Center of Expertise

Hutchinson•Auburn Hills, MI

About The Position

The Center of Expertise reports to the Engineering Manager and identifies the best design concept for a program, sets the design direction early, and helps ensure the program follows that direction throughout development. The role works with internal teams, including Quality, Plant Engineering, Production, Engineering, Sales, and Program Management, and may work with customers and suppliers. It is designated as a sensitive function with access to confidential engineering, product design, customer, technical, benchmarking, research and development, cost, and proprietary company information. The position proposes early-stage design direction, supports program and quote activities, develops and manages design practices and strategy, and contributes to design validation, optimization, benchmarking, extrusion development, and technical reviews. It also communicates potential program risks and roadblocks to the Engineering Manager. Travel to internal manufacturing facilities and customer locations is moderately frequent.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university in engineering, or equivalent.
Five years of directly related professional-level automotive experience.
Knowledge of automotive product design and development and good knowledge of automotive sealing manufacturing processes.
Knowledge of automotive body engineering, dynamic sealing materials, sealing performance requirements, and design requirements.
Basic understanding of the function, construction, and limitations of tooling for plastic injection molding, metal stamping, metal rolling, stretch bending, punching, and die cutting.
Basic understanding of CAD design, descriptive geometry, automotive drafting practices, GD&T, and developing clear drawings.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team on multiple projects simultaneously.
Ability to visualize and understand complete automotive closure systems.
Ability to conceptualize and create simple mockups, models, and gauges.
Ability to safely use simple hand tools and power tools and consistently follow safe shop practices.
Ability to understand and analyze FEA output data.
Demonstrated team-building skills and planning abilities.
Excellent oral, written, graphic communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to produce PowerPoint and Excel presentations and construct simple spreadsheets.
Unrestricted, valid operator's driver's license for the United States and Canada.
Must have or be able to acquire an active major credit card suitable for securing travel expenses; approved expenses are reimbursed by the company.
Must be able to satisfy security clearance requirements for major automotive OEM locations.
Must have or be able to immediately obtain a valid, unrestricted passport.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents; respond to common inquiries or complaints; write speeches and articles to prescribed formats; and present information effectively to senior management, public groups, or boards.
Ability to work with probability, statistical inference, geometry, and trigonometry, and apply fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Familiarity with internet research, Microsoft Office, email, word processing, and spreadsheet applications.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, interpret technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form, and handle abstract and concrete variables.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary engineering contact before program sourcing.
Support Engineering Managers and Project Engineers.
Support the Sales and Program Management teams, especially during new-business quoting.
Develop initial design concepts and typical sections.
Assist with virtual section validation and optimization using FEA.
Create and manage Hutchinson design best practices.
Develop and manage Hutchinson design strategy.
Assist with benchmarking activities.
Work with worldwide counterparts to develop, formalize, and transfer Hutchinson knowledge in areas including acoustics, FEA, design, and processes.
Train technical teams on product design upon request.
Stay current with sealing-system innovations in the automotive industry through benchmarking and auto shows.
Participate in Research Center activity reviews.
Assist in extrusion development.
Review Engineering Criteria Worksheets for clarity, content, and accuracy at the start of design activities.
Review cost information requests to ensure design intent is consistent with Hutchinson design best practices and manufacturing capabilities.
Optimize design and profitability.
Present Hutchinson technology and know-how to customers upon request.
Collaborate with the platform Director on technical reviews.
Advise upper management of potential program risks and roadblocks and suggest corrective actions.
Travel moderately frequently to internal manufacturing facilities and customer locations.
Report major design roadblocks requiring additional support or resources, or extraordinary circumstances affecting program timing or profitability, immediately to the Engineering Manager.
Support the company's Health, Safety, and Environmental policy, report hazards, correct them when safe, participate in required safety activities, and use required PPE.