R&D Operations Engineer

Hyundai Motor Company•Ypsilanti Charter Township, MI

About The Position

R&D Operations EngineerHATCI is the North American R&D HQ for Hyundai Motor Group and is growing to support global vehicle and mobility programs. With locations across Michigan, California, and Georgia we continuously modernize and improve how we operate—increasing our scalable, efficient, and transparent operational practices. To enable this transformation, we are seeking an R&D Operations Engineer to support our Head of Operations in driving process improvement, system deployment, and project management across the R&D organization.WHAT YOU WILL DO Process Improvement & Ways of Working Assess and document current-state processes across R&D and operational functions Identify inefficiencies, duplication, and gaps in accountability Design future-state processes aligned with best practices and organizational scale Develop clear process documentation including: Process maps and flowcharts, Standard Work Instructions, (SWIs), Procedures and operating guidelines Own and drive action plans to close process gaps and support adoption Change Facilitation Independently design and facilitate workshops, Kaizen events, process reviews Engage cross-functional stakeholders to drive alignment and ownership Influence outcomes through strong facilitation, storytelling, and data-driven insights Project Management Lead a diverse array of projects, coordinating within HATCI as well as with outside HMG affiliates Define project structure – scoping, organization, building project team, risk management, budget management, project tracking Create project deliverables - reports, procedures, documentation, etc. Executive & Leadership Reporting Create executive-ready materials and updates for senior leadership Translate complex operational topics into clear, concise messaging Prepare recurring operational review content and ad-hoc analyses Support administration of operational KPIs Software & Digital Tool Deployment Support deployment and adoption of modern business tools Assist with tool configuration, governance models, and training materials Act as a bridge between end users, leadership, and IT/system owners Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with all HATCI functional groups (e.g. Engineering, Finance, Leadership) Ensure processes and tools support seamless cross-functional operations Navigate cultural, functional, and geographic differences effectively HOW WILL YOU MAKE AN IMPACT Required Skills and Knowledge: Demonstrated experience in: Business process improvement Operational transformation Working within engineering or R&D organizations Bringing an analytical and structured approach to solve ambiguous or loosely-defined problems Additional Requirements: Additional Desired Attributes Previous experience working with or within a Korean company or business culture Fluency in English required; Korean language skills highly desirable Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Proven ability to influence without direct authority Comfortable operating in ambiguity and rapidly changing environments Confident facilitator and presenter; able to motivate and mobilize teams High level of ownership, independence, and professionalism Desired Software & Technical Proficiency Microsoft 365 Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams); strong PowerPoint storytelling Power BI and/or Tableau (dashboard creation and interpretation) Jira, monday.com (or similar Work OS / PPM platforms) Confluence, Notion (or similar Knowledge Management platforms) SAP WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE ROLE Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a STEM-related discipline Related Industry Experience Requirements: Minimum 5-10 years of relevant experience Experience in automotive, manufacturing, or R&D environments preferred WHAT HYUNDAI CAN OFFER YOU Zero-dollar employee premiums on Medical, Dental, and Vision for you and your family 100% employer-paid disability and life insurance Generous paid time off including vacation, sick and abundant holidays A global environment that fosters diversity Competitive salaries Retirement savings and planning benefits Access to health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts Opportunity to shape the success of a growing R&D organization Direct exposure to senior leadership and strategic initiatives High-impact role with visible results STILL INTERESTED? WHY NOT APPLY?OTHER DETAILS Candidates applying for positions with Hyundai KIA must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. HATCI is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled and Veteran. VEVRAA Federal contractor.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience in: Business process improvement
Demonstrated experience in: Operational transformation
Demonstrated experience in: Working within engineering or R&D organizations
Demonstrated experience in: Bringing an analytical and structured approach to solve ambiguous or loosely-defined problems
Fluency in English required
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Proven ability to influence without direct authority
Comfortable operating in ambiguity and rapidly changing environments
Confident facilitator and presenter; able to motivate and mobilize teams
High level of ownership, independence, and professionalism
Microsoft 365 Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams); strong PowerPoint storytelling
Power BI and/or Tableau (dashboard creation and interpretation)
Jira, monday.com (or similar Work OS / PPM platforms)
Confluence, Notion (or similar Knowledge Management platforms)
SAP
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a STEM-related discipline
Minimum 5-10 years of relevant experience
Experience in automotive, manufacturing, or R&D environments preferred

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working with or within a Korean company or business culture
Korean language skills highly desirable

Responsibilities

Assess and document current-state processes across R&D and operational functions
Identify inefficiencies, duplication, and gaps in accountability
Design future-state processes aligned with best practices and organizational scale
Develop clear process documentation including: Process maps and flowcharts, Standard Work Instructions, (SWIs), Procedures and operating guidelines
Own and drive action plans to close process gaps and support adoption
Independently design and facilitate workshops, Kaizen events, process reviews
Engage cross-functional stakeholders to drive alignment and ownership
Influence outcomes through strong facilitation, storytelling, and data-driven insights
Lead a diverse array of projects, coordinating within HATCI as well as with outside HMG affiliates
Define project structure – scoping, organization, building project team, risk management, budget management, project tracking
Create project deliverables - reports, procedures, documentation, etc.
Create executive-ready materials and updates for senior leadership
Translate complex operational topics into clear, concise messaging
Prepare recurring operational review content and ad-hoc analyses
Support administration of operational KPIs
Support deployment and adoption of modern business tools
Assist with tool configuration, governance models, and training materials
Act as a bridge between end users, leadership, and IT/system owners
Work closely with all HATCI functional groups (e.g. Engineering, Finance, Leadership)
Ensure processes and tools support seamless cross-functional operations
Navigate cultural, functional, and geographic differences effectively

Benefits

Zero-dollar employee premiums on Medical, Dental, and Vision for you and your family
100% employer-paid disability and life insurance
Generous paid time off including vacation, sick and abundant holidays
A global environment that fosters diversity
Competitive salaries
Retirement savings and planning benefits
Access to health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts
Opportunity to shape the success of a growing R&D organization
Direct exposure to senior leadership and strategic initiatives
High-impact role with visible results