Integrated Lighting Systems Engineer

Integrated Lighting Systems Engineer

The Integrated Lighting Systems Engineer develops integrated lighting solutions for exterior automotive systems, with a primary focus on accent lighting, illuminated exterior features, and new customer-facing lighting concepts. This role combines lighting engineering expertise with a systems-engineering mindset to integrate optical, electrical, mechanical, software, and manufacturing requirements into robust exterior system solutions. The position is focused on customer-visible exterior lighting features and innovation rather than traditional regulatory lamp development, supporting next-generation illuminated exterior systems that strengthen technology, design intent, customer experience, brand differentiation, and manufacturability.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Lead the system definition, development, and integration of exterior lighting features, with emphasis on accent lighting, illuminated exterior components, and brand-differentiating lighting functions.
• Translate customer expectations, styling intent, product requirements, and technical constraints into clear system requirements and functional specifications.
• Define and execute the Statement of Work / Statement of Requirements for integrated lighting systems and related sub-systems.
• Cascade requirements to optical, electrical, electronic, software, mechanical, trim, and manufacturing teams to ensure a complete and feasible system solution.
• Support concept development for new lighting solutions including illuminated grilles, exterior accent lighting, welcome/goodbye animations, light guides, light pipes, projection features, and smart surfaces.
• Ensure customer requirements, applicable regulations, product specifications, cost, timing, safety, reliability, quality, and manufacturing feasibility are considered in the system design.
• Collaborate with styling, product engineering, electronics, software, optics, suppliers, manufacturing, purchasing, and program teams to develop innovative and robust integrated lighting solutions.
• Prepare and maintain engineering deliverables including system specifications, sub-system specifications, interface control documents, system architecture, compliance matrix, system bill of materials, DFMEA, DVP&R, prototype plans, engineering changes, and technical reviews.
• Participate in creation and analysis of system models, simulations, prototypes, and validation plans for lighting performance, integration, thermal behavior, durability, and perceived quality.
• Identify and promote new lighting technologies, materials, suppliers, and integration approaches that can improve the value, appearance, performance, or manufacturability of exterior systems.
• Manage assigned work packages in Trax or equivalent requirements-management tools, ensuring traceability, timely completion, and alignment with project deliverables.
• Apply ISO 26262, ASPICE, or equivalent automotive system-development practices when applicable to program scope, while maintaining primary focus on integrated accent lighting innovation and robust system execution.
• Support customer discussions, innovation reviews, technical workshops, and system-level trade-off decisions related to exterior lighting integration.

Other responsibilities include:

• Conduct engineering testing of electromechanical systems from proof-of-concept mockups through customer validation testing.
• Use system analysis tools, such as LabVIEW, programmers, oscilloscopes, meters, and analyzers, to evaluate system performance and troubleshoot system functions when issues arise.
• Review, approve, complete, and submit required change notices to ensure the system meets design inputs.
• Participate in code reviews and component design reviews with peers and customers to ensure system requirements are fulfilled.
• Develop new project documentation and optimize existing project documentation to add value and improve communication efficiency.
• Support system analysis activities. Demonstrate fundamental understanding of, and ability to apply, basic mathematical models for mechatronic systems and software simulations using tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, and software…