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 families, including internal combustion, hybrid, and electric applications. The role provides technical oversight across system architecture and project delivery, ensuring program objectives are met for cost, timing, efficiency, performance, mass, NVH, quality, and warranty metrics. It oversees system hardware, software, controls, calibration, packaging, builds, validation, engineering deliverables, and vehicle interfaces. The position leads technical integration among component and vehicle engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, propulsion, chassis, brakes, electrical engineering, calibration, purchasing, quality, supply operations, and validation organizations. It provides technical leadership from concept through launch, including architecture decisions, requirements translation, risk management, validation, manufacturability, quality initiatives, cost optimization, and program execution. The Assistant Chief Engineer also represents the Chief Engineering organization in program reviews and supports leadership with resource planning, manpower forecasting, engineering budgets, cost rollups, new program planning, and business case development.

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.
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 of RAM R7P, Jeep Wrangler JL, and Gladiator JT driveline and architecture programs across ICE, HEV, and BEV applications.
Own and integrate axle, driveline, transfer case, gear reducer, 4WD systems, and related functional software.
Oversee system hardware, software, controls, calibration, packaging, builds, validation, ED&D, DVPR, statements of work, and design change requests.
Lead engineering teams in delivering prototype and production solutions that meet vehicle and program requirements.
Serve as a key interface to Propulsion and Vehicle teams for bulletin responses, program updates, and PSDP gate inputs and reviews.
Coordinate technical integration with Vehicle and Propulsion System Integration, Chassis/Brakes, EE Core, ePT, Controls, Calibration, AME, Purchasing, Quality, suppliers, and Supply Operations.
Develop and coordinate engineering milestone dates supporting critical mule and pilot builds, including quantities, MRD, design content, and calibration needs.
Review, approve, and track the system DVP&R and support development of component DVP&Rs.
Co-lead proactive risk management with the QRE team, including DFMEAs, DFSS, LUR, Heat Map, and Reliability Demonstration; track and lead resolution of GIMs and coordinate trade-off studies.
Perform analysis and recommend appropriate engineering proposals and trade-offs.
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.
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; work with Calibration, Development, and Engineering leads to implement improvements.
Represent the Chief Engineering organization in high-level meetings, including steering committees and program reviews.
Lead build readiness tasks, including build fixtures, test fixtures, and dyno support.
Lead technical reviews, evaluations, and technical specification signoffs, including design reviews.
Lead technical responses to investigate and action technology-related bulletins.
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.
Ensure alignment and integration across axles, suspension, steering, brakes, frame and chassis, powertrain interfaces, calibration, manufacturing, suppliers, and validation.
Translate vehicle-level requirements into subsystem- and component-level design requirements and maintain consistent engineering assumptions, requirements, interface definitions, and design intent.
Lead system integration reviews and technical assessments addressing vehicle performance, durability, manufacturability, NVH, serviceability, and quality.
Identify architecture, integration, packaging, structural, manufacturing, and validation risks.
Review and approve engineering change notices and design modifications.
Incorporate lessons learned, engineering checklists, technical standards, and 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, and new program planning.
Support business case development and program execution strategies.