Integrated Lighting Systems Engineer

At Magna, you can expect an engaging and dynamic environment where you can help to develop industry-leading automotive technologies. We invest in our employees, providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. As a member of our global team, you can expect exciting, varied responsibilities as well as a wide range of development prospects.

About the Role

The Integrated Lighting Systems Engineer develops integrated lighting solutions for exterior automotive systems, with a primary focus on accent lighting, illuminated exterior features, and new customer-facing lighting concepts. This role combines lighting engineering expertise with a systems-engineering mindset to integrate optical, electrical, mechanical, software, and manufacturing requirements into robust exterior system solutions. The position is focused on customer-visible exterior lighting features and innovation rather than traditional regulatory lamp development, supporting next-generation illuminated exterior systems that strengthen technology, design intent, customer experience, brand differentiation, and manufacturability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the system definition, development, and integration of exterior lighting features, with emphasis on accent lighting, illuminated exterior components, and brand-differentiating lighting functions.
• Translate customer expectations, styling intent, product requirements, and technical constraints into clear system requirements and functional specifications.
• Define and execute the Statement of Work / Statement of Requirements for integrated lighting systems and related sub-systems.
• Cascade requirements to optical, electrical, electronic, software, mechanical, trim, and manufacturing teams to ensure a complete and feasible system solution.
• Support concept development for new lighting solutions including illuminated grilles, exterior accent lighting, welcome/goodbye animations, light guides, light pipes, projection features, and smart surfaces.
• Ensure customer requirements, applicable regulations, product specifications, cost, timing, safety, reliability, quality, and manufacturing feasibility are considered in the system design.
• Collaborate with styling, product engineering, electronics, software, optics, suppliers, manufacturing, purchasing, and program teams to develop innovative and robust integrated lighting solutions.
• Prepare and maintain engineering deliverables including system specifications, sub-system specifications, interface control documents, system architecture, compliance matrix, system bill of materials, DFMEA, DVP&R, prototype plans, engineering changes, and technical reviews.
• Participate in creation and analysis of system models, simulations, prototypes, and validation plans for lighting performance, integration, thermal behavior, durability, and perceived quality.
• Identify and promote new lighting technologies, materials, suppliers, and integration approaches that can improve the value, appearance, performance, or manufacturability of exterior systems.
• Manage assigned work packages in Trax or equivalent requirements-management tools, ensuring traceability, timely completion, and alignment with project deliverables.
• Apply ISO 26262, ASPICE, or equivalent automotive system-development practices when applicable to program scope, while maintaining primary focus on integrated accent lighting innovation and robust system execution.
• Support customer discussions, innovation reviews, technical workshops, and system-level trade-off decisions related to exterior lighting integration.
• Conduct engineering testing of electromechanical systems from proof-of-concept mockups through customer validation testing.
• Use system analysis tools, such as LabVIEW, programmers, oscilloscopes, meters, and analyzers, to evaluate system performance and troubleshoot system functions when issues arise.
• Review, approve, complete, and submit required change notices to ensure the system meets design inputs.
• Participate in code reviews and component design reviews with peers and customers to ensure system requirements are fulfilled.
• Develop new project documentation and optimize existing project documentation to add value and improve communication efficiency.
• Support system analysis activities.
• Demonstrate fundamental understanding of, and ability to apply, basic mathematical models for mechatronic systems and software simulations using tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, and software development environments for embedded applications.
• Independently prioritize task completion and issue resolution to ensure compliance with customer requirements and program deliverables.
• Contribute to the development of project timing.
• Communicate effectively within the project team and with customers, suppliers, manufacturing teams, and quality teams with minimal guidance from engineering management and engineering personnel.
• Work with senior engineering personnel to support and drive best practices in design specifications, manufacturing processes, customer requirements, and safety requirements.
• Understand and execute internal change management processes and adapt to customer change management systems to ensure accuracy and proper protocol when processing engineering change requests.
• Analyze products and formulate engineering conclusions by the application of engineering and/or mathematical principles and tools.
• Apply QFD, FEA, FMEA, DOE, VA/VE, and DFM/DFA, as required in the development of the product.
• Support the Global Systems team as required.
• Understand and follow existing policies, procedures, work instructions, and standards, and make recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Follow Magna’s Code of Conduct & Ethics and related compliance policies.
• Ensure all safety and non-safety rules and regulations are followed.
• Ensure adherence to established quality and housekeeping standards.
• Review and adhere to local health, safety, environmental, and quality standards, operating procedures, and policies.
• Immediately report accidents, hazards, defects, or non-compliance issues to management.
• Work and act in a manner that will not harm oneself or any other worker.
• Understand and uphold policies that prohibit workplace violence and harassment.
• Participate in all mandatory training.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Computer Engineering, or Control Systems from an accredited university, or a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with more than five years of experience with systems or embedded software product applications.
• 5-10 years of engineering experience.
• Demonstrated ability to apply systems methodologies to design and develop cascading requirements.
• Demonstrated excellence in communication, presentation, influencing, and customer-facing technical engagement skills.
• Fluent English communication skills required; German language skills are considered a plus.
• Completion of Mechatronics 1 and Mechatronics 2 courses preferred.
• Completion of ISO 26262 and ASPICE courses preferred.
• Working knowledge of EDA tools, electronic circuit board design, and manufacturing, with familiarity with the fabrication and testing of electronic products.
• Detailed documentation practices.
• Vehicle-level bus communication protocol development experience, such as CAN or LIN.
• System and subsystem architecture development experience for safety-critical components.
• Working knowledge of electrical hardware, including wire harnesses, software, and electrical circuit theory as they relate to embedded controls for electromechanical systems.
• Automotive production launch experience with an embedded software product required.
• Working knowledge of C/C++, assembly language, Arduino code, MATLAB, Simulink, LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, or other software design and test tools.
• Understanding of standard software processes and industry requirements, including IEEE, CMMI, MISRA, AUTOSAR, and USCAR.