Product Development Engineer – Transmission Systems

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In this position...
The Front Wheel Drive Transmission Systems team is seeking a Product Development Engineer to lead quality improvement and cost optimization initiatives for advanced hybrid and automatic transmission systems. This role provides the opportunity to work cross-functional with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and service teams to identify, investigate, and resolve complex vehicle and transmission issues that directly impact customer satisfaction and business performance.

Lead cross-functional quality improvement, warranty reduction, and cost optimization initiatives for front-wheel-drive hybrid and automatic transmission systems.

Analyze early-life and long-term field performance trends and develop quality improvement actions.

Develop repair cost reduction strategies while maintaining customer satisfaction and product quality.

Lead component and system cost optimization initiatives while maintaining quality and customer satisfaction.

Develop and implement initiatives to reduce field repair frequency and improve product reliability.

Lead root-cause investigations and implement corrective actions that improve quality performance, reduce warranty spend, and lower product lifecycle costs.

Proactively identify emerging product concerns through data analysis, field investigations, and cross-functional collaboration.

Develop business cases, risk assessments, and implementation plans for high-priority quality and cost initiatives.

Provide warranty data analysis and field performance insights to support product development, quality, and service engineering activities.

Maintain project documentation including technical reports, 8D corrective action reports, and management summary materials.

Present project status, technical findings, and recommendations to engineering leadership and management teams.

This position follows a hybrid work model, requiring onsite presence four days per week (Monday through Thursday) in Livonia, Michigan.

Occasional travel to manufacturing facilities, supplier locations, and vehicle assembly plants may be required.

Key cross-functional partners include:

• Product Development Engineering
• Product Development Quality
• Powertrain Assembly Plants
• Vehicle Assembly Plants
• Service Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
4+ years of experience in transmission, driveline, powertrain, or automotive systems engineering, with a strong understanding of systems engineering principles.
Even better, you may have...
Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

Experience with automotive warranty analysis, field data, or quality improvement initiatives.
Knowledge of transmission or electrified powertrain systems.
Experience leading structured problem-solving efforts such as 8D, Six Sigma, Shainin, or similar methodologies.
Familiarity with manufacturing, service engineering, or customer quality processes.
Experience working with manufacturing, assembly plant operations, supplier…