Senior Mechanical Engineer - Phone as a Key

HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA.•Northville Charter Township, MI

43d•Hybrid

About The Position

FORVIA HELLA is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer - Phone as a Key to join their growing body team. The primary function of this position will be to partner with internal and external stakeholders to foster the mechanical development portions of automotive programs, focusing on product engineering for next-generation body control functions. The company is a listed, internationally positioned automotive supplier operating under the umbrella brand FORVIA, specializing in high-performance lighting technology and automotive electronics, as well as offering services and products for the spare parts and workshop business and manufacturers of special-purpose vehicles.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical field.
Minimum 5+ years of experience in automotive mechanical product development, preferably involving key fobs, compact mechatronic devices, or premium interior components.
Strong expertise in Class A surface design and premium visible components, with proven experience delivering high-quality appearance, aesthetics, haptics, and perceived customer value.
Experience integrating electronics into mechanical designs, including PCB packaging, EMC/ESD considerations, and development of reliable mechatronic products.
Advanced knowledge of manufacturing and product development processes, including injection molding, DfM, GD&T and Tolerance Stacks analysis, FMEA, FEM, and high-volume automated production.
Excellent hands-on experience in CAD tools (CATIA, Siemens NX, or Creo) and automotive development standards, combined with experience working with international OEMs, global teams, and fluent English communication skills.
Experienced in SAP PLM or similar.

Responsibilities

Guide the mechanical design and development of premium automotive key fobs, ensuring high-quality appearance, functionality, durability, and compliance with OEM requirements.
Watch over Class A surface development and tolerance engineering, delivering superior gap & flush, visual quality, perceived value, and manufacturable designs.
Design and develop plastic, die-cast, and sheet-metal components, applying Design for Manufacturing (DfM) principles to support high-volume, fully automated production.
Integrate electronic components such as PCBs, antennas, sensors, and batteries into compact housings, ensuring mechanical robustness, functional reliability, and EMC/ESD compliance.
Oversee the development of HMI systems and environmental protection solutions, including tact switches, button mechanisms, sealing concepts, and waterproof designs that meet durability and IP requirements.
Coordinate cross-functional development activities with customers, suppliers, and global engineering teams, production plant, driving FMEA, industrialization, ramp-up, and successful series production.