Exterior lightening engineer

Job Opportunity – Lighting Design Release Engineer (Lighting DRE)

Location: Irvine, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

I hope this email finds you well.

We are currently looking for an experienced Lighting Design Release Engineer (Lighting DRE) for an opportunity in Irvine, California
. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in automotive interior and exterior lighting design, component development, design release, and manufacturing feasibility, along with hands‑on experience using CATIA V6
.

The Lighting Design Release Engineer (DRE) will be responsible for developing, designing, validating, and releasing automotive lighting components and assemblies. This role involves close collaboration with Styling, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Tier-I suppliers to ensure lighting systems meet design intent, performance requirements, cost targets, quality standards, and manufacturing feasibility.

• Develop and release automotive interior and exterior lighting components and assemblies, including headlamps, tail lamps, center light panels, and corner lamps.
• Collaborate with the Styling team to conduct design feasibility studies, review A-class surfaces, and establish craftsmanship targets.
• Design and develop automotive lighting components and detailed part models using CATIA V6
  .
• Manage the complete design release process for lighting components, sub-systems, and assemblies in accordance with project requirements and timelines.
• Work closely with Tier-I suppliers to evaluate design alternatives and make trade-offs related to cost, weight, joining methods, molding processes, and testing performance.
• Apply knowledge of automotive manufacturing processes to ensure designs are robust, production-ready, and cost-effective.
• Review simulation results and incorporate engineering recommendations into product designs.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including Styling, Product Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supplier Engineering, to resolve design issues and ensure successful product integration.
• Ensure lighting designs meet functional, dimensional, quality, durability, and manufacturability requirements.
• Support design reviews, engineering changes, issue resolution, and timely component release throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience as a Lighting Design Release Engineer (DRE) or in a closely related automotive lighting design role.
• Strong knowledge of automotive interior and exterior lighting systems and components.
• Experience with headlamps, tail lamps, center light panels, corner lamps, and associated assemblies.
• Hands‑on experience with CATIA V6 for automotive component design and 3D modeling.
• Strong understanding of A-class surfaces, styling feasibility, craftsmanship, and design integration.
• Knowledge of automotive manufacturing processes, plastic molding, joining techniques, and assembly requirements.
• Experience working with Tier-I automotive suppliers and cross‑functional engineering teams.
• Ability to interpret simulation results and apply recommendations to product designs.
• Strong communication, problem‑solving, design review, and project coordination skills.

• 10+ years of overall automotive lighting design experience.
• Experience managing lighting components from concept development through design validation and final release.
• Knowledge of automotive product development processes, engineering change management, and design release procedures.
• Experience balancing styling intent, technical feasibility, cost, weight, performance, and manufacturing requirements.