Project Engineer II

Hutchinson•Auburn Hills, MI

12d

About The Position

The Project Engineer II is responsible for advanced engineering of vehicle sealing systems and for tracking and resolving engineering issues that arise during product development. The role supports program planning, coordinates engineering activities against program milestones, and helps ensure that design and engineering actions are completed on time. Issues that cannot be resolved promptly at the Project Engineer level should be escalated to the Engineering Manager or Director of Engineering; severe issues that could jeopardize program timing or require additional funding should also be reported to the Vice President of Engineering. The position involves customer and manufacturing liaison, product and process validation, risk identification, FMEA development, maintenance of drawings and parts lists, and preparation of program documentation and technical reports. The Project Engineer II follows prototype shipments and key dates through PPAP, may support tooling development at supplier locations, and may assist with program launches at OEM assembly plants. The role may also support customer warranty investigations, root-cause analysis, responsibility definition, and documentation of lessons learned. The role requires a bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent and 4–8 years of directly related professional-level automotive experience. The successful candidate should have knowledge of product design and development, sealing manufacturing processes, automotive body engineering, GD&T, sealing materials and performance requirements, and basic CAD design. A valid driver's license and willingness to travel to Hutchinson plants, customer sites, and vendors as needed are required. The position has no supervisory responsibilities. Hutchinson describes itself as an international French company with 40,000 employees in 25 countries, 170 years of history, and 5 billion in turnover, with 5% invested in R&D. The company works on fluid, sealing-system, and anti-vibration solutions for automotive, aviation, defense, and industry customers, and states an aim of contributing to mobility and reducing carbon emissions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university in engineering, or equivalent.
4–8 years of directly related professional-level automotive experience.
Knowledge of product design and development.
Knowledge of sealing manufacturing processes.
Knowledge of automotive body engineering.
Knowledge of GD&T.
Solid knowledge of sealing materials, purchased components, sealing performance, and design requirements.
Basic understanding of CAD design.
Good planning abilities.
Good knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills and effective teamwork, including cooperation, information and task sharing, listening, and timely completion of assignments.
Participation in at least one full program cycle from RP0 to launch.
Willingness to travel to Hutchinson plants, customer locations, and vendors as needed.
Valid driver's license.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical, financial, and legal documents; respond to inquiries or complaints; write to prescribed formats; and present information effectively.
Ability to work with probability, statistical inference, geometry, trigonometry, fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions.
Ability to use word processing and spreadsheet applications, internet research, Microsoft Office software, and email.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and interpret technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form.
Must actively support health, safety, and environmental policy and follow required safety practices.

Responsibilities

Perform advanced engineering of vehicle sealing systems.
Assist the Program Manager with program planning.
Lead completion of ADVP&R.
Serve as a customer contact for engineering issues and provide technical support.
Follow product and process validations.
Identify internal or external risks relating to quality, cost, timing, product definition, and processes.
Develop DFMEAs and PFMEAs.
Ensure required design and engineering actions are completed on time and according to program milestones at each program phase.
Develop program lessons learned at each phase.
Maintain and update drawings and parts lists.
Maintain liaison with Hutchinson Manufacturing.
Participate in design reviews.
Assist in creating program documentation, including Design Requests, FEA, Technical Definition Sheets, feasibility reviews, PCAs, and board reviews.
Publish regular technical reports, including build issues, resolutions, and studies.
Follow key dates and prototype shipments through PPAP.
Assist with program launches at OEM assembly plants, including occasional trips during build events.
May assist with tooling development at supplier locations, including design buy-off.
May participate in customer part reviews to analyze warranty issues, identify root causes, and define responsibilities.
Document lessons learned resulting from warranty issues.
Escalate design issues that cannot be resolved at the Project Engineer level in a timely manner to the Engineering Manager or Director of Engineering.
Immediately report severe issues that may jeopardize program timing or require additional funds to the Engineering Manager or Director of Engineering and the Vice President of Engineering.
Support health, safety, and environmental policy; report hazards and correct them when safe; participate in required safety training, meetings, and inspections; and use required PPE.