Exterior Systems Launch Engineer

ALTEN Technology USA•Allen Park, 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. Summary: Vehicle Exterior Systems Engineer to support a high-impact engineering program focused on the development, validation, and production maturation of vehicle exterior systems. This role requires strong system-level ownership, hands-on involvement in prototype validation, and deep expertise in root cause analysis (RCA) for launch-related issues. The engineer will drive exterior system components from early prototyping (off tool) through full production readiness, ensuring alignment with performance, quality, cost, and timing targets.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field
3–8+ years of experience in automotive engineering, preferably in exterior systems
Strong experience with root cause analysis (RCA) and problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D, Fishbone, DFMEA)
Experience supporting vehicle launch and production environments
Knowledge of prototype development, validation testing, and manufacturing processes
Ability to work cross-functionally with suppliers and plant teams

Nice To Haves

Experience with OEM programs
Familiarity with issue tracking and release systems (TeamCenter, Jira, etc.)
Understanding of automotive exterior materials, fit & finish, and environmental requirements

Responsibilities

Own system-level engineering of complete vehicle exterior assemblies from prototype through production release
Lead and execute root cause analysis (RCA) for launch issues using data-driven and first-principles engineering methodologies
Track and manage open launch issues, including defining next steps, containment actions, and permanent corrective solutions
Collaborate cross-functionally with suppliers and manufacturing teams to validate feasibility of engineering solutions through prototypes and plant trials
Support prototyping, testing, and validation activities for exterior systems
Ensure engineering solutions meet manufacturability, quality, and cost targets
Drive engineering documentation and release processes through final production readiness