Warranty Engineer

Magna International; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading automotive company in Michigan is seeking an Electrical Warranty & Customer Liaison Engineer to manage field performance issues related to electronic components. This role involves diagnosing electrical failures, leading technical investigations, and communicating with OEM customers. The ideal candidate possesses a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and has at least 3 years of experience in automotive electronics. You will utilize diagnostic tools and negotiate effectively for quality assurance.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in automotive electronics, power electronics, or control systems.
• Strong understanding of circuit board manufacturing and common failure modes.
• Knowledge of ISO 26262 and IATF 16949 is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead teardown and testing of Transmission Control Modules.
• Utilize diagnostic tools to identify electrical failures.
• Drive technical investigations for electrical Non-Conformance.

Skills

Automotive electronics

Signal analysis

Ability to explain complex issues

Systemic thinking

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Vector CANoe

CANalyzer

INCA

Job description

Mission of the Position

The Electrical Warranty & Customer Liaison Engineer is the primary technical authority for field performance issues related to transmission control systems and electronic components. You will bridge the gap between complex signal/software data and the OEM customer. Your goal is to diagnose electrical failures, manage software "bug" investigations, and protect the company's liability through data-driven technical defense.

Key Responsibilities

• Electronic Root Cause: Lead the teardown and bench testing of Transmission Control Modules (TCMs), sensors, solenoids, and internal wiring harnesses.
• Signal Analysis: Utilize oscilloscopes and logic analyzers to identify signal noise, grounding issues, or intermittent circuit opens/shorts.
• Software/Calibration Review: Analyze "Freeze Frame" data and error logs to determine if a field issue is a hardware failure or a software calibration edge-case.
• 8D Leadership: Drive technical investigations for electrical "Non-Conformance" using Fishbone and 5-Why tools, focusing on PCB defects, solder integrity, or component latch-up.
• OEM Technical Lead: Serve as the "Subject Matter Expert" (SME) during weekly Warranty quality meetings with the customer's electrical and systems engineering teams.
• Data Presentation: Translate complex electrical waveforms and error-code logic into clear, executive-level presentations that explain the "Physics of Failure."
• Liability Negotiation: Defend the company against "No Trouble Found" (NTF) claims by proving external factors like vehicle-side wiring issues, EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), or improper jump-starting.
• Portal Management: Ensure all technical responses in OEM portals (e.g., GM PRTS, STLA GIMS) are linguistically precise and technically sound.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from an accredited university is required.
• 3+ years of experience in automotive electronics, power electronics, or control systems.
• Proficiency with CAN/LIN/FlexRay communication protocols and tools (Vector CANoe/CANalyzer, INCA).
• Strong understanding of circuit board (PCBA) manufacturing and common failure modes (dendrite growth, thermal fatigue).
• Knowledge of ISO 26262 (Functional Safety) and IATF 16949 is a plus.
• Technical Diplomacy: Ability to explain a complex software "re-flash" or hardware "revision" to a customer without conceding unnecessary liability.
• Systemic Thinking: Understanding how the electrical system interacts with the mechanical transmission hardware (the "Mechatronics" perspective).
• Agility: Comfortable shifting from a Lab environment to a high-pressure customer negotiation meeting.
• SW vs. HW Identification: Accuracy in triaging failures either software-fixable or requiring a hardware change.
• Warranty Recovery: Successfully identifying OEM-side electrical issues (e.g., faulty harnesses) to redirect warranty costs away from the company.
• Response Turnaround: 100% adherence to customer timing for 8D and "Initial Technical Response" (ITR).

Work Environment

• Regular use of diagnostic equipment and high-voltage safety gear (if working on EV/Hybrid systems).
• Travel (10-20%) to assembly plants for vehicle-level troubleshooting and "ride-and-drive" diagnostics.
• Office environment.

Employment Information

Worker Type: Regular / Permanent

Group: Magna Powertrain

Equal Opportunity Employment

At Magna, we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. That's why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, and in consideration of job requirements, regardless of, in particular, color, ancestry, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity. Magna takes the privacy of your personal information seriously. We discourage you from sending applications via email or traditional mail to comply with GDPR requirements and your local Data Privacy Law.