Product Development Engineer - Core Latch Engineer

About the role

The Product Development Engineer - Core Latch Engineer will work with internal and external customers to develop competitive cost & weight efficient closer latches, and closer latching system designs. They will also lead analytical and physical analysis to deliver a system that meets all prescribed requirements. Responsibilities include establishing closer latching strategy, reducing latching complexity, developing and maintaining latch requirements and design rules, ensuring seamless integration with the vehicle mechanical and electrical architecture, and resolving latching issues during vehicle development and in the field. The candidate will also lead latch product testing and manage deliverables throughout the development process.

Responsibilities

• Develop competitive cost & weight efficient closer latches and closer latching system designs
• Lead analytical and physical analysis to ensure system meets prescribed requirements
• Establish closer latching strategy, reduce latching complexity, and maintain latch requirements and design rules
• Ensure seamless integration with vehicle mechanical and electrical architecture
• Resolve latching issues during vehicle development and in the field
• Lead latch product testing and manage deliverables throughout the development process

Requirements

• BS Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering or a related field
• 3+ years of professional experience in the Automotive or Aerospace industry (experience with hinged closures is preferred)
• Experience with latch and latch system design and development
• Hands-on experience with “in-house” engineering, design, and release, as well as managing full-service supplier commodities, with on-time delivery at cost & quality targets
• Design and Release/Product Development Engineer/Closures Commodity Subject Matter Expert experience
• Ability to work overtime & travel to support launches and issue resolution
• CAD experience

Better Qualifications

• 2 years of professional experience in the Automotive or Aerospace industry
• 3+ years of direct experience in vehicle closer latching systems (e.g. tailgates, liftgates, swing gates, side doors, cargo doors) a plus
• Experience leading peers via Design reviews to resolve part to part interface issues and deliver a successful system
• Experience solving current model quality issues and implementing corrective actions
• Ability to utilize and demonstrate System engineering disciplines and Design for Manufacturing principles to proactively solve issues
• Knowledge of automotive exterior components, including materials and manufacturing technologies, such as stamping, injection molding, extrusion, forging, casting, welding, riveting, etc.
• Experience with bolted joint structures
• Experience with Structural mechanics
• Experience with Systems engineering
• Experience with latching vehicle electronics integration
• Experience with latching vehicle software integration
• Working knowledge of FEA, DFMEA, Control Plan development, & Dimensional Variation Analysis
• Ability to operate within CATIA/3DX environment, Teamcenter Engineering, and Digital Buck
• CATIA/3DX ability to create simple parts, sections, and studies a plus
• Capability with Microsoft Suite of products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)

Qualifications

• BS Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering or a related field
• 3+ years of professional experience in the Automotive or Aerospace industry
• Experience with latch and latch system design and development
• Hands-on experience with “in-house” engineering, design, and release, as well as managing full-service supplier commodities, with on-time delivery at cost & quality targets
• Design and Release/Product Development Engineer/Closures Commodity Subject Matter Expert experience
• Ability to work overtime & travel to support launches and issue resolution
• CAD experience

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time