Assistant Chief Engineer - R7P(RAM), JL/JT (Jeep) Drivelines

Stellantis•Auburn Hills, MI

About The Position

The Assistant Chief Engineer is the technical owner and integrator for axle, driveline, transfer case, gear reducer, and 4WD systems for the Light Duty RAM (R7P), Jeep Wrangler (JL), and Gladiator (JT) vehicle programs, covering internal combustion, hybrid, and battery-electric architectures. The role provides technical oversight to meet or exceed program deliverables and functional objectives, including cost, timing, efficiency, performance, mass, NVH, quality, and warranty metrics. It oversees all aspects of axle, driveline, AWD, and 4WD projects, including hardware, software, calibration, packaging, builds, validation, ED&D, DVPR, statements of work, and design change requests. The Assistant Chief Engineer interfaces with Propulsion and Vehicle teams on technical bulletins, program updates, and PSDP gate inputs and reviews. The position bridges component engineering, vehicle engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and validation organizations. It provides technical leadership from concept through launch by driving architecture decisions, integration, validation, risk management, quality initiatives, manufacturability, and program execution in support of Chief Engineering objectives. The role coordinates with Vehicle and Propulsion System Integration, Chassis/Brakes, EE Core, ePT, Controls, Calibration, AME, Purchasing, Quality, suppliers, and Supply Operations. It leads engineering teams and cross-functional activities to deliver prototype and production solutions that meet vehicle and program requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related degree field.
Eight or more years of overall experience.
Proven engineering experience in transmission, axle, and driveline design, release, development, validation, calibration, manufacturing, problem solving, and program management.
Working knowledge of proactive DFSS and Green Belt certification.
Demonstrated written and oral communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Expertise in DFMEA, DRBFM, DVP&R, and DRBTR.
Strong background in GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and VSA.
Technical project management experience.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in an engineering field, such as Mechanical or Automotive Engineering.
Reactive problem-solving Green Belt (Shainin Journeyman).
Working knowledge of CAD/CAE tools and analysis.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from PMI.
Experience with data acquisition, CANalyzer, and data logger tools.

Responsibilities

Provide technical oversight for RAM R7P, Jeep Wrangler JL, and Gladiator JT ICE, HEV, and BEV driveline systems and architectures.
Oversee axle, driveline, AWD, and 4WD project activities, including hardware, software, calibration, packaging, builds, validation, ED&D, DVPR, statements of work, and design change requests.
Serve as a key interface to Propulsion and Vehicle teams for bulletin responses, program updates, and PSDP gate inputs and reviews.
Act as technical owner and integrator for axle, driveline, transfer case, gear reducer, and 4WD systems from concept through launch.
Coordinate technical interfaces and integration with Vehicle and Propulsion System Integration, Chassis/Brakes, EE Core, ePT, Controls, Calibration, AME, Purchasing, Quality, suppliers, and Supply Operations.
Oversee system-level hardware, software, controls, calibration, integration, and diagnostics, including DFMEA and DRBFM activities.
Develop and coordinate engineering milestone dates supporting critical mule and pilot builds, including quantities, MRD, design content, and calibration needs.
Lead engineering teams in delivering prototype and production solutions; review, approve, and track system DVP&Rs and support component DVP&R development.
Co-lead proactive risk management with the QRE team, including DFMEAs, DFSS, LUR, heat maps, and reliability demonstrations; track and lead resolution of GIMs and coordinate trade-off studies.
Support Purchasing, Supply Operations, and Program Management in source package planning.
Lead program cost rollups for piece cost, tooling, and ED&D with manufacturing engineers and SCIE.
Coordinate performance and fuel economy execution for assigned applications, with AE support for tasks.
Lead data acquisition and analysis using CDT, NI systems, CANalyzer, CANoe, and data loggers, including ECU integration and electrical isolation testing.
Co-own the Top 10 List addressing JD Power, CQI, and 3MIS issues and coordinate improvements with assigned leads.
Represent the Chief Engineering organization in high-level meetings, including steering committees, PRs, MRs, IH meetings, PC-prep meetings, and VIT meetings.
Lead build-readiness activities, including build fixtures, test fixtures, and dyno support.
Lead technical reviews and evaluations and approve technical specifications and design reviews.
Lead technical responses to investigations and action bulletins related to the technology.
Coordinate Technical Cost Reduction (TCR), Value Optimization (VO), and benchmarking activities.
Lead warranty analysis and cross-functional teams, including suppliers, to investigate root causes, resolve warranty issues, and reduce warranty spending.
Lead reactive problem solving using 8D and RedX methodologies.
Create and review DFMEA, DRBFM, DVP&R, and DRBTR documents.
Perform and analyze GD&T on key driveline component and assembly interfaces.
Own system-level definition, integration, and balancing of front and rear axles, drivelines and prop shafts, transfer cases, gear reducers, 4WD functional software, vehicle interfaces, and supporting subsystems.
Ensure technical alignment and integration across axles, suspension, steering, brakes, frame and chassis, powertrain interfaces, calibration, manufacturing, suppliers, and validation organizations.
Translate vehicle-level requirements into subsystem- and component-level design requirements and maintain consistency of engineering assumptions, requirements, interface definitions, and design intent across organizations.
Lead system integration reviews and technical assessments to achieve vehicle performance, durability, manufacturability, NVH, serviceability, and quality objectives.
Identify architecture, integration, packaging, structural, manufacturing, and validation risks.
Review and approve engineering change notices and design modifications.
Update and incorporate lessons learned, engineering checklists, technical standards, and engineering best practices into future designs; represent the Chief Engineer in program lessons-learned activities.
Collaborate with Technical Specialists and Centers of Excellence to improve technical standards and design practices.
Manage engineering complexity and assembly part-number strategies; maintain BOM structures and complexity charts for axle, driveline, transfer case, and gear reducer systems.
Coordinate engineering release readiness and design-freeze activities.
Work with PRC, DVC, suppliers, Purchasing, and Value Optimization teams to identify cost-saving opportunities.
Support Chief Engineering leadership with resource planning, manpower forecasting, engineering budgets, ER&D/ED&D cost rollups, new program planning, business case development, and program execution strategies.