Senior Manager, Vehicle Safety Investigations

Senior Manager, Vehicle Safety Investigations

Location:

Fountain Valley, CA 92708

On‑site

• Manage a team of engineers responsible for conducting extensive investigations that determine the probability of a Hyundai vehicle model containing a safety related defect and/or a possible noncompliance with FMVSS requirements.
• Lead technical investigations of assigned system responsibility.

• Lead and coordinate Hyundai cross‑functional groups to identify, evaluate, and resolve vehicle safety issues, liaising with all involved internal teams.
• Develop and apply innovative analytical approaches to detect potential vehicle safety concerns.
• Monitor engineer‑led analysis of consumer complaints, field reports, legal cases, supplier and dealer data, plant information, recalls, compliance testing, NHTSA VOQ data, and warranty outliers.
• Identify potential safety‑related defects and FMVSS non‑compliance issues affecting Hyundai production vehicles.
• Conduct timely, data‑driven investigations into escalated technical issues, assessing severity, occurrence, root cause, population, detectability, and corrective actions.
• Track and manage assigned component issues throughout the complete field fix lifecycle and monitor field status.
• Perform and coordinate vehicle and parts investigations, including field inspections at dealerships or alternate locations as required.
• Maintain a high level of technical knowledge of Hyundai vehicles and automotive components to support safety investigations, leveraging internal expertise and direct access to upper management for critical issue escalation.
• Evaluate and validate field action repairs related to recall campaigns and other safety matters.
• Liaise with Hyundai design, manufacturing, and supplier affiliates to support issue resolution.
• Lead engineering reviews and resolution of vehicle safety‑related claims.
• Participate in vehicle safety forums and technical conferences and disseminate learnings internally.
• Prepare concise executive presentations, provide field action recommendations, notify management of stop‑sale or expedited actions, and communicate with NHTSA ODI investigators on investigations and recall matters.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering.
• Eight or more years of relevant work experience.
• Experience in conducting timely investigations into equipment failure modes and in gathering and analyzing statistical data.
• Five or more years of experience in the automotive business, including vehicle safety, design, testing, field reliability evaluation, and service preferred.
• Automotive assembly plant or component manufacturing experience a plus.
• Results‑driven with excellent project and program management skills.
• Ability to proactively collaborate with peers, vehicle component experts and leadership within the organization and creatively problem‑solve needed to complete investigations.
• Ability to concurrently manage a number of investigations in a timely manner.
• Ability to identify and utilize the corporation expertise related to the issue under investigation.
• Two to three years of supervisory experience desired.
• Thorough automotive technical knowledge required, including specialized knowledge of specific vehicle system or performance areas such as powertrain, chassis, electrical, crash worthiness, etc.
• Ability to read and comprehend federal regulations related to automotive safety.
• Ability to accurately analyze high‑volume technical data.
• Ability to present investigation findings to all pertinent levels of the corporation.
• Aptitude to work well with and communicate clearly with members of various HMA and HMC legal, quality, engineering, testing, and service departments, and with NHTSA Investigators on identified issues of concern.

• Monthly Hyundai/Genesis vehicle lease allowance (including insurance and maintenance).
• Holiday Pay – the company shuts down with pay between Christmas and New Years.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• 401(k) retirement plan with Employer Match.
• Additional 401(k) Employer Enhanced Contribution…