffs without owning detailed design execution
• Experience working in highly matrixed organizations with indirect authority
• Strong facilitation and communication skills, capable of guiding technical discussions and presenting complex topics to senior leadership
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, enterprise‑wide initiatives
• An attached resume is required

Exceptional Candidates Might Have

• Experience in complexity management, value engineering, modular architectures, standardization or design standards development
• Exposure to manufacturing, supply chain, or aftermarket considerations beyond core design engineering
• Master’s degree in engineering or engineering management
• Experience in the design and development of metal and plastic components and assemblies
• Prior experience contributing to enterprise transformation or cross‑product initiatives at DTNA or Daimler Truck
• Understanding of customer applications, business needs, and the factors that drive customer value

Where We Work

This position is open to applicants who can work in (or relocate to) the following location(s)-

Portland, OR US. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

Schedule Type

Hybrid (4 days per week in-office / 1 day remote). This schedule builds our #OneTeamBestTeam culture, provides an unparalleled customer experience, and creates innovative solutions through in-person collaboration.

At Daimler Truck North America, we recognize our world is changing faster than ever before. By listening to the needs of today, we’re building to solve with cutting‑edge solutions in sustainability and future driving technology across electric, hydrogen and autonomous. These solutions, backed by years of innovative success and achievement, continue DTNA’s legacy as the undisputed industry leader. Our evolving brand portfolio is second to none, including Freightliner Trucks, Western Star, Demand Detroit, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis, and Financial Services. Together, we work as one team towards our envisioned future – building a cleaner, safer and more efficient tomorrow for all.

That is what we are working toward - for all who keep the world moving.

Additional Information

• Visa sponsorship will only be open to current Daimler Truck North America employees working under an existing U.S. Daimler Truck North America Visa
• All other applicants must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country the position is located in at the time of application
• Final candidate must successfully complete a criminal background check
• Final candidate may be required to successfully complete a pre‑employment drug screen
• Contractors, professional services, or other contingent workers should confirm with their local agency if they are eligible to apply for FTE positions
• EEO - Disabled/Veterans

Daimler Truck North America is committed to workforce inclusion and providing an environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, age, marital status, family relationship, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (including transgender and transitioning status), genetic information, or veteran status.

For an accommodation or special assistance with applying for a posted position, please contact our Human Resources department at 503-745-8982 or toll free 800-206-3369. For TTY/TDD enabled call 503-745-2137 or toll free 866-355-6935.

Qualifications

Please see above for qualification details