Design Release Engineer

Stellantis•Auburn Hills, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Design Release Engineer (DRE) in the Driveline & Axle Product Release Center is responsible for owning assigned driveline and axle components. This role executes product design, analysis, release, and testing according to technical infrastructure and FCA PCPC processes. The DRE will develop subject matter expertise, coach entry-level engineers, and serve as the primary engineering contact for suppliers. Responsibilities include managing supplier product engineering activities, developing work plans, conducting advanced analysis and simulation, and ensuring all engineering deliverables are met. This includes developing technical requirements, preparing source package documentation, evaluating designs, capturing lessons learned, developing DFMEAs, and executing DVP&R plans. The role also involves developing tools and procedures, collaborating on design detailing and CAE, defining transfer functions, delivering EBOMs and models, generating documentation for change management, and supporting pilot builds. Collaboration with various subject matter experts and stakeholders is crucial for addressing failures. The DRE will also prepare status reports, support manufacturing on production issues, generate cost reduction ideas, and conduct root cause analysis for failures. Additionally, the role includes conducting Layered Process Audits at supplier plants.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/ Mechatronics/ Electrical Engineering or related field.
7+ years of engineering experience in the automotive industry or product engineering design, validation and engineering projects development with OEM and/or tier 1/2 supplier.
Experience or understanding in transmission, driveline & axles or related area.
Thorough understanding of vehicle functions and general vehicle architecture.
Understanding of typical automotive manufacturing and quality processes.
Advanced English language skills 90% (Read and Write).
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, self-driven, Teamwork oriented.
Efficient work under pressure and high communication skills.
Training in problem solving techniques.
Must be able to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
Must be able to lead and manage Suppliers.
Some travel required to Supplier and Corporate Engine/Transmission / Vehicle Assembly Plants -- including USA, Canada & Mexico, or Europe / Asia.
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

Other languages: Italian or French.
Master’s degree highly desired.
Green/Black Belt in Shainin or DFSS.
Knowledge of Stellantis Systems and/or products a plus.
CAE/CFD experiences with Powertrain structures.
Experience with the fundamentals of CAN communications.
Experience with electric motors for automotive applications.
Knowledge of Casting and Injection Molding processes.

Responsibilities

Acts as the owner of assigned driveline & axle components (axles, eDM gearbox, RDM, PTU, T-Case, prop shaft, half shaft, brackets, etc.).
Executes product design, analysis, release and testing per technical infrastructure and FCA PCPC.
Responsible for the complete design and product delivery against technical requirements for the assigned components and products.
Develop subject matter expertise for select components or assemblies as assigned.
Coach entry level engineers as required.
Recognized as single point leadership contact for suppliers’ product engineering.
Manages and tracks supplier product engineering activities and deliverables, including supplier test plans and test execution.
Prepares product engineering work plans in accordance with program and project timing and milestones.
Completes and documents advanced analysis and simulation of actuation mechanisms, including electro-mechanical and servo-hydraulic subsystems.
Executes engineering deliverables in adherence to technical infrastructure and product development process deliverables, reviews, sign-offs, and report-outs.
Develops technical requirements for components and subsystems of driveline & axles including purchased assemblies.
Completes all required technical source package documentation to support supplier quotes.
Evaluates designs to the engineering best practice documents and completes supplier design reviews.
Captures all lessons learned, and ensures timely execution of all calculations, analysis, and simulation in alignment with test plans and requirements.
Develops DFMEAs and evaluates designs for failure modes robustness.
Develops and executes component and subsystem DVP&R plans to validate all aspects of new designs and design changes, including DRBTR.
Supports the development of the system DVP&Rs.
Develops tools, test procedures and acceptance criteria for driveline & axles, components, subassemblies and purchased assemblies.
Collaborates appropriate design detailing and CAE activities.
Ensures transfer functions and physics-based analysis are defined and documented for all actuation subsystems and components.
Delivers EBOM, models, drawings for components, subassemblies, and purchased assemblies.
Generates engineering documentation in support of change management, including DRBFM.
Delivers parts / hardware to pilot builds, including requisitions for prototypes and ED&D.
Collaborates with transmission and driveline systems subject matter experts, ACEs, DSEs, AEs, and other stakeholders to address and support any failures using the appropriate tools and processes.
Prepares status reports and presentations for management and CE organization.
Supports manufacturing on production-related issues.
Generates cost reduction ideas and develops and executes corresponding design and validation plans.
Participate in warranty/cost reduction meetings and develops solutions for warranty issues.
Conducts root cause analysis of driveline & axles failures and identify the root cause/s.
Conducts Layered Process Audits at supplier plants for assigned components.