Senior Engineer – Whole Vehicle Issue Management

About the role

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Engineer – Whole Vehicle Issue Management to lead the tracking, coordination, and resolution of vehicle-level issues during prototype and pre-series phases.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the central issue tracking for complete vehicle programs
• Drive structured issue management processes (Schadentisch) across all vehicle domains
• Ensure all issues are:
• Clearly documented
• Properly categorized and prioritized
• Assigned to responsible owners
• Maintain full visibility of issue status, progress, and resolution
• Use JIRA as the single source of truth for all issue tracking
• Define and maintain:
• Issue structures and taxonomy
• Workflows and status logic
• Dashboards and reporting views
• Ensure strict adherence to traceability, data quality, and update discipline
• Drive consistent and scalable use of JIRA across all stakeholders
• Lead and prepare regular Schadentisch / issue review meetings
• Ensure clear communication of:
• Critical issues
• Escalations
• Blocking topics
• Track decisions, actions, and follow-ups
• Drive accountability across engineering, validation, and supplier teams
• Act as central interface between:
• Engineering (all domains)
• Validation & test teams
• Prototype / garage operations
• Suppliers
• Ensure alignment on:
• Issue understanding
• Root cause direction
• Resolution timing and priorities
• Identify and escalate risks impacting:
• Vehicle functionality
• Test readiness
• Program milestones
• Ensure transparency of high-risk topics
• Support leadership decision-making through structured issue insights
• Ensure issues are properly investigated (not only symptom-based fixes)
• Track root cause identification and corrective actions
• Verify closure quality and prevent recurrence
• Promote structured problem-solving approaches across teams
• Proactively identify and implement AI-driven improvements in issue management processes
• Leverage AI tools to:
• Automate issue categorization and prioritization
• Generate summaries of large issue datasets
• Identify patterns, recurring failures, and systemic risks
• Improve JIRA usage efficiency through:
• Automation rules
• Smart workflows
• Data structuring and optimization
• Develop or support dashboards and insights that enhance real-time visibility
• Reduce manual reporting efforts through automation and AI-assisted workflows

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Automotive, or related)
• 8–12+ years of experience in:
• Vehicle development
• Integration / validation / pre-series
• Issue management / problem resolution
• Mandatory advanced experience with JIRA (workflows, dashboards, system ownership)
• Strong understanding of whole vehicle development and system interactions
• Experience working with VW Group processes and structures
• Fully fluent German language skills (required)
• Proven ability to drive structured execution across complex organizations

Qualifications

• Direct experience leading Schadentisch or equivalent forums
• Experience with prototype / pre-series vehicle programs
• Familiarity with DVP and validation processes
• Exposure to AI tools, automation, or data analytics in engineering workflows
• Experience implementing digital efficiency improvements

Skills

• Structured issue management (JIRA mandatory)
• Solid understanding of VW Group development processes
• Ability to operate effectively in a German-language engineering environment
• Proactive identification and implementation of AI-driven improvements in issue management processes
• Leveraging AI tools for issue categorization and prioritization
• Improving JIRA usage efficiency through automation and smart workflows
• Developing or supporting dashboards and insights for real-time visibility
• Reducing manual reporting efforts through automation and AI-assisted workflows

Benefits

• Competitive insurance including:
• Medical, dental, vision and income protection plans
• 401(k) program with:
• An employer match and immediate vesting
• Generous Paid Time Off including:
• 20 days planned PTO, as accrued
• 40 hours of unplanned PTO and 14 company or floating holidays, annually
• Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave for biological and adoptive parents of all genders
• Paid leave for circumstances related to bereavement, jury duty, voting time, or military leave