Product Engineer ; Automotive

Annual Salary Range: $85,000 - $105,000 plus bonus. Individual salaries are based on education, geographic location, and alignment to the market data.

Product Engineer is the subject matter expert for all assigned automotive drivetrain products. Responsible for all technical aspects of transmission, torque converter, EV battery/components, and/or drivetrain components. This includes documentation, quality, applications, materials, manufacturing, process improvement, testing, and validation procedures. The Product Engineer oversees one or more product lines or facilities, serves as the primary technical authority, and drives innovation, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Co-manage the launch of new product lines alongside the Operations Launch Manager, ensuring alignment with business and product strategies.
• Lead the launch of new variants for existing product lines, driving all phases of the project lifecycle and ensuring smooth integration.
• Mentor and train less experienced Product Engineers, providing guidance on technical challenges and helping them develop professional skills.
• Provide leadership in resolving production and quality challenges, often taking charge of the efforts to identify and fix issues in facilities, equipment, or processes.
• Act as the lead Engineer for a product line, holding comprehensive technical knowledge of all components and functionality of transmissions and drive units.
• Create, manage, and maintain system documentation, including A-Charts, BOMs, ECIs, and build charts, ensuring they are accurate and up-to-date.
• Interface directly with customers to negotiate deadlines, scope of work, and priorities, providing expert technical solutions to customer challenges.
• Serve as a technical resource for all departments, including sales, marketing, legal, test engineering, and manufacturing engineering, offering critical insights into product functionality.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineers, Mechanical Designers, and Applications Engineers to create and optimize efficient disassembly and assembly production lines.
• Partner with Test Engineers to determine the required tests, controls, and limits for transmission testing, ensuring alignment with performance and quality standards.
• Manage cost-saving projects, including salvage processes, identifying opportunities to reduce costs and increase operational efficiency.
• Interface with customers directly to negotiate project timelines, scope, and priorities, ensuring customer expectations are met and exceeded.
• Provide authoritative technical information to customers and other internal departments, contributing to successful customer interactions and product implementations.
• Mentor and train less experienced engineers, helping them develop their technical knowledge and project management skills.
• Lead or participate in training sessions, seminars, and meetings to stay updated on industry developments and best practices.
• Lead efforts in cost-saving initiatives, including salvage processes, and participate in quality improvement projects that address production and process issues.
• Use Lean, Kaizen, 5S, and Continuous Improvement techniques to minimize waste, improve product quality, and streamline processes.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Mechanical Design, Applications, and Test Engineers to ensure product and process alignment.
• Lead or contribute to root-cause analysis efforts to identify and solve technical problems in product development and production processes.
• Participate in and sometimes lead Continuous Improvement activities, including Lean, Kaizen, SMED, and 5S initiatives aimed at driving operational excellence.
• Stay ahead of technological advancements by actively participating in continuing education programs and promoting new innovations within the team.
• Take the lead in pursuing continuing education opportunities to maintain technical proficiency and stay ahead of emerging technologies in the field.
• Encourage and support professional growth within the team, ensuring that less experienced engineers are developing the skills necessary for career…