(DRE) - Plastics Seats Engineer

ALTEN Technology USA•Auburn Hills, MI

About The Position

We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life—from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more. As part of the global ALTEN Group—57,000+ engineers in 30 countries—we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing. When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you’ll collaborate on some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. Job Description: We are looking for a Design Release Engineer (DRE) with deep expertise in plastic components for automotive seating systems. This role will be responsible for the design, development, and release of plastic components within the seat system, ensuring compliance with performance, cost, and timing objectives. The ideal candidate will have strong technical knowledge of plastics engineering, tooling, and manufacturing processes, and will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams and suppliers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, or related field
Minimum of 2 years in automotive plastics design and development (preferably seating systems)
Strong knowledge of injection molding, tooling, and material properties
Familiarity with automotive standards and validation processes
Experience with GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
Excellent communication and supplier management abilities

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of sustainability initiatives and lightweighting strategies
Proficiency in Teamcenter/NX and/or PLM/CATIA V5

Responsibilities

Component Ownership: Lead design and release of plastic components for seat systems (e.g., side shields, backs, trim covers, recliner covers)
Ensure designs meet functional, aesthetic, durability, and regulatory requirements
Engineering Execution: Lead the design & development activities according to Client design practices
Manage change control through CN/PLM systems
Supplier Interface: Work closely with suppliers on tooling feasibility, material selection, and manufacturing processes
Support DFMEA, DVP&R activities with suppliers
Program Delivery: Track and meet program timing, cost, and quality targets
Resolve technical issues promptly and escalate risks as needed
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Coordinate with structures, foam, trim, and JIT teams to ensure seamless integration of plastic components
Support launch readiness and plant build events