Power Liftgate Systems - Design Release Engineer

ALTEN Technology•Auburn Hills, MI

About The Position

The Design Release Engineer (DRE) for Power Liftgate Systems owns the end-to-end engineering, design, development, validation, and production release of automated liftgate and tailgate systems. The position balances mechanical packaging with electromechanical integration, including components such as electric struts and actuators, latching mechanisms, control modules, pinch sensors, and wiring. The engineer serves as the technical owner from initial concept through full vehicle launch. ALTEN Technology USA is an engineering company supporting clients across industries including aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, and rail. The company has more than 3,000 experts across North America and is part of the global ALTEN Group, which has 57,000 engineers in 30 countries. ALTEN describes a culture focused on employee support, mentorship, and career growth, and offers comprehensive benefits. ALTEN USA is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor. Selected candidates must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
At least 3 years of experience in automotive product development design and release.
Deep understanding of GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis.
Familiarity with automotive manufacturing processes, including plastics injection molding, stamping, and electronics assembly.
Proficiency in change management documentation, including CNs/ECRs, and managing a Bill of Materials (BOM).
Excellent interpersonal, project tracking, and conflict management skills to drive alignment across global engineering sites.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with electromechanical systems, closures, moving mechanisms, or body-electronics integration.

Responsibilities

Lead the complete cradle-to-grave product engineering process for power liftgate components and subsystems, ensuring they meet vehicle packaging and styling constraints.
Interface with internal or supplier CAD resources using NX or CATIA and manage product release structures in Teamcenter.
Author and execute DFMEA and DVP&R testing at the component, system, and full-vehicle levels.
Collaborate with styling, body-in-white, interior trim, electrical architecture, and assembly plants to ensure system integration.
Oversee tier-1 supplier engineering and manufacturing activities, lead design reviews, and ensure hardware is delivered on time and within cost targets.
Use structured problem-solving methodologies, such as Shainin Red X, Kepner-Tregoe, and DFSS, to identify root causes of assembly plant, prototype build, and field warranty failures.