Design Release Engineer - SAI Systems and General Adaptation

Stellantis•Auburn Hills, MI

About The Position

The Design Release Engineer (DRE) will lead the design and release of Secondary Air Injection (SAI) systems and other general adaptation components. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional engineering teams, managing design release activities from concept to production, and ensuring components meet cost, quality, and timing targets. The DRE will also provide technical guidance, lead risk assessment processes, and ensure all technical documentation aligns with program timelines and requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience working with design and manufacturing within the automotive industry.
Strong understanding of component-level design and manufacturing processes, including formation, assembly, and integration.
Familiarity with product development documentation such as DFMEA and DVP&R.
Knowledge of material properties, rigidity, compliance, strength, GD&T, CAE analysis, and VSA.
Ability to define system and component‑level requirements.
Strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills (oral and written).
Demonstrated project management experience.
Proven understanding of Design Release Engineer responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Experience in SAI systems.
Hands-on experience developing and executing validation plans.
Key traits for success: action-oriented, comfortable with ambiguity, customer-focused, strong problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with 3D CAD tools, preferably Siemens NX, Team Center.

Responsibilities

Lead the design of SAI systems and other general adaptation components, ensuring alignment with engine and vehicle requirements.
Develop and refine concepts for SAI systems and adaptation components based on packaging, performance, and system constraints.
Support CAD modeling, CAE analysis, and other design validation methods—including VSA—to ensure compliance with engineering standards.
Collaborate with cross-functional engineering groups to integrate SAI systems and adaptation components into the engine and vehicle architecture.
Partner with SAI and general adaptation technical expert lead to uphold engineering best practices throughout component development.
Maintain sourcing documentation for relevant components, including SOR templates, Part Inspection Standards, and Technical Specification Lists.
Manage design release activities from early concept through production, ensuring timely completion of B‑Sample, C‑Sample, X0, X1, X2, and X3 milestones.
Own the Bill of Materials (BOM) and Engineering Change Notices (CNs) for assigned system components.
Ensure that all parts meet cost, quality, and timing targets; work closely with purchasing to support on‑time sourcing.
Lead the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) for SAI systems and adaptation components, ensuring compliance with regulatory and customer specifications.
Collaborate with manufacturing, suppliers, and quality teams to ensure successful release, handling, assembly, and implementation of designs.
Participate in weekly or bi-weekly meetings with the global Technical Expert community.
Provide technical leadership during development and production to resolve design issues, material challenges, and manufacturing process concerns.
Lead DFMEA activities and other risk assessment processes to ensure design robustness and mitigate potential issues.
Support the development of test strategies, including bench-level and vehicle-level system testing.
Work closely with suppliers to ensure design feasibility, cost effectiveness, and manufacturability of assigned components.
Collaborate with validation teams to define and execute testing plans that meet functional and performance requirements.
Partner with vehicle integration teams to ensure proper fit, safety, and system compatibility within vehicle platforms.
Support development and maintenance of engineering best practices in collaboration with the technical expert lead.
Create and maintain engineering documentation—including design specifications, drawings, DVP&Rs, and validation reports.
Ensure all technical documentation aligns with program timelines and PPAP requirements.
Provide clear status updates, timing reports, and risk assessments to senior leadership and stakeholders.