Service Engineer

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At Kia, we’re creating award-winning products and redefining what value means in the automotive industry. It takes a special group of individuals to do what we do, and we do it together. Our culture is fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative. Our people thrive on thinking differently and challenging the status quo. We are creating something special here, a culture of learning and opportunity, where you can help Kia achieve big things and most importantly, feel passionate and connected to your work every day.

Kia provides team members with competitive benefits including premium paid medical, dental and vision coverage for you and your dependents, 401(k) plan matching of 100% up to 6% of the salary deferral, and paid time off. Kia also offers company lease and purchase programs, company-wide holiday shutdown, paid volunteer hours, and premium lifestyle amenities at our corporate campus in Irvine, California.

Exempt

The Service Engineering group works as part of Kia North America Product Quality to represent the voice of the North American customer in the identification of vehicle quality concerns and development of countermeasures for Kia America’s vast dealership network. This team collaborates with various engineering groups in North America and/or Korea to turn this goal into reality.

The Service Engineer has strong influence over customer perception of Kia vehicle quality. This role will be relied upon to quickly identify emerging issues in the North American market, initiate investigations to resolve such issues and provide resolution to address vehicle production and/or vehicles in the field. To support this, a strong foundation in Quality disciplines along with the ability to make thorough and accurate assessments with minimal supervision is required for success.

On a day-to-day basis, the Service Engineer investigates vehicle quality concerns, analyzes field and warranty data, coordinates cross-functional investigations, validates corrective actions, and communicates findings to internal and external stakeholders.

• Serve as the SME for quality issues that involve his or her assigned area of responsibility for Kia vehicles in North America.
• Manage Vehicle Quality by identifying, investigating, and resolving product quality/service concerns related to Kia vehicle(s).
• Identify potential quality issues and elevate high-priority concerns through Quality Information Reports submitted to Kia Engineering, Manufacturing Plants and Quality stakeholders in Korea and North America.
• Review data sources such as Field Quality Reports, Warranty information, Techline Assistance, Customer Care, and social media analysis reports to develop the appropriate action plan for quality improvement.

• Actively participate in regular quality meetings with stakeholders in North America and Korea.
• Initiate, support and actively track progress on field investigations and/or Go&See activities of potential quality concerns in collaboration with Korea/North American Engineering teams, including but not limited to Kia Corporation, Hyundai America Technical Center Inc., Hyundai/Kia North American Quality Center, Kia Georgia, Kia Mexico, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America.
• Coordinate and prepare publications, such as TSBs or Pit Stops, to disseminate countermeasure to the field.
• Monitor countermeasure effectiveness and recurrence prevention through analysis of available data sources, including comeback analysis and all other after-countermeasure occurrences.

• Support product audits through a combination of plant audits (Point of Departure) and port audits (Port of Entry).
• Review and utilize results from Kia America’s performance in studies such as J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, and Consumer Reports Reliability Rankings to improve Kia Quality.
• Successfully complete various ad-hoc requests.

Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline, Automotive Technology, or equivalent work experience required.