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:

• Leading the system definition, development, and integration of exterior lighting features, with emphasis on accent lighting, illuminated exterior components, and brand-differentiating lighting functions.
• Translating customer expectations, styling intent, product requirements, and technical constraints into clear system requirements and functional specifications.
• Defining and executing the Statement of Work / Statement of Requirements for integrated lighting systems and related sub-systems.
• Cascading requirements to optical, electrical, electronic, software, mechanical, trim, and manufacturing teams to ensure a complete and feasible system solution.
• Supporting concept development for new lighting solutions including illuminated grilles, exterior accent lighting, welcome/goodbye animations, light guides, light pipes, projection features, and smart surfaces.
• Ensuring customer requirements, applicable regulations, product specifications, cost, timing, safety, reliability, quality, and manufacturing feasibility are considered in the system design.
• Collaborating with styling, product engineering, electronics, software, optics, suppliers, manufacturing, purchasing, and program teams to develop innovative and robust integrated lighting solutions.
• Preparing and maintaining 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.
• Participating in creation and analysis of system models, simulations, prototypes, and validation plans for lighting performance, integration, thermal behavior, durability, and perceived quality.
• Identifying and promoting new lighting technologies, materials, suppliers, and integration approaches that can improve the value, appearance, performance, or manufacturability of exterior systems.
• Managing assigned work packages in Trax or equivalent requirements-management tools, ensuring traceability, timely completion, and alignment with project deliverables.
• Applying 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.
• Supporting customer discussions, innovation reviews, technical workshops, and system-level trade-off decisions related to exterior lighting integration.

Other responsibilities include:

• Conducting engineering testing of electromechanical systems from proof-of-concept mockups through customer validation testing.
• Using system analysis tools, such as LabVIEW, programmers, oscilloscopes, meters, and analyzers, to evaluate system performance and troubleshoot system functions when issues arise.
• Reviewing, approving, completing, and submitting required change notices to ensure the system meets design inputs.
• Participating in code reviews and component design reviews with peers and customers to ensure system requirements are fulfilled.
• Developing new project documentation and optimizing existing project documentation to add value and improve communication efficiency.
• Supporting system analysis activities. Demonstrating fundamental understanding of, and ability to apply, basic mathematical models for mechatronic systems and software simulations using tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, and software development environments for embedded applications.
• Independently prioritizing task completion and issue resolution to ensure compliance with customer requirements and program deliverables. Contributing to the development of project timing.
• Communicating effectively within the project team and with customers, suppliers, manufacturing teams, and quality teams with minimal guidance from engineering management and engineering personnel.
• Working with senior engineering personnel to support and drive best practices in design specifications, manufacturing processes, customer requirements, and safety requirements.
• Understanding and executing internal change management processes and adapting to customer change management systems to ensure accuracy and proper protocol when…