Design and Release Engineer (DRE) Halfshaft & Driveshaft Product Release Center

Stellantis•Auburn Hills, MI

About The Position

The Design and Release Engineer acts as the owner of assigned driveshaft and/or halfshaft components, carrying out product design, analysis, release, and testing in accordance with technical infrastructure and STLA best practices. The engineer is responsible for complete design and product delivery against technical requirements. Assigned components or products may be complex or involve new technology requiring relevant prior experience. The role develops subject matter expertise for assigned components or assemblies, coaches entry-level engineers as needed, and serves as the single-point leadership contact for suppliers’ product engineering. It manages and tracks supplier engineering activities and deliverables, including supplier test plans and execution, and prepares engineering work plans aligned with program timing and milestones. The engineer develops requirements, source-package documentation, design reviews, analyses, DFMEAs, DVP&R plans, test tools and procedures, and engineering change documentation. The role collaborates on design detailing and CAE activities; documents transfer functions and physics-based analyses for actuation systems; and delivers EBOMs, models, and drawings. It also supports pilot builds, manufacturing, issue resolution, warranty and cost-reduction activities, root-cause investigations, and supplier plant audits. The position prepares status reports and presentations for management and the CE organization and works with cross-functional stakeholders to address failures.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related degree field.
Five years of engineering experience in the automotive industry, or in product engineering design, validation, and engineering project development with an OEM and/or Tier 1/2 supplier.
Halfshaft/Propshaft experience.
Experience or understanding in transmission, driveline and axles, or a related area.
Thorough understanding of vehicle functions and general vehicle architecture.
Understanding of typical automotive manufacturing and quality processes.
Advanced English language skills (90%), including reading and writing.
Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
Ability to lead and manage suppliers.
Willingness to travel to supplier and corporate engine, transmission, or vehicle assembly plants, including locations in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe, or Asia.
Experience with assembly and computer-aided design (NX/CATIA).
Experience with Design Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (DFMEA).
Experience with Design Verification Plan & Report (DVP&R).
Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Engineering.
Italian or French language skills.
Green/Black Belt in Shainin or DFSS.
Leadership, organization, planning, decision-making, and strategic-thinking skills.
Ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships and uncertainty and effect lasting change through effective communication and experience.
Proactive, learning-oriented, self-driven, and teamwork-oriented approach.
Ability to work efficiently under pressure and strong communication skills.
Training in problem-solving techniques.

Responsibilities

Develop subject matter expertise for assigned components or assemblies.
Coach entry-level engineers as required.
Serve as the single-point leadership contact for suppliers’ product engineering.
Manage and track supplier product engineering activities and deliverables, including supplier test plans and test execution.
Prepare product engineering work plans aligned with program timing and milestones.
Develop technical requirements for driveline and axle components and subsystems, including purchased assemblies.
Complete technical source-package documentation to support supplier quotes.
Evaluate designs against engineering best-practice documents and complete supplier design reviews.
Capture lessons learned and ensure timely calculations, analysis, and simulation aligned with test plans and requirements.
Develop DFMEAs and evaluate designs for robustness against failure modes.
Develop and execute component and subsystem DVP&R plans, including DRBTR, and support system DVP&R development.
Develop tools, test procedures, and acceptance criteria for driveline and axle components, subassemblies, and purchased assemblies.
Collaborate on design detailing and CAE activities.
Define and document transfer functions and physics-based analysis for actuation subsystems and components.
Deliver EBOMs, models, and drawings for components, subassemblies, and purchased assemblies.
Generate engineering documentation supporting change management, including DRBFM.
Deliver parts and hardware to pilot builds, including requisitions for prototypes and ED&D.
Collaborate with transmission and driveline systems subject matter experts, ACEs, DSEs, AEs, and other stakeholders to address failures using appropriate tools and processes.
Prepare status reports and presentations for management and the CE organization.
Support manufacturing on production-related issues.
Generate cost-reduction ideas and develop and execute associated design and validation plans.
Participate in warranty and cost-reduction meetings and develop solutions for warranty issues.
Conduct root-cause analysis of driveline and axle failures and identify root causes.
Conduct Layered Process Audits at supplier plants for assigned components.