Product Engineer

Job Title:

Design Release Engineer - Exterior Plastics

Job Description

The Design Release Engineer coordinates design analysis and product development activities for advanced components and product lines, with a primary focus on exterior associated plastic injection molded parts. This role drives the release of new components, resolves design deficiencies, maintains cost controls, and provides technical direction to support personnel. The engineer collaborates closely with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and customers while staying engaged with new technologies and engineering best practices.

This position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of design, technology, safety, and brand identity, with the satisfaction of seeing your work on the road every day.

Responsibilities

+ Coordinate design analysis and product development activities for advanced components and product lines, with a focus on exterior related plastic injection molded parts.

+ Drive the release of new components from concept through production, ensuring timely and accurate documentation and approvals.

+ Resolve design deficiencies by identifying root causes, implementing corrective actions, and validating design changes.

+ Maintain cost controls by supporting cost-effective design solutions, monitoring cost impacts, and collaborating with stakeholders to meet budget targets.

+ Provide technical direction and guidance to support personnel involved in design, development, testing, and release activities.

+ Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, program management, manufacturing, quality, and procurement, to ensure alignment on design requirements and program objectives.

+ Work directly with suppliers to clarify design intent, review feasibility, and support tooling and manufacturing readiness for exterior plastic components.

+ Engage with customers to understand requirements, address technical concerns, and ensure designs meet performance, safety, and brand identity objectives.

+ Utilize design release tools and systems to manage product data, track changes, and maintain accurate records throughout the product lifecycle.

+ Apply engineering theory, principles of design, and materials knowledge to create and refine sketches and engineering drawings.

+ Support program management activities by providing technical input to schedules, risk assessments, and status updates.

+ Participate in meetings and presentations, communicating design status, issues, and solutions clearly to stakeholders.

+ Partner with management to analyze complex issues, propose solutions, and support decision-making.

+ Handle diverse assignments concurrently by prioritizing tasks and managing multiple projects in parallel.

+ Stay current with new technologies, engineering best practices, and industry trends related to exterior lighting and plastic injection molding.

Essential Skills

+ Experience in design release engineering, including managing the release of new components and product data.

+ Hands-on experience with new product development, particularly in mechanical and product engineering contexts.

+ in exterior plastic, including understanding of functional, aesthetic, and safety requirements.

+

Experience with plastic injection molding and plastic component design.

+ Mechanical engineering experience, including application of engineering theory and principles of design.

+ Ability to create and interpret sketches and engineering drawings with a strong understanding of materials and design principles.

+ Proficiency with design and product lifecycle management tools such as Teamcenter or similar systems.

+ Program management experience supporting engineering projects and coordinating cross-functional activities.

+ Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively cross-functionally and cross-culturally.

+ Strong written and oral communication skills for meetings, presentations, and technical documentation.

+ Ability to work well with others and demonstrate effective teamwork skills.

+ Ability to multitask and handle diverse assignments concurrently.

+ Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

+ Experience using email communication tools for professional correspondence.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ Experience working with original equipment manufacturers (OEM) or in an automotive or transportation-related environment.

+ Familiarity with exterior systems and integration with vehicle platforms.

+ Experience collaborating with management to analyze and solve complex technical and program issues.

+ Exposure to global or cross-cultural engineering teams and suppliers.

+ Interest in or experience with emerging technologies and engineering best practices in plastics.

+ Ability to contribute to brand identity through thoughtful and innovative design of exterior components.

Work Environment

The role operates in a hybrid remote work environment, combining remote work with occasional on-site visits for parts inspection and design reviews. You…