Product Engineer

Tenneco•Plymouth, MI

27d

About The Position

Tenneco is seeking an experienced and technically curious R&D / Product Development Engineer to develop next-generation powertrain products and technologies. The position is responsible for designing, developing, validating, and continuously improving powertrain products, including cylinder head gaskets, dynamic shaft seals, hot and cold gaskets, pistons, piston rings, bearings and bushings, valves, valve seats, and valve guides. The role spans the full product-development cycle, from concept development and technical feasibility through design validation, customer application, production launch, and field support. It is a hands-on engineering position requiring a strong foundation in mechanical engineering fundamentals, materials, tribology, testing, and failure analysis. The engineer collaborates with customers, suppliers, manufacturing facilities, test laboratories, and global engineering teams to develop innovative, robust, and manufacturable solutions for demanding powertrain applications.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
At least 5 years of relevant engineering experience; automotive, commercial vehicle, off-highway, industrial engine, or related powertrain experience is preferred.
Experience developing mechanical products from concept through validation and production.
Strong mechanical-engineering fundamentals and analytical problem-solving skills.
Working knowledge in several relevant areas, including materials, fatigue and durability, tribology, friction and wear, lubrication, static and dynamic sealing, heat transfer and thermal expansion, structural mechanics, fluid mechanics, and corrosion.
Experience with DFMEA and DVP&R.
Demonstrated root-cause analysis and structured problem-solving capability.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T, and technical data.
Understanding of how material and manufacturing-process variation can influence product performance.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work effectively in cross-functional and global engineering teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience with cylinder head gaskets, dynamic shaft seals, or hot or cold gaskets.
Experience with pistons, piston rings, bearings and bushings, valves, valve seats, or valve guides.
Experience with internal combustion engine design and operation.
Experience with static and dynamic sealing systems.
Experience with materials, coatings, and surface engineering.
Experience with tribology, lubrication, friction, and wear.
Experience with fatigue, durability, and failure analysis.
Experience with FEA or other engineering simulation methods.
Experience with component, engine, or vehicle testing and accelerated durability test development.
Experience with statistical engineering methods and Design of Experiments.

Responsibilities

Design and develop new and improved powertrain products from concept through production.
Translate customer, engine, and application requirements into product requirements and engineering specifications.
Develop solutions to improve product performance, durability, reliability, efficiency, manufacturability, and cost.
Apply engineering fundamentals and perform calculations and analyses to assess product performance, design feasibility, and design margins.
Define critical product characteristics, tolerances, materials, coatings, surface finishes, and performance requirements.
Support engineering drawing development, GD&T, design release, and engineering change processes.
Lead the New Technology Introduction (NTI) process, coordinating cross-functional activities from concept through manufacturing readiness and production launch.
Facilitate cross-functional project reviews and communicate project status, timing, cost, technical risks, and readiness to engineering and business leadership.
Document and manage project risks, open issues, decisions, deliverables, and ownership throughout the NTI process.
Track development costs against approved budgets and identify deviations, risks, and corrective actions.
Define expected CapEx requirements for tooling, equipment, testing, and manufacturing processes, and coordinate investment estimates and timing.
Lead product and manufacturing feasibility assessments and identify technical, capacity, process, quality, cost, supply-chain, and timing risks.
Develop and review manufacturing process flows and concepts with manufacturing, quality, purchasing, suppliers, and other functional teams.
Lead cross-functional APQP activities and develop, maintain, and drive integrated product-development timing plans.
Design products for challenging temperature, pressure, mechanical loading, vibration, friction, wear, lubrication, corrosion, and thermal-cycling conditions.
Evaluate component interactions, materials, coatings, surface treatments, manufacturing processes, and static and dynamic sealing behavior for performance and durability.
Develop and execute DVP&R plans based on product requirements, customer needs, and design risks.
Create component- and system-level tests that represent application conditions and relevant failure mechanisms, including accelerated durability tests.
Analyze test data, evaluate design alternatives and margins, correlate laboratory testing with engine, vehicle, and field performance, and develop specialized test methods, fixtures, and measurement techniques as needed.
Lead root-cause investigations of development, validation, manufacturing, customer, and field issues using structured methods such as 8D, 5-Why, fault-tree analysis, and DOE.
Use physical evidence, dimensional measurements, material characterization, test results, and operating data to identify failure mechanisms and develop and validate corrective actions.
Develop and maintain DFMEAs, identify potential failure modes, and establish design controls and validation strategies.
Evaluate sensitivity to dimensional, material, manufacturing, assembly, and operating-condition variation; apply design for manufacturing and assembly principles.
Work with manufacturing teams and suppliers on product robustness, manufacturability, and cost-effectiveness; participate in tolerance reviews, feasibility studies, prototype builds, process development, and production launches.
Support powertrain manufacturing processes including stamping, forming, machining, grinding, honing, casting, sintering, welding, coating, plating, heat treatment, molding, and assembly.
Partner with customers to understand engine architecture, operating conditions, application requirements, and technical challenges; support engine development, validation, and product application activities.
Participate in customer technical reviews and communicate product capabilities, risks, and recommendations.
Collaborate with R&D, application engineering, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, testing, suppliers, and global engineering teams.
Provide technical support for customer and field investigations when required.
Travel to customer locations, suppliers, manufacturing plants, and test facilities as needed.