Design Release Engineer - Hard Trim

ALTEN Technology•Auburn Hills, MI

About The Position

The Interior Lighting Design and Release Engineer (DRE) – Advanced is responsible for designing, developing, and releasing ambient, functional, and decorative interior lighting systems. Components include LED modules, light guides, controllers, and harness interfaces, with system-level integration across the instrument panel, doors, console, headliner, and other cockpit elements. The engineer leads development of vehicle-level lighting functional objectives and translates them into component requirements while ensuring performance, safety, and regulatory compliance. The role spans the full lifecycle from concept and packaging through validation, release, and launch. The DRE leads supplier and cross-functional engineering activities, provides regional technical support, and manages quality, cost, timing, and performance objectives. The role also covers requirements and validation documentation, system integration, release processes, supplier hardware and software reviews, regulatory conformity, issue management, and program reporting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or Optical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
5–7+ years of automotive engineering experience.
Strong understanding of component integration, GD&T, and system packaging.
Proficiency with CAD and PLM tools, including NX, CATIA, and Teamcenter.
Familiarity with LIN/CAN network communications and lighting ECU interaction.
Strong problem-solving skills, including demonstrated use of reactive problem-solving tools.
Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage suppliers in a global development environment.
Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Nice To Haves

Interior lighting or mechatronic/electronic component experience.
Knowledge of LED, OLED, and emerging lighting technologies.
Optical design and validation experience.
Experience with lighting test methods such as photometric, colorimetry, and durability testing, and with lab validation equipment.
Familiarity with systems and release processes.

Responsibilities

Lead supplier design activities and design reviews to align with client specifications, styling intent, and lighting performance targets.
Define, track, and deliver quality, cost, timing, and performance objectives for interior lighting systems.
Work with advanced engineering and design studios to establish lighting architecture, aesthetic integration, and innovation opportunities before sourcing.
Act as the regional engineering lead for interior lighting components and systems, providing on-site technical support.
Create and maintain DFMEAs, boundary diagrams, parameter diagrams, interface matrices, and Design Validation Plans & Reports (DVP&Rs).
Ensure lighting system integration and compatibility with surrounding interior components, ECUs, and vehicle networks such as LIN and CAN.
Conduct benchmarking, competitive analysis, and technology scouting, including OLED, dynamic or animated lighting, and light-based HMI concepts.
Support warranty, quality, and customer satisfaction initiatives through technical analysis, root cause investigations, and resolution plans.
Drive cost optimization and efficient investment strategies while meeting design and functional requirements.
Provide technical input during RFQ and sourcing processes.
Manage releasing activities using EBOM, CCD/WebCN, Teamcenter, and GIMS, and ensure program milestone compliance.
Collaborate with EE systems engineering to define vehicle functional lighting specifications and Requirements Analysis Reports (RARs).
Review and approve supplier hardware and software releases and validation reports, including optical performance testing.
Ensure compliance with global lighting regulations and work with internal compliance teams and suppliers to validate conformity.
Provide program leadership through issue management, status reporting, and technical presentations to management.
Guide suppliers in developing, validating, and releasing lighting hardware and software to achieve lighting objectives.